Orion and Avalon - dislikes

[Agente Silva 28]

First of all, this is by no means a disrespect or bashing on the huge and most welcome effort from the modders to improve this game in all sort of ways. Anyway I think it is worth to mention that this mod isn´t all cherry pie, there are a few fishbones that still need pickin and spittin, unless you are okay to swallow them

 

For the last week I´ve been trying and paying real attention to Orion and Avalon capabilities and the possibility it provides to expand our Simcity experience (plot size that is). I started a new region and got really into using those mods (plus AKAR of course). Watching some nice pictures from Orion+Avalon cities got me thinking I could be missing a great leap in Simcity experience... Turns out it´s not totaly like that: once again I hope modders and Akavarion enthusiasts ( )  understand where I want to get... I think the "cons" must be refered as well, for the sake of rationality (or else we quickly turn into fanboys).

 

1. Data offset: information about resources, land value, ground and air pollution, crime and patrolling will be misaligned from it´s natural position. I mentioned in previous posts that my first experience with akavarion proved that it wasn´t just graphical offset (but that happened with an existing city). If you start a new region those offset will be just graphical - and, if you have enough experience handling these data layers you´ll cope nicely with the offset (so, no harm done here )

 

2. Zoning outside 2K border: you´ll only be able to do this North and East and you have to start zoning on a stretch of road from 2K all the way outside (using CTRL key)... and you can´t have intersections on this road as it will cut your zoning line, so you´ll have to curve your road, apply CTRL, and have it zoned all the way until that stretch of road ends. If you want to zone R+C in this stretch of road, then it will be another lot of gymnastic - this should be the heaviest burden to carry when using Orion.

 

Don´t know if it happens to you guys as well, but I saw buidings on zoned 3K areas growing in density OVER existing lowdensity houses, instead of replacing low density for medium density. Not cool...

 

3. Plopping buildings: let me be honest, plopping feels fake as hell Simcity is all about zoning and creating conditions for development, period. If to use half of the available city size provided by Orion means you have to plop buildings, then half of that city is fake

 

 

So, this is the general idea I wanted to transmit... probably some will flame and hopefully others will agree and add to this. I also want this to serve as information for those willing or considering using Avalon+Orion, so they don´t fall into the illusion of all wonders from Avalon+Orion.

 

AKAR is in a different pool considering it is a user interface upgrade to include and organize mods done until now - and it does an amazing job at that. I really think AKAR adds lot of value on the long term. Parklets are a WONDERFULL addon to the game as it provides lot more different parks for all classes. I like those slim parklets that you can fit where the standards wouldn´t.

 

In my opinion and experience I rather play with ProcsKalone BoC+AKAR (with all udons, regional coastlines, parklets and decorations). It still allows me to plop all service buildings outside city´s borders without any limitation and therefore saving space inside 2K for RCI. Credits given to Nikola´s Industrial mod (I chose not to use the R+C mods) wich improves a lot freight production.

 

[I-lammond 0]

Well adressed!

I've been going without mods for a while now since I find the multiplayer part kind of important but these are the real issues I haven't been lost in Project Orion / Avalon...
 

What I'm waiting for are mods that can be used online. Easy fix mods, like the shorter snapping distance. We need more tools I believe.

[Yayie 311]

Will working on Akar Online. Will be ready in couple of days weeks.

[TheCraftKid 52]

Will working on Akar Online. Will be ready in couple of days weeks.

 

Akar Online? I thought it already worked online... I used it online.