New Designer needs some pointers

Hello everyone

Let me first say I've been a rider on CC for ages and finally decided to start designing rides but I was wondering if I could get some advice. I see people talk alot of math in regards to hills and such and also smoothing and whatnot I wanted some Basic tips for me to start out on to make my first track shine

Granted there is math if you want to be a tooler. However you can also just eyeball it like most hand-builders do.

IMO, trail and error is really the only way to learn no matter which method you use.

[hyyyper]

http://nolimitscoaster.de/download.htm#helpfiles

Is there a general rule of thumb for say making a camelback Hill or any other element.. I know loops are teardrop shaped to reduce the Gs I have a book that had an article on an old coaster that could snap your neck because the loop was a perfect circle

[yoshifreak]

My best advice if you are going to hand-build is to take a look at the shaping on actual coasters and attempt to replicate it to the best of your ability. This should help you get a good feel for what works and what doesn't. For example if you want to build an intamin hyper take a look at pictures like this http://rcdb.com/1565.htm?p=3342 where you can get an idea of how to create the hills, first drop, etc. Once you get a basic design just start making tweaks and experiment. Like Tetsu said, trial and error is the best way to learn, but it's a good start to observe actual ride shaping.

[gouldy]

I would begin by simply hand-building your rides at first. Produce a ride that you've constructed by hand using real life coasters as a reference for things like shaping, simply by eye. Release it on the exchange here and have people rate it and give you tips on where you can improve. After you've put a few rides on the exchange over a course of weeks, months or years, you will have built up a good knowledge (from people's ratings) of how to contsruct a realistic coaster.

Then, if you want to take the next step towards realism, move into using the tools and learning how to use those to turn a rollercoaster that is realistic in terms of the g's, layout, style etc... into a coaster that's completely realistic in terms of it's construction and trackwork also.

Some people are naturally gifted with this sort of stuff, but as said above, your first coaster isn't going to be amazing, the only way to achieve that is with practise and trial and error.

Hope all of that made some sort of sense!

The general rule of thumb for making loops and camelbacks is to use Newton [:D]

Well thanks for the insight guys and the warm welcome! I felt a bit scared to upload a newbie creation. I'll be sure to upload something soonish

^ Don't be scared, Just go for it. Now that doesn't mean upload 5 tracks a day but don't hesitate to release one of your rides. When I was new to this site (less than a year ago) I kinda sucked at NL. Now I'm not too shabby. This site can literally work wonders so my advice would be just to learn and accept what people have to say about your rides. It truely helps you as a builder. Good luck

Just keep in mind that we will rate accordingly. Dont expect a 9 on your first ride, it may get about 3. But, dont worry about it and dont complain about it and build off it. I once rated someones coaster a 7 and because they didnt think it was high enough they PM'ed me saying that i was dumb for doing that and their coaster was worth a 9 blah blah blah. Thats the main thing i can say for getting better. When critisim is given, weather its good or bad or mean, take into account what they say and build off it. Follow that and i think you will be just fine.

Well I uploaded my first track its an arrow corkscrew coaster called corkscrew lol...I know orginal right Id love feedback Icve already gotten soem from people in chat but would liek more

[yoshifreak]

I left you some comments on your first ride. Hope they help you out a bit.