NL- Best method of building:

What do you think is the best method of building NL coasters? Any method requires a pretty good amount of effort- but some are better than others. What do you think? I personally think that Newton is the easiest overall, although formula made coasters pretty much come out more mathematically correct. I currently only use Newton and do some handbuilding, but I may break into the formulas later on.

Reasons why I like Newton:

1. Much like FVD but has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing.
2. Much like handbuilding but it doesn't take nearly as long.
3. Tracks come out pretty good.
4. Can create near perfectly shaped elements.
5. Shows you the G's while you build.
6. Easy.

So, tell me what you think. What is your fav form of building?

FVDs. Newton doesn't have enough control yet.

The method used to build with FVD's also has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing. [:P]

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i40195

^ beat me to the punch, but ya fvd's are the way to go.

...and Canadmos quoted,"The method used to build with FVD's also has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing."

No, thats called Elementary. When you are actually putting in the formulas, you don't get results until you ask for it to give you results. You put in the formulas, and see what happens. That is why I don't use them at the moment. May sometime-after I master Newton- but not now.

^ What kind of extreme lack of patience do you need in order to not be able to wait for a simple "plot" command? lol

Originally posted by Canadmos

The method used to build with FVD's also has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing. [:P]

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i40195

That's sweet dude.

[A7]

Originally posted by tmv8888

^ What kind of extreme lack of patience do you need in order to not be able to wait for a simple "plot" command? lol

I don't know about him, but my main PC is a business class laptop, slow single core cpu and intgrated graphics. For me, plotting an element in Elementary takes well over a full minute. Thus, trial and error takes an extreme amount of time. So for me, it is not an extreme lack of patients, I rather find the wait is simply not worth the results. In fact, after about a half hour in Elementary my laptop will over-heat. Newton is nice, yes it lacks some features compared to FVD's but it does not over-heat my laptop and is much more responsive. I haven't created a full layout with Newton yet due to no free time at the moment but from the fist impression, I think it is a nice route to take for my situation. I'm still hand-building at the moment but I may eventually switch entirely to Newton in the future. When I get my first desktop, I will pobably switch to FVD's unless Newton gets some improvments to be closer to or better than FVD's.

Originally posted by Canadmos

The method used to build with FVD's also has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing. [:P]

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i40195

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i36791 <--- Thats Sketchup I'm guessing. Also, thats probly an imported track. How did you get it to be the right size. Ususally when I import a 3d into Sketchup it will become super small. What did you do to resize it? Or what ever you did........

I never learned how to use the FVDs, I never bothered to learn on my own and nobody I asked would help me out. I'm using Newton a little (for simple turns usually) and the rest is still hand-building.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Combination of all methods.

FVD is the way to go...Newton just doesn't allow you to do everything FVD does.

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i31397 <3. Just had to Chris

Originally posted by Canadmos

The method used to build with FVD's also has a 3d screen that shows you what you are doing. [:P]

http://www.nolimitsdevcenter.net/i40195

Wow... That's amazing.
I don't even know how to make a lift hill in Elementary (Is it even possible? [:p] ), let alone an actual element.

^ super easy, you just have to use HSAK. Its a very simple program that allows you to make perfect turns with perfect lead ins and all that jazz. If you want to make a lift hill, simple use purgatorium to flip the track piece to the way you want it and BAM, a lift hill.

[gouldy]

with a mouse...

...I move nodes around and then move their handles to make the ride smooth and the shape I want it...

i use elements from the pack for simple things such as loops, but anything else is handbuilt, shaped and then all sent through AHG, so effective. [url="http://www.coastercrazy.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18534"]thunder ridge racers[/url] is a good exaple of that, but it is a long way off of completion.

Originally posted by asaaa

^ super easy, you just have to use HSAK. Its a very simple program that allows you to make perfect turns with perfect lead ins and all that jazz. If you want to make a lift hill, simple use purgatorium to flip the track piece to the way you want it and BAM, a lift hill.

Thanks! I actually had HSAK, but not Purgatorium. NOW I can finally make a lift hill, LOL. [:D]

Sorry to go off topic, but, why on earth would you ever name a roller coaster Mother Earth.

I think that each method of building has good points too it.

Hand Building-You can get any shape you can imagine.
Elementary-Easy to use, but still gives you nice shaped elements.
FVD's-complex, but gives you complete control of your coaster.
Newton-Also easy to use, gives you good elements, but is still limited.

But really it's what ever works for you.

handbuilding because it's easy and i don't care enough to learn any more about the game.

Originally posted by disaster249

Maybe sometime...after I master Newton- but not now.

How can you not have mastered Newton 5 minutes after first opening the program?

Originally posted by Lewis13

[lol] Sorry to go off topic, but, why on earth would you ever name a roller coaster Mother Earth.

That was 4 years ago, so I can't really answer that LOL.
The things you do when you're young [:p]

i use only had building with my coasters as i feel like i have more control and i like to know nothing but mabye the AHG interfeared with it

I like to handbuild, as it is the simplest way to build. I do use H:SAK and the Elementary Wizards, but that is about it.

I really cannot get FVD's though, or Purgatorium, nor Newton.

I just bought the program this week, and handbuilding seems to work pretty well for me, as I can build the rough layout, morph the track how I see fit, visually smooth down the track, and simulate (Imy comp can load the simulator and start the ride in 8 seconds, very helpful when going back and forth). Then I can go back and modify an element, then have the simulator up to test it in another 8 seconds, then I can go back and fix the next piece that needs to be fixed, so and and so forth. Haven't tried formula based methods, but I like using the free moving camera to modify and inspect track elements, as I feel I have more control that way.