Need some help with basics: puzzle pieces

[RobVG 16]

I've been trying to build overhead light rail over an avenue but haven't used puzzle pieces yet. I found the Rail/Ave puzzle piece and it builds one section per click. I can't add anything to the end except for another Rail/Ave piece. 

To shorten my question, how am I supposed to add a station or turn the rail in a direction that takes it away from the avenue?

Thanks

[Lucario Boricua 7,027]

Hello, and welcome to Simtropolis! Let's see...

• For future assistance with the Network Addon Mod or other transportation features, make sure to head to the NAM and Transit Networks forum:

https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/forum/30-NAM-transit-networks/

 

• You're using items which include a combination of puzzle and FLEX piece components. Have you gone through the El-Rail over Avenue menu entries (press TAB / SHIFT + TAB) to find the piece you need to transition? Or alternatively, check the secret weapon reveal video published by former NAM member Ganaram Inukshuk, which presents how to use this network feature:

 

 

• At the end of this video, it shows the station provided as part of the NAM to use this feature.

[rsc204 21,808]

10 hours ago, RobVG said:

I've been trying to build overhead light rail over an avenue but haven't used puzzle pieces yet. I found the Rail/Ave puzzle piece and it builds one section per click. I can't add anything to the end except for another Rail/Ave piece. 

As I'm sure is clear from the video, this isn't actually a puzzle-piece, rather a Flex piece, so the basic construction method is as follows:

Place the flex pieces one tile at at time, you have a few different options for example I like to alternative between the pillars and no pillars model for a nicer distribution. Then you can drag connections like Roads, Streets etc into and even through these flex pieces, much better than having to place specific puzzle pieces for each. Again though, the linked video is the best resource for learning this NAM feature.

[RobVG 16]

18 hours ago, Lucario Boricua said:

Thanks for the info. I'll keep at it. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't trying to do something that can't be done.

...

9 hours ago, rsc204 said:

As I'm sure is clear from the video, this isn't actually a puzzle-piece, rather a Flex piece, so the basic construction method is as follows:

Place the flex pieces one tile at at time, you have a few different options for example I like to alternative between the pillars and no pillars model for a nicer distribution. Then you can drag connections like Roads, Streets etc into and even through these flex pieces, much better than having to place specific puzzle pieces for each. Again though, the linked video is the best resource for learning this NAM feature.

Thanks for the walkthrough. It does say "puzzle pieces". Should I be looking for flex pieces instead?

[rsc204 21,808]

2 hours ago, RobVG said:

It does say "puzzle pieces"

Looks like it's been labelled wrong as long as it has existed then, because they are not and no alternative Puzzle Pieces exist. Unlike their El over Road counterparts, which are Puzzle Pieces for example. The big difference between the two is that the later is not flexible at all, once placed they are firmly going to stay exactly as they are and refuse to interact with anything else.

I made a series of NAM basics tutorials (YouTube) a while back, rather than try to show every specific thing, I tried to give a solid introduction to concepts such as Puzzle, Flex, Override and Draggable features. Most of that is still very much relevant today, although we (the NAM team), have been transitioning the old Puzzle Piece features to the newer standards for some while. Some legacy pieces remain, either because they won't be updated or have yet to be, so it's worth knowing how to use them still.

[RobVG 16]

Super relevant video. Thank you Lucario

Now to see if I can make the pieces do the same things. Sometimes it's difficult.

[RobVG 16]

On 3/9/2023 at 1:30 PM, rsc204 said:

 

'I made a series of NAM basics tutorials (YouTube) a while back..."

I tried viewing your vids and they look promising but the audio is horrible. At least for someone with a slight hearing loss. Just thought you might like to know.

[rsc204 21,808]

2 hours ago, RobVG said:

they look promising but the audio is horrible.

I am well aware of the issues on the 1st video, I was getting used to the equipment I had (mic) and obviously didn't get it right.

However since then I was careful to test things and the audio should be perfectly fine through headphones or a decent speaker. I think a lot of folks complaining have poor laptop speakers or just refuse to turn the volume up, because frankly even though not professional quality, the audio is fine on my equipment. You may find things better using headphones and it's also possible to have YouTube add CC Subtitles which do work pretty well.

Sadly I never had a decent Mic and couldn't afford back then to invest in one either, note I have never made a cent creating content. For my later videos I was able to use a much better microphone and I hope you will find that this has improved the quality in this respect.

Sadly, a series of mishaps on my part mean that the source files for the first videos got wiped from the only drive I had them on. Not that re-recording the audio works great, it's a lot of work to synchronise new audio with an existing video, too much frankly. That said I have been considering revisiting the first videos in the series as much as anything to reflect some changes in the NAM since they were made. The problem is, I look at the viewer figures and have to ask myself, is that worth 5-10h of my time if only a few hundred people are going to look at it?

[RobVG 16]

Thanks for letting me know there were issues with your first video. Using Youtube's CC function is a good suggestion, thanks for that.

I think if you truly enjoy producing videos, like to teach, and feel you have something to offer, you should keep at it.

[RobVG 16]

All the advice was helpful, Thanks guys.

I built a "sandbox city" which was the best way to learn. I found the pieces I needed by flipping further through the list with the tab key. (There's a lot of them) Turns out, a avenue station cost $230 a month versus $30 for an El rail over road  so I switched to that. 

The trick was using the proper corner piece to be able to "drag" El rail away from the road. 

Thanks again, I'll post future questions to  the NAM forum.