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City Showcase (All games welcome) => Mayors' Diaries => Topic started by: siemanthepieman on August 05, 2016, 10:21:29 PM

Title: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 05, 2016, 10:21:29 PM
First Settington, 1 September 1901

On 17 July 1901, King Schmo I tasked his eldest son, Prince Schmo, with the job of finding and creating a suitable port for the region. Upon his arrival in 1856 on what became the Greater Isle of Schmo, the King found his preference in the high country in the middle of the island and built his castle upon the top of the island's highest peak.

From there he reigned over the main island and a number of much smaller islands that surround it and a small settlement developed.

As the King's family grew (Prince Schmo, the first of 7, was born on 17 July 1874) so too did the settlement surrounding his castle. The settlement became known as Schmotenton. The King was incredibly wealthy and, partly due to his benevolence and partly due to its small but thriving local economy, the islanders enjoyed substantial wealth themselves.

Eventually though, by the time of Prince Schmo's 26th birthday, the royal coffers were becoming stretched and the thriving settlement was in need of a small port facility to ensure its continued prosperity.
   
Fiercely independent – and therefore, the King though, perfect for a potentially lengthy expedition to establish a port town – Prince Schmo commenced planning immediately. He decided that the logical course was to follow the Simoleon River which ran to the north east of the island, the opposite direction to river mouth where his father first landed 45 years earlier. It was well known, and indeed much lamented, that the river mouth where King Schmo first landed was entirely unsuitable for a port facility.

A ballsy sim, always willing to back his judgement, Prince Schmo decided he would build the rail track to take him to his new port before actually sighting it. From the say so of the early explorers, it was anecdotally known to consist of a large gulf, with rather large mountains running right up to the coast on either side. It was supposedly a very beautiful part of the island, with wooded plains equally suited to both forestry and clearance for agriculture or development. Prince Schmo decided that if worse came to worse, he would simply establish a seaside village and branch a new track off at some point in the hope of finding a suitable port bay the second time around.

By 1 September 1901, Prince Schmo had made substantial progress. After his track was 5000 sleepers clear of the town limits, he declared his first region of exploration as First Settington. He stuck close to the river to start with.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6p7FHAw.jpg&hash=ad42cba23d35a2ed3c71cfa0edb2d839209740da)

It wasn't long before his workers had to construct their first rail bridge. At this point, so pleased he was, Prince Schmo decided it was time to settle in to his new region. It was simple digs at first – just  a couple of small workers huts, one for him and one for his workers so that they did not have so far to return home each night and progress could therefore speed along!

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMuQAtqV.jpg&hash=5345777a6292dda29f3f4474484a3884dbe79975)

As the working party ploughed onwards, always trying to scout the flattest possible path for the rail lines, the tracks hugged the foothills for a period, deviating where necessary.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCFETQA4.jpg&hash=a6afc49fc28a1a3d0bf87e0b8e4985b4486ae87a)

And crossing back closer to the river if the land dictated that it be so.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdShzABl.jpg&hash=926cf61e539259375e7b7858d8b344b16b12db3e)

Eventually, a strange arrow (through which it was later discovered trains could magically pass) just popped up on the tracks. Prince Schmo decided it was an appropriate time to take stock of his progress and declare a new region. He named the new region East Settington and it was really just an extension of First Settington. There was nothing there, the working party simply built the rail line as fast as it could skirting the edge of the river and heading ever hopefully onwards.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfHSzrmZ.jpg&hash=b58fb0ad4b5d2c35b68a17d57d787eba9d35bc7d)

So keen was the working party for progress that it didn't even stop when the next mystery arrow appeared on their tracks. They carried right on until they came to an interesting watercourse that followed the river for a small while and then curved inland connecting the river to a large body of water. The working party followed the watercourse closely for a bit but became disheartened when they realised they might not find a suitable place to cross. They had almost turned back on themselves when, luckily, Prince Schmo himself noticed what was almost a natural causeway. Whilst of course the earthworks required to fully block an inland body of water from the river it drains to will never be insignificant, there was not a great deal of work required to complete a level causeway across the watercourse leading to what a short time later became known as Lake Schmo.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FoyDI1ui.jpg&hash=eb3dcdd343bef8fa9df7470515fc1c9539c5c2c7)

The finished product was rather pleasing and certainly sturdy enough to carry the heavy freight carriages that Prince Schmo envisaged crossing it in years to come.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FeEOLqDu.jpg&hash=32f6bbdb4075ef2a1ecc1307020cd9f22dca2ada)

Even more pleasing to the Prince, once the tracks crossed the causeway, they naturally came to a nice little clearing.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzW4P19X.jpg&hash=c609adb8de5a18886327eabd95fcb23dbcf1ecc6)

Almost immediately, the Prince decided to declare a new region – Settington Inlet – and a small workers hut and goods station was built to enable goods being transported from Schmotenton to be stored closer to where they were needed and to save the workers from having to return to First Settington each night.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6nzpJrM.jpg&hash=83a45f8f84cc591d10b792d13a9ca043310122d0)

This would be the site of Prince Schmo's first real home outside his father's immediate realm, but it certainly wouldn't be his last.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: APSMS on August 06, 2016, 01:15:58 PM
Fun way to start, and I'm always a sucker for a good rail line. I look forward to seeing what becomes of Prince Schmo.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on August 06, 2016, 02:40:30 PM
This reminds me loosely of Criquette's (Marrast) CJ a long time ago.

Nice start, the train line is so smooth and nice looking.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on August 06, 2016, 03:04:28 PM
Interesting! I repeat Arthur, the railline looks very smooth  :) The popping arrows - what a mystery? Maybe a sigh from the God, showing them the direction, they should follow? What could that be?  ;D
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Akallan on August 07, 2016, 04:08:39 AM
I agree with the comment of art128, your rail seems very natural with beautiful curves and marries the relief. Simple, but beautiful! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 17, 2016, 03:33:16 AM
REPLIES

Akallan, kbieniu7 and APSMS - Thank you for your kind comments. I am quite pleased with how the line turned out. It is my first real use of smooth curves and FA rail. Much more tedious to lay than straights and diagonals but worth it in the end.

art128 - Thank you, but I am afraid I am only going to disappoint from here on in if you are expecting anything too Marrast like. I've not seen his CJ (I will go and find it after this) but if his custom content is anything to go by my skills won't remind you of his for too much longer.

While I am on that point - a bit about me and my CJ. Like all of us, I play for fun. While I try to give my cities a nod to realism, I don't consider it the be all and end all. I plan to tell the story of Prince Schmo developing his realm through my CJ and will take considerable artistic licence as I go to make the story fit what I can achieve in the game and to suit the way my cities develop. I just hope the fun comes through in the CJ so that others might enjoy reading it. I am a not modder, or a lotter or a batter - although I have used the LE and Reader before to modify a couple of lots and properties. I hope that my CJ will allow me to both show off some lots I hope to make and enable to seek help and obtain feedback when I need it.

And without further ado, on with the story of Prince Schmo ...

Update 1 - Settington Inlet

Shortly after the first construction in First Settington, the Prince ordered the construction of a water tower and a number of small storage sheds and it was decided to split the rail line and develop a small town around the two terminating lines.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgJQQnSP.jpg&hash=68d036fd430913bbb783067bd24c7947d07a5012)

Prince Schmo then decided it was time to build a proper residence for himself – even if it was fairly modest by royal standards. Of course, all royals desire some level of security around their residence and Prince Schmo was no different. While building the wall around the township of Settington Inlet, Prince Schmo realised that the casueway he had constructed could well be the only way that any form of transport could ever get through to the port he ultimately hoped to build. He realised that a small fortification across the causeway would enable him to control who crossed into Settington Inlet and beyond. With that realisation, Prince Schmo fortified the causeway and declared himself King Schmo II - considering all lands north east of what became known as the Settington Inlet Forts to thereafter belong to his own autonomous region. The port, when it was found, would be entirely his and the ability to easily impose a toll on any rail traffic needing to use the causeway (which would be all of it) would ensure financial prosperity for all time.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcSwj1RT.jpg&hash=9cdfd665b81dc9336504a2051cccbcf0f9fd17c9)

So pleased was the Prince having declared himself King, he doubled the size of his residence and settled in.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fpn4rBkX.jpg&hash=46029c77b2660476fc9e12d7c26ddcdc412a1ff6)

And it wasn't much longer until a large warehouse had been built and substantial stores accumulated to enable work on the rail line to steam ahead.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FI9Oi5KM.jpg&hash=190427dddc06222881d1640d2f415eb721fcbd78)

And steam ahead it did ...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on August 17, 2016, 04:19:24 AM
Oh don't worry if you don't have the same "quality in skills" as Marrast... His CJ dates back from 2005 so a lot of things have evolved since then. (Notably HD terrain mods, seasonal flora etc.)

Seems like our new king set in a nice place. It'll be interesting to see how this area evolves in recent times. :)

By the way, here's Marrast CJ: http://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/5072-aureliano-flareflakes-rush/
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on September 18, 2016, 03:50:46 AM
REPLIES:

art128 - Thanks for the kind comments (and the links to Marrast's CJ - certainly some inspiration in there!) and for following along. It seems I have collected my first follower. Hopefully, as I progress through the evolution of my city I can collect a few more.

MUSINGS:

I thought I'd add a little bit more about the point and aim of this CJ - if it isn't apparent yet, it will become apparent that this CJ will be of a growing city and region. Later on I hope to present some perfectly laid out cities like I admire on here from others, but to start with, it will show rail lines being laid, suburbs and industrial centres and CBD's and business hubs being developed and, as cities grow, infrastructure being improved and expanded. And I am very much still learning all there is to learn about this game. I hope that my CJ will allow me to showcase improvements in my work and allow for other to offer helpful pointers to help me develop my skills even further. PS: I have already noted that I need to remember to turn off the grid when taking photos of my cities.

UPDATE:

Work progressed very quickly from Settington Inlet – the rail line largely skirted the river as it worked its way through the new regions of Valley's Flat and then Chilliwack Flats (a large region including South West Chilliwack Flats, South Chilliwack Flats and North East Chilliwack Flats).

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiklqlU6.jpg&hash=46dc761f168e13862c3657bb447541a8513eec8e)

Apart from a nice little set of bridges in Chilliwack Flats proper...

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcjXr5cI.jpg&hash=26a52c64a7d2929b3a841bba6dbaf5867b0d52e9)

... there was nothing really of note until the rail line arrived at Tribute Isles where another rather neat set of bridges had to be constructed to cross the river toward the much anticipated gulf which would eventually house the new port.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FmP4w3d5.jpg&hash=fff122226709cdbbe64e402fe7c4f0082965e8e9)

The working party then stuck as close as it could to the river, declaring the new regions of Knoll West, Goose Island and then Goose Flat.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzcUNDxq.jpg&hash=75beddfdc1483649a11c4a4af7dcb0f7327fc9a7)

It was easy going, with no construction of note other than a small abutted bridge towards the eastern edge of Goose Flat.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5Hhkcz9.jpg&hash=86b6f7f162b93b5d84ea9cf8a7ae5133664b00e2)

After the bridge the rail line continued beyond Goose Flat and the tracks returned to the banks of the river. As the tracks came close the banks of the river again, King Schmo notice a complex set of islands, beyond which he could see what seemed to be the start of a mountainous range next to a flat and open plain. The winds started to feel different and King Schmo could have sworn he could smell salt in the air. It wasn't long before the river started to bend back toward the south and King Schmo, confident the sea was imminently north of where the working party had come to, thought it was time to declare The Crossing and head due north for the sea. And so they did, at least for a short distance.

It soon became apparent that to complete the crossing heading exactly north would involve crossing a number of very small islands that didn't have the foundations necessary for rail traffic. But without turning back around either clockwise to the south or anti-clockwise to the west, the only option was a diagonal bridge. Even though it was 1921 by the time the working party made 'the crossing', superstition still held the wood over pure physics and it was strongly felt that bridges should only be constructed running north-south or east-west. A diagonal bridge had never been built. But circumstances dictated that engineering prowess finally overcome superstition and, at least as far as King Schmo was aware,  the world's first known diagonal bridge was constructed to complete the crossing.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4TzaXIr.jpg&hash=1e991ce8f0639cb1f4d89b4b625fba433b1c783d)

Directly to the north of the diagonal bridge a large mountainous range rose from the river banks. To the west a smaller mountian, probably nothing more than a large hill really, peaked a little inland, with a ridge that ran south west down to the river. King Schmo hoped that a scouting party sent along the ridge to its highest point would enable the working party to take stock and see exactly where they had come to. With any luck, the sea would be sighted for the first time since they set off.

Until next time ...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on October 09, 2016, 08:29:45 AM
The first diagonal bridge in history. :D
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on October 09, 2016, 09:06:06 AM
Yeah, the part about the diagonal bridge as a miracle of Engineering made me laugh :D hope to read more about some other achievements of King Schmo's team.

I love the ambience of that story - wandering trough the wilderness, conquering the land laying by the wide meandering river. Personally, I live in rather mountainous part of Poland, so whenever I go to the northern part of my country I always feel amazed by hugeness of the wide forested flatlands and wide rivers. And I had the similar feeling reading this story and watching the photos! I can't wait to see the coast!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on October 13, 2016, 01:45:16 PM
I like the storyline you have going here! Looking forward to the railroad reaching the sea! :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on October 16, 2016, 02:49:18 AM
As the working party rounded the foot of the ridge, they noted a small protected pocket on the lee side that King Schmo decided would be an ideal spot to build a small workshop and warehouse – provided the party was on track to hit the sea in the direction it was headed. King Schmo sent a scout up the ridge who returned to assure the King of two things – the sea was almost certainly less than 10 km to the north and that the top of the ridge would form an ideal footing for a substantial castle should the King decide to settle the area. That was enough for King Schmo to establish a small station at the foot of the ridge.  If nothing else, the King was tired of travelling what was now close to 40km back to Settington Inlet whenever he wanted to return home after a day on the rails with the working party.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXPfjKDl.jpg&hash=e77fd3599a5404f95a00f780eb2b297b1809f910)

Stores were quickly accumulated again and progress sped along once more.  North of the ridge the land was incredibly flat and the railway was able to run straight for a substantial time. 

A small curve around the foot of another hilly range ...

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4g1nOjj.jpg&hash=7900c1dea634188a983a658d507ccf22f9d085b1)

...and then it was just a matter of the working party snaking the rail line all the way to the water's edge. 

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjlaHgtl.jpg&hash=9090b9ef68cefb6e663e571d6f85f0bf25cc4c5c)

On 1 September 1923, King Schmo had finally reached what he was looking for. And what a perfect small port it could make. Assuming the sea was deep enough, a little excavation to open up the enclosed sea lake would provide the ideal location for the Isle's first waterside docks.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7eFgsh7.jpg&hash=19e45f97f58e7c54388ca5f2d9765c10292b53dc)

Looking back it was a long but rather uneventful voyage. Perhaps attempts to explore further, as yet unknown, regions of the Isle would throw up some more adventure. There is certainly plenty of unexplored alpine country to the north west and the south east of King Schmo II's rail line to the port. Perhaps once King Schmo I learnt of the fortification at Settington Inlet and had to pay his first toll to access the port that was meant to be established in his own name there might be some recriminations for King Schmo II. Who knows, maybe one of his younger brothers will want some of the Isle's turf for their own as well.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F04FLihQ.jpg&hash=e2d072ef5b60906bee8926025ac59087191c6edd)

But King Schmo did not dwell on the lack of excitement the last 20 years of rail building had provided. He was looking to the future. He wanted to establish himself as the King of his own region and force his father to feed his region's coffers by sending freight to the port. So King Schmo II established a small workers' terminus, and an equally simple three station freight terminus and immediately set to work constructing four large waterside warehouses with eight very modest docks. Nevertheless, through New Portland the Greater Isle of Schmo could now establish trade routes with the rest of the world. If it turned out that there was no other suitable port location on the Isles, King Schmo II would almost certainly be able to ensure prosperity for his regions and it peoples for years to come.

(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzNPGrTs.jpg&hash=effc86eb928ed89f670647e3b7d8a567b910d5a8)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on October 17, 2016, 12:36:43 PM
I like how you did the railroad! It's great to see that King Schmo II found a port for himself. I'm really liking the storyline so far; keep up the good work!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: FrankU on October 18, 2016, 01:51:34 AM
Nice story and beautiful region you have here.
Does King Schmo have a theory about the squares his world is divided into? Is it maybe a base for some religious philosophies?
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: noahclem on October 18, 2016, 11:01:08 AM
Lovely start to your MD  &apls  I enjoy the landscape and smooth transit networks--and had a good laugh at your diagonal bridge technology, which is a harder technology to master than it sounds like :D
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on October 31, 2016, 02:32:36 PM
Uh... this single straight stretch of the railway is mindblowing!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 06, 2016, 02:06:13 AM
REPLIES:

compdude787: Thank you. After all that time laying tracks King Schmo was very pleased to finally hit water.

FrankU: Thank you. I cannot take any credit for the excellent region - it is one of drunkapple's marvellous creations. King Schmo has no theory about the little squares - they are just the result of a Mayor who is still picking up all the tips and tricks of MD'ing. I 'banked up' a few photos before starting my MD so the grid will be around a little longer but eventually you will see that I learned to try to make sure I switch the grid off before snapping away. At some stage, I might even learn how to disable the UDI balloons. Hopefully at some stage my diary will even get up to scratch with the rest of them on here!

noahclem: I have been actually reading through your siilijoki MD these last few days - what a fine inspiration it is. My transit network might be smooth, but is nothing on yours.

kbieniu7: Sometimes, if the terrain allows it there is no way to go but straight ahead!

UPDATE 4: The establishment of the Establishment at Bran Castle

Of course, the King had no interest in living anywhere too close to the port, nor the workers who would inevitably come. And so Bran Castle was built atop the rigde where, sure enough, it turned out the scout who assured the King of an excellent footing was absolutely correct. It was quite a task constructing the road to the top, but well worth it for the views it afforded from the upper levels of the Kings new home.

4.1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvyKE0f6.jpg&hash=855d706d1809142d5b733c0ed34cde3c36d248b7)

It wasn't long before industry started filling in around the docks and a dirt road was built to follow the railway lines back to Bran Castle.

4.2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVHLXe81.jpg&hash=6158a8e9314d0bbf9c703e84b101190dbce41ed3)

4.3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0syyVnu.jpg&hash=12c3e08bd1b2086f50a50177957f26c4ca690f07)

Virtually overnight, industry took hold in New Portland and it wasn't long before the industrial demand outstripped the accommodation that the small rail side worker's huts could provide.

4.4
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FD3hVEAH.jpg&hash=93e072fe39de91b193bb09e7cd34cb3893301e4d)

Like the King, no one wanted to live too close to the newly developing port.  For one thing, it was clear that the port and its surrounding industry would eventually expand to cover a substantial area – and who would want to end living in the middle of an industrial park? – and it was probably less than 10 kilometres back to the foot of Bran Castle. It was an uneven and snaking road but the general consensus was that the commute was, or in the future would be, worth it.

At this time, about 1926, the King was erecting a substantial wall around his castle and he invited his earliest and most loyal workers and industrialists to settle within the walls of his immediate domain. If nothing else, he was sure King Schmo I would become decidedly displeased with his plans to start his own kingdom at some time in the future and he felt safer having an impromptu army of troops at his doorstep.  In fact the King even offered a great number of 'free' quarter acre and half acre blocks to anyone willing to build within his castle walls.  Of course, the land offered was offered as a fief – so the workers were actually obliged to fight for the King if ever required – although they were also paid for the work they performed in their jobs at the port (they had to be able to pay their taxes after all!).

4.5
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6qFNW15.jpg&hash=4a78eee8b98eabfe2ea569ad0926b8593b64e67b)

Next update we will probably have a look at what the township that developed inside King Schmo's castle wall looks like today.

COMMENTS:
You'll see in picture 4.2 and 4.4 a couple of my very first experiments in the Lot Editor. I didn't like having to leave a one tile gap between deadwood's excellent rail utility lots so I jumped on in to the LE to group 3 or 4 of his little lots into larger lots. My other foray into the LE can be seen in the first picture of my previous update - where I removed the passenger station from one of cogeo's Rural Train Station lots so that it was basically just a freight yard. I am quite pleased with the outcome but, sadly, it has now been so long since I did it that trying again would be like doing it for the first time all over again (plus I have changed machines so have to re-download the program, etc). I will do it at some stage (there are some lots I'd really like to tweak) but not sure when. At the moment, the plan is to build the region on a broad level, then go back in and tweak and detail, etc.


Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on November 06, 2016, 11:00:30 AM
Nicely done. Now the king can overlook the whole region from his bedroom. :)
It just needs some farmlands around the walls and it will be perfect.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on November 07, 2016, 09:55:37 AM
Yes, I repeat Arthur, fields! Fields is what is needed there! Hectars of wheat, that shines in the golden rays of sun!  ;D

I understand this dillema between choosing details or broader sights... it's a tough decision!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on December 12, 2016, 03:32:12 AM
REPLIES

art128 &kbieniu7 You are both going to like and then be bitterly disappointed with the field situation just beyond the castle walls. Stay tuned to see what happens in that respect...

UPDATE 5: Bran Castle today (or a little while ago at least)

The oldest neighbourhood in Bran Castle underwent a number of developments in its early years – right up until settlement outside the castle walls became commonplace when it settled down. It is one of the few neighbourhoods where all of the various classes of workers lived together, although it was pretty clear from the houses in which they lived who fell where on the pecking order at work.

5.1 - Across the top of this picture you can see the 'Management W2W's' that were filled by middle management workers and then the 'real workers' row houses in the middle
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBeSEKe3.jpg&hash=84d0cb5c8bd58ef8eb527f62ec6f517162ca98da)

5.2 - Across the top and down the left of this picture you can see the homes given to those who were the biggest help in building the rails to the Port. The 'U' shaped assortment of simple homes are even today fiercely held by the region's first workers - the warehousemen of the first docks of New Portland. They are simply homes but with a rich heritage and in a prime location.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FES07R8k.jpg&hash=880e59b036957408b8d44f3db9880821b990dcce)

5.3 - An overview from some years ago of the region's first neighbourhood. Today the common between the row houses is somewhat more leafy.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZrjOpkJ.jpg&hash=7137ea4aab821d4cb63e3f548f2f54e374407d4a)

5.4 - Back around to the eastern side of Bran Castle, a corner of soon to be 'swisher' homes in what would become a slightly more leafy suburb established. 
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSgTK7aI.jpg&hash=59c9f229742121871234d0c10fdd56b0855cdeaa)

5.5 - Eventually, but still much sooner than in most other parts of the region, gravel roads were laid. The homes were grew bigger and nicer than in other parts of 'the hood' within the castle walls and the region's first school was established. Later it became home to one of the region's first round-a-bouts, a small commercial hub and some small but useful civic services.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FOecPuqf.jpg&hash=4b95743d286cd3d98074bd9835f725ea532471c4)

5.6 - There are some really quite nice houses amongst the humble workers huts as we move toward the castle walls.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXhSpLMa.jpg&hash=345e06ad8586c2cfe2667ec143ff5d5bfae2ca4c)

5.7
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbaHjnKd.jpg&hash=0e8484c2ff3c6a73b86f43f81e49e7c4f6bc3582)

5.8
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjF5KTOy.jpg&hash=f0c79cabd5252f2d53f12d6979b36948160b79a8)

More from inside the castle walls (and beyond!) shortly...

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on December 12, 2016, 12:30:09 PM
Wow, looks nice! Where did you get that fire station in picture 5.5?
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on December 20, 2016, 02:36:00 AM
REPLIES

compdude787:
Thanks. The fire station is by Shmails - http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17750-shmails-small-firehouse/ (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17750-shmails-small-firehouse/). He also does a matching cop shop - http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17741-shmails-sheriff-stations/ (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17741-shmails-sheriff-stations/) - and clinic - http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17766-shmails-small-clinic/ (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/17766-shmails-small-clinic/).

One of my next modding exercises will probably be to make the radius and capacity on each of these lots large enough to service a full large tile. Does anyone know if I have to delete all existing lots in game before plopping the new ones if I do so?

UPDATE 6
It wasn't long at all before backroads started branching of the 'main' road back to Bran Castle and the 'backyard' of New Portland started coming to life.

6.1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FaSEhzQw.jpg&hash=937ed02309b9a51cc5d6478ffa3d4d8fbd9642c0)

The King also started 'selling' land on leasehold terms outside the castle walls. Those that could afford to started finding more isolated pockets of idyllic countryside along the Simoleon River to build their homes. Scattered amongst those homes were the region's first 'shacks' or holiday homes, owned by those who had found new and incredible wealth as the owners of the region's blossoming industrial powerhouses.

6.2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGq7spSb.jpg&hash=3ab7b7e5e4f988187f6936bd8ffa26e0373406ec)

Of course, when the Greater Isle was first settled, it relied on a band of dedicated farmers to provide the bulk of its produce. But none of the farmers came with King Schmo II to New Portland. It wasn't long before a small group of entrepreneurs, if you could call them that – harking back, as they were, to the agricultural ways of days gone by – saw how much food was now getting imported to Bran Castle from Schmotenton that they decided to set up a small community some distance beyond the castle walls (they wanted to ensure they remained in clean country air as Bran Castle grew) and developed a small farming community. Before long, Bran Castle had a number of farms only a couple of kilometres from its town limits.

6.3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHtWvliP.jpg&hash=a728948674932dcae309eba7f70f16777b7db804)

6.4 - The region's first farmhouse
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSMeEf0k.jpg&hash=1f90631f9ef5a2a4a46c1cff1645d5da2b2b6982)


6.5 - It was only about 5 years until the agricultural belt had grown to this...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdXI8brL.jpg&hash=59b5d19798688b594245e80872d2d79452b24702)

Sadly, the agricultural belt's days were numbered ... but you'll have to stay tuned to see what comes of it.



Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on December 27, 2016, 06:31:30 AM
I have really strange feeling when looking at theese modern houses and building inside city walls, heh... the originality of your MD :D Anyway, I think that those small maxis' w2ws fits well in there.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 08, 2017, 03:39:32 AM
REPLIES

kbieniu7 Strange it may be, but you have to remember, this construction was only as far back as the 1920's and 30's. I am not sure what is more strange for that time, the houses that were built, or the wall itself. Also, by and large, this is a naturally grown region. I am plopping some industrials and commercials but, so far, no residentials. Just that row of Maxis W2W's took a long time to grow, bulldoze, grow, mark historical, repeat. I have since added some more custom residentials to my plugins, but could always use more.

UPDATE 7
The industrial boom brought Bran Castle huge growth, soon the castle walls were full to bursting – and the residents, at least those running some of the more advanced industrial enterprises down at the port, were bursting with amazing ideas of new technologies and building techniques.

It wasn't long (about 1936 the story is told) before King Schmo decided to stretch his castle walls a little. There was already a small opening where 'the farmers' had broken a dirt road through to the north-east anyway and, at least in part due to swelling rumours of King Schmo I's increasing resentment of the tariffs he was paying to export goods from Schmotenton to New Portland and beyond, King Schmo II wanted a few extra vassals to whom he could grant a fief in return for their willingness to defend his realm should the need arise.

7.1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBEMdBrK.jpg&hash=8236e9685f873d168878a52040520626c442761a)

As you can see, some of the commercial development that initially sprung up just outside the original town limits was literally quite 'out of this world' and looked like it belonged about 70 years in the future. In the future, the development in this area would actually come to take on a more historical feel and the area would actually become known as Bran Castle Old Town.

The King also decided to expand the walls on the north western corner so that they encompassed a small section of the railway line that originally ran just outside the wall. Although the rail line was already fairly busy with freight coming from Schmotenton, the King bowed to increasing commuter pressure and ordered a small branch line be brought inside the original walls and a passenger station to be constructed.

7.2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVk1plw3.jpg&hash=ce3633ebb7e6a7c8101ac808477607938e8c8629)

The junction right next to the rail crossing and main entrance to town was obviously prime real estate for some commercial development and it wasn't long until a few more 'ahead of their time' commercial boutiques popped up lining the main road. The initial dual track entrance to the main line quickly became unwieldy with the switches and other rail traffic monitoring systems that the King had in place before 1936 and so the entrance to the main line was quickly remodelled to restrict passenger trains to one side only of the lines running to the port. Freight was still allowed to run on the 'passenger line' outside of commuter hours but a switch just before the line hit Bran Castle meant that, in practice, all freight from Bran Castle to the Port was segregated from the passenger traffic.

By 1938 the station and line looked like this (and ran express to New Portland – not one other station on the way!).

7.3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCOR6bFJ.jpg&hash=1d3ac1ad3826203ea5757cd27e9a3f1dffca5602)

It was about this time also that there established the first little 'very-well-to-do' neighbourhood within the castle walls, a leafy corner back around towards the Crossing where the region's first substantial homes were clustered all together so that the lucky owners could walk home from the numerous boozy dinner parties that they became accustomed to attend. 

7.4 - It quickly went from this ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTeIWA3T.jpg&hash=12f776fab6c31403b17839d000681b826b16fcd8)

7.5 - ... to this ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSpEl0QB.jpg&hash=9cbb47f5ff6c363a1f3484f08bb67d6b782a60be)

7.6
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fmkx5wMt.jpg&hash=74a744adae4f15840f06a31db21aced4c71430db)

7.7
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvpDoYq9.jpg&hash=b2befcc765601c69ec70da73f6c41035bcc0fea7)

7.8
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FaMmmgbY.jpg&hash=b8e05091adba963007f07a2642d4433c25ca6750)

7.9
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNAmqcRU.jpg&hash=61d39dfe5f3999b67cdcdc5bbacbe45db70f949d)

If you were working in senior management at any of New Portland's many successful businesses, this was the place to live. Whilst there would surely be many more posh neighbourhoods develop in and around Bran Castle, in the early days this was where the livin' was at! 



Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on January 10, 2017, 11:08:20 AM
Luxury pops out in the city! :D Good to see some improvements on the railline, never too much of raillines!

By the way - you could turn off the pause frame and U-Drive-It icons while taking a picture ;)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: vortext on January 10, 2017, 11:58:37 AM
Hm, your MD has been flying under my radar it seems.  :-[

Awesome region so far, is it an existing one or are you making it by hand as you go? Either way, looking forward to a complete picture.  :thumbsup: And great work laying down the railway tracks, commendable enterprise by the King!  :D

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on January 11, 2017, 12:23:56 AM
Ah, finally the wealthy people can feel safe and rich at the same time!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 11, 2017, 04:36:11 AM
REPLIES

kbieniu7: Thanks. I remember seeing a mod or cheat that lets you turn of the UDI icon - and I have been meaning to find it and remember to do it. Thanks for reminding me. I am not sure how turn off the pause frame. Perhaps I will just take shots without pausing.

Vortex: Thanks, but sadly I can take no credit for the region - it is 'Chilliwack' by dunkapple. All I have done is add trees as I have rendered the tiles and named cities. You will have to keep following along for a few more updates before you get some more full region shots (and even then you still won't quite get to see it all).

art128: Safe and rich - how we'd all like to be!

UPDATE 8

The 1940's saw things really take off around Bran Castle and the port. For starters, the region's first stretch of highway was laid. Construction started just beyond the extended castle walls ...

8.1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtllvfYW.jpg&hash=869cdc87feecacddb4cb5af66f54e73b0e285702)

8.2 - ... and slowly ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjjzbDql.jpg&hash=a698c72627b9acb9a05f72d4439ac9efcc35acad)

... snaked its way to the port. The highway was the first bitumised road beyond the original castle walls – it wasn't really bitumised but was made of tar-bound macadam, which was close enough for the 40's – and it decreased the commute for those who drove their own vehicles to work significantly. The King had plans in the future to bitumise most of the road network in his realm, but (leaving aside the fact that he was a bit of miser!) he wanted to ensure that the burgeoning industry didn't run out of commodities such as coal and tar whilst it was still undergoing rapid development.

8.3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiBMUGRL.jpg&hash=ae6002a461a6bf45b1b5c65b9964dc66d0366772)

8.4 - He also needed to keep some stocks for what was to arrive next in New Portland – large scale power generation!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSpMW8md.jpg&hash=53b36a7a9f62df55f74c75c4724802984d867cce)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on January 11, 2017, 10:51:23 PM
That's cool, now there's a highway and two power plants! It's neat to see your region becoming more modern.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on January 12, 2017, 01:36:26 PM
Road infastructure, yay! Wish to see years of building an impressive network by the royal engineers!

I really like how you aligned the road parallel to existing railline, that looks excellent! :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: MushyMushy on January 12, 2017, 01:52:51 PM
Looks nice!

The UDI icons can be turned off in the in-game UDI menus somewhere, no mods or cheats required. You can get ride of the yellow pause graphic with this handy mod: http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/18680-smp-yellow-pause-thingy-remover/ (http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/18680-smp-yellow-pause-thingy-remover/)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 20, 2017, 03:56:42 AM
I thought I would post a small update because a) there are a couple of replies to reply to and b) I have started to get a little bit into lotting and I have a couple of questions to ask.

REPLIES

compdude787 & kbieniu: Thanks for the kind words and (ongoing) encouragement.

MushyMushy: Thank you. I found the UDI switch in game. I also found the 'pause thingy remover' download but have just been taking shots with the sim running so far - it seems that the visible traffic is greater while the sim is running too. You'll all have to bear with me though for the next few updates at least, some of my pictures were taken some time ago - so they have UDI's, pause frames, the grid, even the menu bar from time to time!

LOTTING QUESTIONS
Quite some time ago I tried my hand at re-lotting a few railway stations and I increased the power/radius of a clinic and powerplant or two. I have recently download the LE, Reader and Pim-X again and started to make a few new lots.

9.a - I started small, putting a Shmails/Jenx fire station on cobblestone streets.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FInDZ8gR.jpg&hash=caf7c93704163c59aa243365599451d6678e0900)

9.b - I also made my first growable lots from some of Haarlemmergold's models.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXIxP8Th.jpg&hash=67390610d302e328b590b88930f1b9ff88e73b84)

But the reason I really got back into lotting was to make some more fillers - I love T-Wrecks' industrial fillers and wanted to re-texture some of them for my commercial areas (you'll see them in action later). As great as T-Wrecks' fill are though, I think there is a gap in the set in that they don't go right to the edge of diagonal roads.

9.c - So I have been using Paeng's fillers to do that job, but they don't match well enough with T-Wrecks' sets.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F61kGxei.jpg&hash=7c35f65e5c4005736bc6c154cd919a07cca89101)

9.d - To get a bit more coherence across my industrial areas, I re-textured T-Wrecks' fillers with the texture used by Paeng (shown here but without any diagonal roads involved). I thought I could then use these fillers and Paeng's diagonal fillers whenever I was dealing with a diagonal road situation.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzhqftFT.jpg&hash=56dd1d5f3c46d224bb4d679ed171ed024060fe32)

As you can see, my newly created fillers will match Paeng's diagonal fillers, but they then clash with the textures on the industrial lots themselves. T-Wrecks' fillers match the lots much better. What I would really like to do is apply the textures used by T-Wrecks to the fillers created by Paeng.

9.e - As you can see, I can re-texture the lot itself, but that is where I get stuck.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FafaPClG.jpg&hash=0e85623c99223a60048efaa7009e19272f1e0a8b)

And I don't know where to go from here. It seems the rest of the lot is actually a prop. Can I retexture that or do I need to make my own prop? And if so, how? Is it something someone new to lotting can do? I don't even know which program I should be reading the readme's for to see if I can do it. If someone could just point in the right direction I would be indebted.

I'd also really like to make a cheat of sorts by increasing the capacity for the landfill lots  I have had a look at the properties in Reader but can't see where I could do it. I want to do this is because I think that it is the landfill capacity that sets the limits for the neighbour deals for trash (ie; even if you have a heap of recycling centres, if you don't have much landfill you can't import much from your neighbours? I say this because I have one tile with no trash because of all the recycling centres, but I still can't increase the import rate from a neighbouring city to the capacity I would like, even though the neighbouring city has garbage piling up and heaps of monthly income for the deal).



And now on with the update - UPDATE 9

Up to 1949, New Portland and Bran Castle had been reliant upon small generators and jerry-rigged diesel powered 'power sheds' to provide power to its inhabitants. In 1947, King Schmo commissioned the construction of the new New Portland Docks and ground was broken for the development that year. In addition to wildly expanding the export capacity of the port (and therefore of the whole of the Greater Isles) it would also open up new import opportunities. The King saw such growth ahead that he figured a proper powerplant was required for his region. And so Port Schmo Coal Co. Inc. was founded and construction of a new powerplant commenced. To start with, the needs of the region meant that the plant ran at nowhere near capacity, such that coal could be trucked in and stored in a relatively small number of storage sheds close by. But the King had a vision that, one day, coal would arrive at port in large tankers and be carried to the plant by train. It was likely that by the time the plant was a full capacity, massive storage mounds of coal would have to be maintained close by.

The Port Schmo Coal Co. Inc. power plant and the docks of the Port Schmo Shipping Co. opened on the same day. The King, of course, had substantial financial interests in each. The docks were small but efficient, well serviced by both road and rail. The dock exported a lot more than came in, so much so that the dock was initially open for import business on Mondays only. Tuesday through Saturday it was used for export business (90% of which was from Schmotenton and was therefore bringing the King and the region a handsome income) and on Sundays it closed. The port was so efficient that, by and large, goods were transported to dockside in 40ft shipping containers and loaded directly onto awaiting ships. This meant that the need for dockside storage and warehousing facilities was minimised.

9.1
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnhMdd15.jpg&hash=995f215bf27ea9e66bcce8c0302f8e14a15ef29a)

9.2 - By the time the dock and the plant were completed, New Portland looked like this:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FjH4lvEh.jpg&hash=e0cd44c7a35453eadaae5908f965de05509b9192)

We'll come back to look at the port and plant in more detail later.
About this time passenger rail was completely segregated from freight onto its own line. A handsome station was built near the powerplant to help get the workers (who were now flocking to the region in droves) to and from work each day.

9.3
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxqBkjlC.jpg&hash=7182cb97366c46f0f90db60abab4943160305bd7)

The passenger line ran pretty straight and, with no stations between Bran Castle and the plant, the trip only took 8 minutes each way. With that, Bran Castle was set for a population explosion!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on January 20, 2017, 01:58:55 PM
Your city is really coming along! The docks look nice!! Though if you want to be historically accurate, containerized shipping didn't really come into vogue until the 1960s IRL.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on January 20, 2017, 03:06:03 PM
Regarding your question about diagonal fillers, I've never used Paeng's textures, but from what I can see at your screens, those triangle sections are indeed a prop. In such case, you cannot modify them in Lot Editor and you would need to make a new prop. To make this, you need to model such triangle and put a proper texture onto in. A program that allows model making is gmax with a plugin called Building Architect Tool (BAT). There should be plenty of tutorials and how-to's around sc4devotion and simtropolis.

And the update is cool! Impressive to see how big it has developed, when not so long ago it was just a small village  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 29, 2017, 03:40:41 AM
REPIES

compdude787: Thanks. It may just be that the Port Schmo Shipping Co. invented containerised shipping as the world knows it today. It only makes sense that it would take about 11 years for it to catch on in the rest of the world. If you check the history of the ship mentioned in the update below you will see I have taken some artistic licence with real life dates for this MD.

kbieniu7: Thank you for your push in the right direction. See below for an update on my lotting adventures.

LOTTING ADVENTURES
Okay, so I have spent plenty of time working on my region, but not much time at all actually playing it recently. First I spent most of a weekend (broken bits between looking after the kids, mowing the lawn, etc!) downloading and/or reacquainting myself with 3DS Max (I teach a Uni course = free licence = Yay!), GMax, the BAT gamepack, Reader, LE, LEProp, PIM, PIM-X and a FSH conversion tool and Photoshop.

I spent the rest of the weekend reading tutorials and trying to work out how to create my own overhanging prop in GMax. After quite a bit of fiddling around I almost got there. At the very least, I managed to make a prop and to add it to a lot and to get it in game. No mean feat for a first timer with the BAT really.

10.a - So here was my problem - gaps on diagonals with T-Wrecks IRM fillers
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwOiGMVv.jpg&hash=a0d86e0d18cdf67b60d70a96ecafb29b161fa57f)

10.b - And only Nightowls' fillers to fill them with (I think I attributed these fillers to Paeng earlier, sorry Nightowls!)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBcj8bfL.jpg&hash=7b5b6e2f27232332fccde02bdec5bd8e3dc0094c)

10.c - My very first prop in game. The texture is way off but otherwise not bad.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8p53A32.jpg&hash=7e4f8d55c3e8f940c46ec2bce622e4bdacbefb8f)

10.d - After some trial and error, the texture is finally a pretty good match.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYiJOGaS.jpg&hash=243c085813327e19a66925dc952c7ba751dc2bbb)

10.e - But what about the even bigger gaps on the other side of the road.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgxCoYCX.jpg&hash=ccef6f2f08c23c210cf50f47f94492043235fdb0)

10.f - An even bigger overhanging prop, of course.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ft48BMs3.jpg&hash=674347d7ca7e95fa986cb504e61c154fa0b9af73)

10.g - And as with everything you do yourself ... perfect! Just what I wanted.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSxoO91r.jpg&hash=a6ef00c8887bef5faf91e695c07390ffa5fdc220)

10.h - Or so I thought. After my apparent success with the ID fillers, I went ahead and created a set of IM fillers. But when I put them in game, where were they? You can see the lot about to be plopped, but the overhanging prop on all the others is covered by the roadside terrain texture.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIyDiWtp.jpg&hash=e4e7ad98e5ddaf131f989519c659dcc25416b034)

10.i - A closer look.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnagHKKJ.jpg&hash=15c0bb519767b0c6e9eb9534706f9344a0dce9ce)

10.j - I eventually found a work around (of sorts) by extruding the prop model to 15cm (it was originally 0). This works if the terrain is dead level, but you can see the little lip created by the extra height from some angles.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQdOBOkK.jpg&hash=26ca93a8f6f3f38ee5cc7ca2907dcdc63afe4274)

If anyone has any better way to overcome this problem I would be grateful to hear how I could do it. Also, is there any way to match a prop texture perfectly to an in-game texture other than (lots) of trial and error. You can see that my IM texture is not a very good match yet and I wonder if there is an easier way than setting brightness in Photoshop, applying in Gmax, exporting, checking in game, repeat!

UPDATE 10

News of Bran Castle's untold promise (and unsurpassed passenger commute by rail to and from the Port) got back to Schmotenton and new workers moved over and residential development went positively bonkers. Of course, by this time, the King had gotten quite a taste for having a substantial vault of simoleons. In fact, rumour initially had it that the hill upon which the King's castle was built was slowly sinking due to the number of simoleons stashed away by the King. Later, rumour came to have it that the hill was actually growing – due to all the simoleons the King had buried under his castle! Whatever the rumours, the King did enjoy collecting simoleons from his subjects. And so he started allowing more and more Sims to settle outside the castle walls. Unlike the pristine and picturesque country along the riverside – of which the King wanted to keep true ownership for himself so only let his subjects settle on a leasehold basis – the King started selling off hundreds of quarter acre blocks just outside the castle walls.

The King had also by then started acquiring interests in various of the industrial businesses now flocking to the area just behind the port, one of which was a sort of 'kit home' builder. And so the King came to really pioneer the 'house and land package' idea that would see whole new Edward Scissorhands type suburbs pop up the world over in the decades to come. He offered a two story kit home for just 99 simoleons with every quarter acre purchased. 

10.1 – The kit home was popular.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTDuAqXA.jpg&hash=a14594c101e903128577473423eb1c68791f0e02)

10.2 ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2LkWsfY.jpg&hash=ce02ab6dd48c2d7374768b7ddb86dd13d90cbc80)

10.3 – Very popular!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fugvk9d7.jpg&hash=b2fe966b33fe6abb1aff9f5d2385d535ba36bf51)

10.4 - Every now and then someone from management with a bit more money than everyone else would purchase a bunch of blocks and build a stonking big mansion (complete with a palm tree lined driveway) among the minions.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Frpd2O1m.jpg&hash=80f0943380906ffc5560b7f01e56665804369c1a)

10.5
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUyTW2eq.jpg&hash=778f5c96efff4bb8e53e79d6fad19dcb0db29523)

10.6
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbpkUjKs.jpg&hash=bfe9cf4ac78d9b2e2ab145282d33da0b5b764049)

10.7
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FlZMHokC.jpg&hash=1f6d0ba27bf8c6cda26ca2d9a7f609eeeacfe5df)

10.8
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNGFWYG8.jpg&hash=8238b940fed04215a5314ecc25478e36b5987366)

10.9
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCjJhvoQ.jpg&hash=f011e65925d5e984cb9f606b4b00ec49533de43f)

10.10 – A couple more palm tree lined driveway mansions nestled in amongst the masses. And kit homes running all the way to the Ag-Belt.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FggfzY0a.jpg&hash=979a1d223bec04dfc45acd6fc87234a44844cf0c)

10.11 - As you can see, education wasn't entirely overlooked in Bran Castle anymore (there is the high school in the picture below and you may have noticed the primary school in picture 10.4 and 10.9) and, indeed, a good education was becoming highly valued for the children of the increasingly large middle class of Bran Castle.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2CE3byv.jpg&hash=8bd2478e41d98dcb2ff9004c0a00ac38066d443a)

10.12 - Eventually, as far as the eye could see, even from the lofty heights of Bran Castle itself, two story pre-fab homes filled the plains in neat orderly rows between the castle walls and New Portland.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ft86GkYF.jpg&hash=e0eaa61f7858e5abbea59109e9bc7f30ef4f3739)

Eventually, new kit homes were released and new suburbs full of rows of different houses all the same popped up around the Castle.

10.13
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Farwo5i8.jpg&hash=cae4910e71272c9d9cb0a475192a38e33dca5130)

10.14
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFO8y6h6.jpg&hash=74d848ce0b3a6ed7aa681e037dfd2365b382a102)

The new port meant that Bran Castle and the Greater Isles had access to the rest to rest of the world for the first time. Although travel was not really an option for the average (or even very wealthy) sim in the 50's, the King himself did manage to get 'offshore' every now and then and he was often seen down at the docks meeting and speaking with those who came to Bran Castle from afar.

He was fascinated by other cultures, none more so than that of Japan.

In 1957, he met and fell instantly in love with a young Japanese woman when she alighted from a ship as it was at port one day.  Her name was Himeko and she was the daughter of the Captain of the Hakone Maru, Japan's first container ship,

10.15 – In 1959 they were married, and the King commissioned a two popular series of Japanese style kit homes (series one with brown render and black roof tiles, series two, slightly more expensive, was with white render and available in a selection of roof colours) to celebrate the occasion.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKkRWLHY.jpg&hash=6044e8be0f2b478576c6e562e2bd73de8691027a)

10.16 – The 'diagonals series' was also popular in some areas.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwobniUD.jpg&hash=09fae22aeaf5b1ad79729525f8de7a1be0bbbd16)

Again, we will come back to look at these and many other suburbs in more detail later. And yes, the 'Make Historical' button has had a work out in my game.

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: vortext on January 29, 2017, 05:19:00 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on January 29, 2017, 03:40:41 AM

10.j - I eventually found a work around (of sorts) by extruding the prop model to 15cm (it was originally 0). This works if the terrain is dead level, but you can see the little lip created by the extra height from some angles.
[snip]
If anyone has any better way to overcome this problem I would be grateful to hear how I could do it. Also, is there any way to match a prop texture perfectly to an in-game texture other than (lots) of trial and error. You can see that my IM texture is not a very good match yet and I wonder if there is an easier way than setting brightness in Photoshop, applying in Gmax, exporting, checking in game, repeat!

Instead of extruding the prop height, it works slightly better imho to 1) scale width & length of the prop slightly larger than ingame dimensions and then 2) raise the prop 0.1 meter in the LE. But yeah this only works on dead flat terrain indeed. As for the color calibration between photoshop and gmax, check this tutorial by Gascooker (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=5229.msg165896#msg165896) how to go about. Though it should be noted there'll always be a slight color difference between LE textures and props.

Quote from: siemanthepieman on January 29, 2017, 03:40:41 AM
Okay, so I have spent plenty of time working on my region, but not much time at all actually playing it recently.

And thus it has begun, welcome to the darkside where actually playing the game takes up about 5% of time spend on it.  ;D

Fillers looks great though. Also really like the organic flow of transit networks in 10.12.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on January 30, 2017, 03:49:36 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on January 29, 2017, 03:40:41 AM...And yes, the 'Make Historical' button has had a work out in my game...
LOL!

Thanks for this great MD.
In really like your storytelling, funny and a bit tongue-in-cheek  ;D

Keep up the good work! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on February 01, 2017, 02:18:13 PM
Interesting MD so far, the way you describing the development since early 20th century until then.. also interesting how the repentance of building do looks fine here :thumbsup:. keep up the good work!

Quotethe 'Make Historical' button has had a work out in my game.
Finally someone express same feels like I do with that button!!!  $%Grinno$%
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: compdude787 on February 01, 2017, 04:41:11 PM
Wow, that looks nice! It looks good in spite of the amount of repetition.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on February 13, 2017, 03:13:35 AM
REPLIES

vortext: Thanks for those couple of tips. I have been playing in LE more than gmax the last little while but also trying to enjoy just playing my region with what content I've got.

brick_mortimer, Nanami and compdude787: Thanks for the comments and encouragement.

UPDATE 11

By 1950, two new stations had been added to the passenger line to New Portland.

11.1 – The very first station built, the one inside the original castle walls, continued to be in use and was known as 'Bran Station Proper' or 'Bran Proper' for short. The viaduct that was eventually built to avoid multiple road and rail crossings as it got out of town was so steep that it was actually faster to walk to the main station (just out of shot to the top) but Bran Proper remained in use and popular as a status thing (if you caught the train from Bran Proper it generally meant you lived inside the original castle walls) and also for prosperity's sake.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5leVDsl.jpg&hash=3ced4061f15e515476d7dc3148cb6375a798a1fb)

11.2 – Bran Castle Central Station or 'Bran Central' as it was known, was only about 250 metres from Bran Proper but was a large station that could service the region's needs – not just the line to New Portland but other lines and services to the rest of the region as the region grew. It was well serviced by small commercial boutiques along the surrounding streets and benefitted from a lovely park full of walking trails right out front. Parking was limited to encourage residents to leave their cars at home and walk to the station.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FLOA0vNk.jpg&hash=931625ee30ef8429fcc4746e5841bbca915eebba)

11.3 – Suburbiton Station was developed alongside a small commercial hub and residential area that built up just on the outskirts of Bran Castle and was effectively a mid-point between Bran Central and the station next to the powerplant. It too was well serviced by nearby commercial development and it had a substantial car park. It quickly became a popular 'park and ride' as well as serving as a gateway to north-eastern parts of the region.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDdud611.jpg&hash=c39746ffd5dc0840383d557f0738a4119913cbde)

11.4 – The New Portland Terminus was a much larger station than required at the time of its construction. But unlike stations in residential areas – where the King would always be happy enough to raze a few houses to build something bigger – the King wanted to ensure that the station built to service his port was 'future proofed'. He didn't want to have to acquire and demolish valuable industrial businesses to rework a passenger station or rail line as it came in to the port, especially as it was so close to the region's power station. A row of bus stops right out front ensured that the workers wouldn't have to wait long to whisked away to start in whatever grimy factory awaited them each day.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbgsrMnr.jpg&hash=e09e04fbca1a2507a1e9c802bbc151e989cd9a81)

Naturally, the rail service to the Port ensured that industry kept expanding. By 1950, the backroads of the Port were knocking on the door of Bran Castle.

11.5 – You can see a little remnant of the old dirt road that the highway replaced in the bottom left!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSwshMgz.jpg&hash=fa978079ea93c8eec5dfaebb2acb29aea209820c)

You'll see Bran Proper Station again in a few updates time - keep an eye for a few little improvements to its surrounds.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on February 13, 2017, 04:56:09 AM
Absolutely great work on the last couple updates. As per usual the story telling is simply fantastic, and to think that it's all mostly naturally grown. The city is getting bigger and bigger... I wonder when the first skyscraper will be built. :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on February 14, 2017, 12:00:57 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on February 13, 2017, 03:13:35 AM...11.5 – You can see a little remnant of the old dirt road that the highway replaced in the bottom left!...
It are these kind of details that make a city look realistic :thumbsup::
Bendy dirt roads are converted into paved straight roads and small stretches of the old road are left behind.

I try to do the same in my cities, imagening where the roads "used to be" before I lay down my roads ;)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on March 07, 2017, 10:27:58 AM
Quote from: brick_mortimer on February 14, 2017, 12:00:57 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on February 13, 2017, 03:13:35 AM...11.5 – You can see a little remnant of the old dirt road that the highway replaced in the bottom left!...
It are these kind of details that make a city look realistic :thumbsup::
Bendy dirt roads are converted into paved straight roads and small stretches of the old road are left behind.

I try to do the same in my cities, imagening where the roads "used to be" before I lay down my roads ;)

Agreed! That's one of those points that shows the attention to layout details and historical continuity  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on March 16, 2017, 04:03:50 AM
REPLIES: Thank you all for the kind comments (and the 'likes' too). I am glad you liked the road remnant (I almost bulldozed it) and are enjoying the MD. I am having fun building and creating it.

I apologise in advance for some of the low quality pictures in the update that follows (eg; 12.2). Back when I took some of them was a while ago and I hadn't realised that the 'print screen' function was a much better way of taking pictures than the in-game camera.

UPDATE 12
For almost 40 years the fervour of the town's development, the rapid industrial expansion and the general excitement brought by the people who were moving there was enough to keep the King's subjects (and, indeed, the King himself) just happy working hard and living somewhere 'new'.

But of course nearly all of the industrial work was dirty, labour intensive work and there was nowhere to shop. The 'well-to-doers' soon demanded a downtown – or a commercial centre at least. 10 years after the idea was first floated, the location of a new city centre was agreed upon – curiously not near the centre of anything. It was, however, a lovely location with potential for beautiful views across the river.  It was also very conveniently located to the wealthiest neighbourhood of Bran Castle (where many of the residents having made their fortunes in the industrial boom were now living) and close to the road that came down the hill from the King's castle.  And that made sense, they were the ones with the well-educated children who would refuse to work in the dirty industries at the port and they were the ones with the money to spend on shopping trips and various commercial services.

12.1 - The little group of workers engaged to build the new commercial centre built up a small little community half way between the new construction and Bran Castle itself – sure to become highly valuable real estate in no time!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbYdCtrO.jpg&hash=10a01bc9c4838270c201def804756758a09e267f)

12.2
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxIQvRQd.jpg&hash=ccf85647fd01ac661ee6604497e740680da6e61c)

12.3 – No sooner were the first workers settled than work began.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhGiSrAZ.jpg&hash=1b1ecb267759f3eb5de41aa7f1f59174397655b3)

12.4 - It wasn't long before big business (by Bran Castle standards at least) settled in and the dirt roads were relaid with cobblestones.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FWlNoLr7.jpg&hash=ffbcde574bd1e976005dfd06f4d39a607b5adf63)

12.5 – Cobblestone plazas followed. The King insisted that the downtown be fairly open to start with so that glimmers of sunshine could still manage to get through and hit the pavers even once much taller buildings populated the city skyline.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMgqWdWQ.jpg&hash=02be874e06b4f028f7cb7acf7ca99e3f5aa08b42)

King Schhmo, having made his way to the Port and built his kingdom thanks to the power or rail travel, wanted to ensure the new business district was well served by rail. In fact, he wanted to ensure that his whole kingdom was well served by a wide spanning rail system well in to the future, and so commissioned a rail station (two in fact) and a city loop far in excess of what was required of the business district at that time.
12.6 -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FThYDBhs.jpg&hash=c10b3c6dd9833a9b64e67f6d645f4d09c867df9d)

12.7 - Such was the power demand of the new station and the ongoing contruction across the banks that the district was plagued by power shortages for a short while.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FkeCcVql.jpg&hash=eefea2e3c5e36d6b111db29c52ecaa1328bb0c01)

Soon the district became more settled and, for the first time, office work was a real and viable alternative for the working classes of Bran Castle and its surrounds. For a long time the city was troubled by some group called the Nintendo Corporation. It would purchase a tiny block of land, seemingly with the intention of building a small, low rise office block and then build a behemoth office tower, much of it encroaching beyond the boundaries of the land allotted to it. It was always, of course, out of place, no one liked it and it could not support itself servicing the relatively small communities in which it set up shop. It would eventually fail to pay its taxes and the King would order that the building be demolished (ahh, the perks of being royalty). Of course, the company itself was convinced that there was a market for these things it called 'gaming consoles' and kept puchasing land under various similar but different corporate identities and building its bloody office tower. For a while there, the King felt like he was demolishing a Nintendo tower every week or two.

12.8 -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fx4GHcTQ.jpg&hash=e87485e1e7dd3aec89b1a1544552e4728256a352)

12.9 - By 1962, downtown was finished and the region looked something like this ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTq1gy41.jpg&hash=3e80d0bbd2007a2f15f9bde6bc8c021f6aec57b2)

12.10 – Transport map.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FExA421e.jpg&hash=60f9b7fd901ce754cba08855ad48b6d51cb4327d)

Initially the commercial businesses that came to fill downtown actually had some trouble sustaining themselves – there just wasn't the population to fill all of the industrial positions in the Port, the commercial jobs around Bran Castle and downtown and have enough residents left over to actually fill the shops and offices with customers.

12.11 - The King soon realised he had become too enamoured with the space that the vast region he had conquered provided. His city felt big – and it was in terms of its footprint – but it just didn't have that many people in it and all of its various components (industry, agriculture, business and residential) were very separate and too spread out  (turns out he should have listened to that damned advisor that was always warning him about spreading his city too thin!)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4mS1L9v.jpg&hash=dfe3c920c2eb3cb8e7077eb0423ce98c9c9ff356)

... and he decided to start to focus on filling up his region with residents.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on March 21, 2017, 10:23:56 AM
Interesting update! apparently the king encourage the citizens to use the rail instead of road, seeing how the road connection outside the commercial district still made by dirt as I see in picture 12.11
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on April 08, 2017, 02:57:26 PM
REPLIES

Nanami: Thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, the King is miserly with his heavy materials and compounds such as coal, tar and ashphalt.

UPDATE 13

Such was his love for rail transport, King Schmo developed a novel method of suburban expansion. He would commission the construction of new terminus stations in areas that he thought were ripe for development and then offer land and handsome tax concessions to entice his subjects to build there.

13.1 – Donnington Station (to the left) and Peko-Wallsend Central (to the right) were your typical example – both circa 1964
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEk6KHwD.jpg&hash=077d6b8106c04ae0f836c11082de08948bb7383a)

And it worked quite well.

13.2 – Port's Corner Station (station built 1963, photo circa 1965)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFMkxOic.jpg&hash=c103f29e2bca728eacce68f738714db3e44c19de)

13.3 – Blackforest Terminus (station built 1962, circa 1966)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZfaS50D.jpg&hash=36bc0446e70f5891af9f48e373062a92ac63530f)

13.4 – Peko-Wallsend Central (circa 1967) – this area, along with Donnington below, was one of the real successes with this method of regional development. Indeed Peko-Wallsend was the first area in the region to have any really substantial high rise residential development.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2SZcunJ.jpg&hash=02c19f543ed3c2e3be518086a63016c2feba7f70)

13.5 – Donnington Station (circa 1967/68)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEPa4ijU.jpg&hash=aed545eb1da109ca02dc2c459e933a32147d220d)

13.6 – East Crossington Station (station built 1972, photo circa 1976)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FT0rfgNZ.jpg&hash=ae1030e27ee569d865bc6458bf3973caef5ba6ca)

13.7 - This method of suburban expansion saw Bran Castle and its surrounds go from this in 1962 at the completion of downtown ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4372Erd.jpg&hash=9d198583b939ff8fd288009c4d6cc5693f947579)

13.8 – To this in about 1968 ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrNrlh54.jpg&hash=57e453c1892e2994f4ca48487ac26dfea2b4697e)

13.9 – To this in 1976
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FV6Ju61i.jpg&hash=a73a468aecbf54bdb313e7f813a80c3d498d3c32)

And the King wasn't finished there ...

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on April 09, 2017, 12:21:08 AM
The natural growth of your region is splendid. The King is really doing good work with all the railways.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on April 10, 2017, 03:46:57 AM
You region is coming along nicely.
This will be a massive city when everything starts filling in / rising up  :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on April 22, 2017, 04:41:50 AM
REPLIES: Thanks art128 and brick_mortimer. I certainly plan to fill in the region. I am not sure that it will ever get super high density or 'massive', at least not by comparison to some.

UPDATE 14 (Warning: text heavy)
In 1972, King Schmo issued three Orders – 1, the construction of two rail lines, one each side of the Simoleon River, to run to the north east edge of the realm and beyond, 2, the construction of a highway from the downtown business district, south across the river end then east to the edge of the realm and 3, that all agriculture be strictly confined to 'Designated Agricultural Zones' to the west and south of Goose Island and the Knoll, or east of the Lesser New Portland Ridge. The King's permission was required for townships to expand beyond  500m on any given boundary and for all medium and high density development inside an agricultural zone (and permission was unlikely!). Knowing that the zone the south-west of Goose Island and the Knoll would be much harder to fill than that east of the ridge, the King offered to waive the fees for planning approval on all new homesteads and 12 months of no tax and free rail freight to Bran Castle and the Port for those who settled in Settington Inlet or on 'the Flats'. 

14.1 - By 1980, the two rail lines had been completed and highway ran across the river but only as far as Ambleside. The regional transport map looked like this ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fw08nofw.jpg&hash=e9b921039b47d1fa26aae2a0fcabc118908adc66)

Before we follow the transportational expansion and agricultural revolution of Bran Castle, let's have a closer look at some of the suburbs as they had developed of the first 60 years of King Schmo's reign.

But before we do that even, let's get ourselves properly acquainted with Bran Castle as a whole and learn a little about its somewhat curious divisional structure and system of government.

14.2 – Region wide map showing the named Shires, the metro area, designated industrial and agricultural zones, proposed development, 'unassigned' land and parts of the great unknown. The major geographical features are also labelled.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FsLbr4O8.jpg&hash=d4cb4a8de2b1077e7f274cbd25cd8bad6e482ec1)

Obviously, King Schmo was the monarch and ultimate ruler of his kingdom. And up until at least the 1960's he ruled in the form of an absolute monarchy – what he said went. There were no other rule makers or law makers in the land and he ruled his kingdom as any king does. And up until the 60's at least the Shires were little more than name-holders for the areas the King passed through on his initial journey to the Port. As the agriculturalists settled following the three Orders of 1972, the King appointed a Shire Reeve to each shire, primarily to collect taxes but also to keep a little law and order beyond the metropolitan area. There were no mayors, nor any form of local or regional government in the Shires. The King made the rules (including the tax rules) and the Shire Reeves enforced them – and usually kept a little extra stipend for their troubles in doing so.  As the King retained absolute control of the state forests and the Designated Port Industrial Zone (basically New Portland but encompassing small parts of the Shires of Port's Corner and Portsview as well), there was no Shire Reeve appointed to either area. Instead a number of well-paid ranger's positions were created for the Royal Rangers who patrolled the state forest and there was a Royal Reeve appointed to collect all industrial taxes, rates and levies in the region (including those within the industrial parks which were notionally also within the governance of the relevant suburban mayor). The Royal Reeve was the highest paid Crown employee by quite a margin and had a right of residence in substantial quarters within Bran Castle itself or one of many other Crown residences. He (or she in more contemporary times) was also traditionally granted a 99 year lease over a block of developable Crown land of their choosing (up to 48 by 64m) upon their forced retirement at age 50. The Royal Reeve's was a fiercely sought after position!

The Shires within the metropolitan area also did not have a Shire Reeve appointed. This was partly because these Shires were sub-divided into suburbs (some suburbs actually extended across the boundaries of more than one shire) and were much more densely populated.  Instead the King implemented a two tiered system for metropolitan Bran Castle whereby a level of governance existed within each suburb and then one across the entire metropolitan area. Of course the King retained the right of assent to all rules and laws (although there was also significant and well utilised rights of delegation) and the Metropolitan Reporting Council (the metro wide tier of governance) had the King as a member. The King's involvement enabled the MRC to act as a sort of third tier, region wide level of governance as well because the King would advocate for and consider and agree (or veto) proposals that would have affect beyond the metro zone.

The local government of each suburb was headed by a mayor and deputy mayor and had an official shield, crest or seal and a flag. This means that every suburb within metropolitan Bran Castle has a splendid Mayor's House and often an almost as splendid Deputy's House. Most of them also have an official motto and a distinct 'vibe' (at least they like to think they do).

The mayor and deputy of each suburb are supported by 8, 16 or 24 councillors (depending on the size of the suburb) although not many suburbs have a separate council chambers.

The King elects the councillors, who then elect the mayor. The King then appoints one of the councillors as deputy mayor (basically to keep tabs on the mayor for him). Every five years an 'election' is held, where the people elect whether to disband their local government or to keep it. The King usually follows the wishes of his subjects but is under no obligation to do so. If the local government is disbanded, the King selects new councillors (some or all of them different from before), the councillors must elect a new mayor and the King appoints a new (or the same) deputy. 

The suburban councils, and ultimately the mayor, are responsible for the provision of all civic services within their suburb – this includes education, police and fire as well as things like churches, movie theatres, playgrounds and the like.  They are also able to designate zoning types (residential or commercial only – industrial requires permission from the King) but must seek planning approval from the MRC to designate any particular zone for anything more than low rise development. Some mayors also provide local health clinics and small hospitals (some are also run privately, of course) although there is a large, public Royal New Portland Hospital in the CDB that provides free medical treatment to all who need it.

The mayor of each suburb then gets to appoint 2 councillors (1 from a council of 8) to the Metropolitan Reporting Council. The MRC is, in large part, no more than a facilitator for service sharing amongst the suburbs. While most suburbs have at least one primary school, many of the smaller suburbs in particular do not have the funds, room or inclination to build a large high school or even full service police and fire stations. The MRC is the body that enables deals to be struck between neighbouring suburbs whereby mayors can effectively buy educational, police, fire, health and other civic services from their neighbours. It also plays and important role in metro wide (and even region wide) projects and developments, especially with respect to Bran Castle's transport (for example, the 2 lane highway from Bran Castle to New Port would not exist nor get maintained but for the work of the MRC) power and mains water networks.

Not surprisingly, the King retained much greater oversight and control of the Shires, the state forests and the industrial zones that he did of the suburbs.  But, to be honest, the King was a small town, rural fellow at heart and didn't care much for the provision of civic services to his urban and suburban subjects. In fact, the only reason he really cared for them at all was to the extent that they helped fill the jobs in the industrial parks he created and, in turn, his coffers.
14.3 – Map of metropolitan Bran Castle.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FD86jeQb.jpg&hash=2735e947bcbc4fa6e06fb701d49cb1808becfb09)

I hope that the metropolitan map is large enough for you to read. From the next update, we'll start working our way through some of the suburbs, starting with some of the older ones and come to some of the newer ones later on. Then we'll return to see what became of Bran Castle's agricultural districts.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on April 22, 2017, 08:20:28 AM
Hmm, the King indeed seems to reign with kind of absolute power if he even chose local councillors. Anyway his Kingdom seems to be well managed. I missed last updates, I see a very dense suburban rail network! And not so long ago there was just one straight line going trough the wilderness!

What is more, that are nice maps you have shown us, makes easier to understand the area  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: praiodan on April 23, 2017, 05:08:15 AM
His Majesty King Schmo certainly has a sense of meticulously planning and organizing his kingdom, and with having an absolutistic rule until very recent he certainly had a lot to care of. Since it's good to be king anyway I think it was a good idea to get rid of some micro management stuff on the local level, so King Schmo again could focus on the grander scale of things.

Also nice maps by the way.  :P :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 17, 2017, 02:58:45 AM
REPLIES: Thanks kbieniu7 and praiodan, especially for the comment on the maps. I'm no great user of Photoshop so it took quite some time and effort compiling them (all the layers for the metro map in particular!)

UPDATE 15 –BRAN CASTLE CASTLE

For our tour of the suburbs, let's start back at Bran Castle – by which I mean the castle itself. We'll come to the 'crown land' and the suburb of Bran Castle (which we have already briefly visited) later.

Ground was broken for Bran Castle in 1923 and construction was completed that same year. HRH King Schmo officially took up residence on 1 January 1924.

15.1 – Up to 1970, there was nothing but a simple dirt road leading to the Castle. It was strictly limited to those on 'royal business' and tourists, sightseers, naysayers, protesters and 'the people' in general were strictly forbidden from trekking up the hill to view the castle, bother the King or even just take in the views.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0BVhXec.jpg&hash=9f3ac16a901d48ecbc05764ff1857399815c4cb6)

In 1971, the restrictions on access to the trail to the castle were relaxed (a little) and the castle was accessible to the public for the very first time. It was still, of course, impossible to gain access to the castle itself or its grounds, but you could venture to the top of the hill to get a close look at its formidable architecture and take in the views. To retain some of his previously viciously guarded privacy, the King had thousands of evergreen trees (a combination of common spruces, conifers and larches) planted along the road and around his castle.

But by 1982, the King actually came to have so many alternate residences (both within his own realm and beyond) that he was so rarely in residence at 'Bran' that guided tours of the castle were made available every fifth Thursday of the month (in the months that had a fifth Thursday that is, about four a year). They were, not surprisingly, incredibly popular.

It wasn't long until the nice crisp road up to the castle became very well-trodden and a couple of food stalls and other small vendors set up along the track.

15.2 – This vendor lucked in on location and ended up as an unofficial 'base camp' for those wanting to stroll to the top of the hill. On weekends, they couldn't stock the shelves fast enough such was demand for drinks and snacks by those who came unprepared for a day of walking up to the castle and back.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2JOXdoZ.jpg&hash=ecf702751c8d7703d4aec0e4a709787d013e35d8)

15.3 – Wine with a view, anyone? A bit past halfway up, Vinnie offered an overpriced tipple to those who wanted to stop and make an afternoon of it.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6HfcKqT.jpg&hash=f3f14b98a69eba5efb297496a633057609e7e53d)

15.4 – Once the trees filled in the castle and the hill upon which it sat was a majestic sight. Here you can see the only other development in Bran Castle the small freight yard that helped start it all at the bottom of the hill. Of course, Bran Castle Castle didn't have a mayor's house or any other civic amenities, it was the King's domain (opened to the public for looking only) and he didn't need anyone else (other than his servants and, of course, the Royal Reeve) helping  to run his own little slice of the world.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgqzxkqM.jpg&hash=c19953ffc39eea1d470accfa2c4f358e895d7496)

You couldn't see it in 1982, but it become increasingly common for trekkers to want to get off the beaten track and trek straight up the sides of the hills. In a later update, you'll see the paths that started to snake up the side of the castle hill from the railway running below.

BRAN CASTLE CASTLE BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1982):

King: King Schmo.
Royal Reeve: Osulf Bamburgh.
Mayor: None.
Deputy Mayor: None.
Number of Councillors: None.
Population: 2 (plus servants and workers of course)
Median Age: 48
Average Household Income: N/A
Average Education Level: N/A
Jobs: 5
Council Jobs: 35 (all Royal servants and workers)
Primary Industry/Tax Division: N/A
Notable Features: The King's home.

Shield/Crest: (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhZzBa5Z.jpg&hash=5b527bf28f183892e5cc38e72f1ecbd94973ce50)
Motto: pro se quam pro populo
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: praiodan on May 17, 2017, 10:12:56 AM
Very nice update! Surely a view worth a king up that hill. But I wonder a bit, that there seems to be now shorter way from the town at the foot of the hill up to the castle but all the way around the hill and then following the dirt road leading to His Majesty. Wouldn't that also be rather bad for te courtly logistics?  $%Grinno$% (Or in short; would it not have made more sense to set up the town on the other side of the hill?  :D)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on June 12, 2017, 03:33:33 AM
REPLIES:

praiodan - It might have made more sense - indeed the CBD when it gets built is built close to the foot of the road up the hill - but the King was initially keen avoid encouraging trekkers and visitors and the Schmotenton River runs close by, limiting space.

UPDATE 16 – BRAN CASTLE
Now let's take look at Bran Castle – by which I mean the suburb of Bran Castle at the foot of the castle hill. Those of you who have been following along have already seen a bit of what the region's first suburb looked like throughout 50's and 60's in Update 5.

There were no huge changes to the suburb after it became established, it just 'matured' a bit. All of the photos below are circa 1986.

16.1 – Bus stops were built next to 'Bran Proper' and a small bus service was established. The car parking and the trees around it filled in.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F36Mhuwx.jpg&hash=00fe5ab0343c6fd6fad36ed31b971779148cdd61)

16.2 – As you can see at the bottom of this picture (and others to follow) the jagged edges left over during the early days of diagonal road construction were smoothed out.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FOeOEsJQ.jpg&hash=f02ac788152ae254cdebb648dae3786fdae6d2e7)

16.3 – The workers' common, as it was known, grew in to quite a nice park to retreat from the sun on a hot summer's day. If you're desperate, it is apparently often good for a rabbit or two if there is nothing else in the fridge for dinner!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FO4m364m.jpg&hash=186c919b8d59dc2216c340a331f6bfb29c8656cc)

16.4  - The suburb becomes swisher and swisher as you work your way around to the main square.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3tpDB8k.jpg&hash=254610b9d28e175e6f2c83bc1938ce5ab0b19404)

16.5 – Here you can see the Medina Hotel to the right, facing on to one of the streets cutting through the old castle wall to Old Town.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FOET8MeP.jpg&hash=88519891161094cc545ce2f98cdc30337fb3c9d9)

16.6 – The Mayor's House is instantly recognisable in grey along Lakeside Drive, widely regarded as the nicest street in town.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FSuDbERO.jpg&hash=17d55f4bce70a43146ee5ea9713db167e527d575)

16.7 – And here you can see the Grand Medina, overlooking the main square of Bran Castle. Two other very nice but more boutique hotels also face on to the square from either side, along with a larger, more affordable hotel in the bottom right corner of the square. The blue building across from it and the three rather non-descript buildings in the very bottom right corner house all of the suburb's government offices.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FknbhYrB.jpg&hash=8702021790b739d3cb85197fc0f0d8028ab32b38)

BRAN CASTLE BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Matthew Bourne, one of the original workers who helped lay the tracks to New Port. Appointed aged 24. Now 78 and due to retire.
Deputy Mayor: Tom Porter. Another rail worker. You can see his house with the grey facade on the ground floor in picture 16.4.
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 800
Median Age: 48
Average Household Income: $85,000.00 p.a.
Average Education Level: Tertiary - thanks to the older residents with qualifications obtained back in Schmotenton.
Jobs: 25
Council Jobs: 85
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential
Notable Features: New Portland's first suburb, New Portland's first passenger train station (still in operation), the Worker's common. No industry, virtually no commercial space, nice hotels, historic residential centre of New Portland.

Shield/Crest: (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUBADqJv.jpg&hash=15e547282b9cbecf81460437a2251c71676f5b2a)
Motto: qui est fidelis pro servitio

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Akallan on June 12, 2017, 01:38:52 PM
Very pretty. One thing disturbs me ... You have in the last image the arrows of connections of the city that are side by side, did you take a picture of each part of the city to make one?

Because it seems to me that there is a mod that allows to play on a tile, and to see some tiles next to it (without being able to play on it).
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on June 14, 2017, 03:27:52 AM
Akallan: Normally I wait for replies until my next update but the mod you refer to has me too intrigued to wait - I did indeed have to take a photo of each tile and join them together. If there is a mod that allows you to see the tiles next door while you play, do you have a link or remember what it is called so that I can download it please.

For those interested, I have added a shield and some fun facts and figures for both Bran Castle and Bran Castle Castle above.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Tyberius06 on June 14, 2017, 05:05:20 AM
It's a very nice castle and neighbourhood! :)
My only and quite ridiculous question: have you noticed that you have some missing textures (or water bug effect) under the castle walls?

- Tyberius
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on June 17, 2017, 09:56:13 AM
Nicely done area! the thing that a little bit bother me is the same problem Tyberius told above. some piece of wall lot seems have a little bit texture glitch... I think it because the lot itself has a transparent base while you put it in not level terrain as I had similar problem with several lot with transparent tile on the slope. (even just very small difference result in this problem)
Other than that nice work! I like the concept on put 2 tiles city in 1 picture...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on July 03, 2017, 05:48:35 AM
REPLIES

Tyberius and Nanami: Thank you. I have noticed the water bug on the castle walls, but I didn't notice it was in all my pictures until you pointed it out! It is also a problem with ChrisAdams paths (I think that is who they are by). I am not sure if adding a base texture that matches my terrain mod will fix the problem? If it would, that might be a worthwhile exercise.

REQUEST FOR HELP
I am not sure I should post this here or elsewhere, but here I go anyway ...

I am trying to tidy up my menus using Reader and the Item Order property. Trouble is, once I change the Item Order number (I tried -1000000, -999999, -10000, 1 and 6 - letting Reader convert back to hex for me) three of the first four lots I tried have disappeared from the menu completely. They also don't show in the Lot Editor but the days are still in my plugins. Any one got any ideas?

The only other thing I can think of is I also used LEProp to change the lot name and description. Perhaps that is my problem.

Curiously, I tried with four lots and one worked fine. They are all very similar little filler lots that I made myself (with SPAM/SFBT props).

And is there any way to get the showing in menus/lot editor again or do I have to start from scratch and remake the lots (not too much trouble).
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on July 07, 2017, 07:58:41 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on July 03, 2017, 05:48:35 AM
Tyberius and Nanami: Thank you. I have noticed the water bug on the castle walls, but I didn't notice it was in all my pictures until you pointed it out! It is also a problem with ChrisAdams paths (I think that is who they are by). I am not sure if adding a base texture that matches my terrain mod will fix the problem? If it would, that might be a worthwhile exercise.

Yes, adding a base texture will solve the problem based from my experience.

not really sure but as much I know, hex is from 0 to f which is 16 in one digit IIRC. I think if you really want to rearrange the menu, just use standard 0-100 or something like that not negative number.
Anyway that just from what I know, please correct it if its wrong. good luck hope it will help.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on July 08, 2017, 06:10:49 AM
UPDATE 17 – BRAN CASTLE OLD TOWN
Bran Castle Old Town was built outside the original castle walls, but within the extended walls that were erected in about 1936.

This update is of the Old Town circa 1986.

17.1  - The Old Town is renowned for its fine cobblestone groundwork and although the commercial buildings are seemingly getting forever newer and forever taller, its skyline remains dominated by Bran Cathedral, especially at night.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzcOZScj.jpg&hash=84a63d203810a8c97f2ad4a9333dc0777eb5edea)

17.2 – The Deputy Mayor's house is tucked away up the back of the suburb and is a very nice pile of bricks.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtgbFfc3.jpg&hash=897f22c9b241991a4922452729966b2de1259a1e)

17.3 - Not surprisingly, it is outdone by the Mayor's house, which draws large crowds on the weekends when it participates in the region's Open Garden Scheme.  People are fascinated by the large eucalypts and the beautiful beds of wildflowers. The sheds up the back keep the Mayor's classic car collection safe from those who would like to obtain such a collection without actually paying for it!
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3xr7Nlm.jpg&hash=11e4d51abe74ba9ae248d4f62a032e3f73667125)

17.4 – Of course, the crowds also stop to look at the impressive Mayor's statue just across the road from the Mayor's house. Indeed, the Mayor, vain as he is, can often been seen over there admiring his own fantastic image case in impressive stone.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAwTvWz4.jpg&hash=58036c0f1b63425777c5ebe9684a17cf58d878e7)

17.5 – The Old Town is nowadays a curious mix of the old and new. Some say, under their breath of course, that the old money that sits on the Council is easily swayed in planning and development decisions with the passage of a few bucks under the board room table.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6i2mh2Q.jpg&hash=f760ce25560835b48b856c81682aa56692862297)

17.6 -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfSd7QtX.jpg&hash=e08e15af246902d0bf95435fd0811b8000ce070c)

17.7 – Some pockets are a bit more cohesive than others. Here you can see the Grand Medina in Bran Castle (bottom right) and its sister hotel, the Grand Medina Old Town (upper right) in close proximity to one other. Yes the names are decidedly boring and also very confusing. If the chain had a dollar for every time a guest rocked up to the wrong hotel ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FRLcxHX3.jpg&hash=e80e165df851f764db98adf6a64ad8d317c43801)

17.8 – This old apartment block in the middle of town was built before Old Town even existed. When it was built, it was very cheap housing - a nice building, sure, but outside the original castle walls and not in the middle of anything. Now it is prime real estate right in the middle of town (the Mayor's statue and house is just to the right of shot and the main commercial block just to the bottom). Those who bought in early are now sitting on a nice little nest egg and can obtain good finance against their equity for things like Competition Blue Dodge Vipers with speed stripes to go with the V10 under the hood.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6Z9TA9s.jpg&hash=4ed0bd38bad67b6de5fdb9d7c3d40f187955a2a8)

17.9 - The main commercial block
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqBEOCds.jpg&hash=84405da4ecf661cd97c06479d01219bf76d65832)

17.10 - An overview at night to finish off
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FLb4IvZ4.jpg&hash=007af071a37bb78a5c48fe2f72452f553b13cc50)

BRAN CASTLE OLD TOWN BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: David McQueen
Deputy Mayor: David Brown
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 278
Median Age: 39
Average Household Income: $107,000
Average Education Level: Bachelor level tertiary education (partially complete, still enrolled)
Jobs: 1400
Council Jobs: 85
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Office Services, Hospitality/Tourism
Notable Features: The Cathedral, Kirin Corner, Mayor McQueen's garden.

Shield/Crest: (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fxir0bmT.jpg&hash=938eb43001302e73ada6821a91c4f4797cb084b4)
Motto: cum fide a malo pro-tegimur
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on July 09, 2017, 05:51:10 AM
Interesting cobblestoned town! I mean its really cobblestone everywhere, both street and the sidewalk.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on July 14, 2017, 06:34:47 PM
UPDATE 18 – CALLISTEMON

Callistemon was Bran Castle's first truly wealthy suburb.  Early on, it was comprised entirely within the castle walls. Eventually, it came to include a pocket of homes beyond the castle walls as well.

18.1 – Here it is in about 1970. You can see the part of the suburb inside the castle walls to the lower left and the part outside the castle walls is to the upper right. The industrial area to the lower right falls outside the suburb entirely.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fxi8CVJO.jpg&hash=dce5d65458ae2f783aeb47a1f7f0f02d1554cf9b)

Those of you who have been following along might recognise the part of the suburb inside the castle walls from Update 7 and also recognise the part outside of the castle walls as having been started by that enterprising group of builders in Update 12 who built the downtown who settled a small little community half way between the downtown area and Bran Castle itself. It wasn't too long before that little group of worker's huts snaked back around on both sides and joined up with the rest of Callistemon.

18.2 – Of course, in such a suburb the Mayor and Deputy Mayor enjoy a pretty nice home. You can see them both here to the middle left. The Mayor's house is surrounded by a formal hedge with fields of white daisies, while the Deputy Mayor has the exact same house (!) just on a smaller allotment and surrounded by a low stone wall instead.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9FAhRKG.jpg&hash=d1c88dffe47490493f1c5ab1208c38799309fe79)

18.3 – A closer look at the Mayor's house.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQgF5Nn6.jpg&hash=6cafadcc15a37dc468e52b933e99f73942fcdc0d)

18.4 – The small commercial centre of Callistemon developed quickly. Originally a neat but rather clumsy arrangement of pretty generic looking offices  ...
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FsQzDI2B.jpg&hash=8b34e485eb6d3c45f3dd1ce28001e35b93a6f1f4)

18.5 – Some rather nice town planning some more interesting developments, including a quaint little church with a substantial rear garden, a very well regarded little elementary school and a much more cohesive scheme of sidewalks and paving amongst the shops and offices.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGeYncNb.jpg&hash=5acc3f9d10b2781165cd14223fede6dee94d5003)

18.6 – A closer look at the school.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FztxLPi9.jpg&hash=8e716391172a3258cc5a922b243e7ed0040b1f39)

18.7 – And a closer look at the church. A substantial monument was built at an important cross-roads to honour 'The Forgotten Explorer'.  Sometime during the 60's King Schmo II discovered that he was not actually the first person to sight the bay that become New Portland and that Dietrich 'Hugo' Rich had actually spent 100 days riding through the wilderness of the Greater Isle of Schmo and actually reported back to King Schmo I this area of untold promise. Of course, the King did not pay due attention to Dietrich's reports of his travels, much to his son's delight now.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGLUKfuW.jpg&hash=6e964089051521c834010e16001d230cf7842d0f)

18.8 – By 1975, the commercial area was nicely developed, with a fairly cohesive 'look'.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPljCcl0.jpg&hash=0079075184b52634a2e1ba647396e9c8129074aa)

18.9 -
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBR76TEW.jpg&hash=313cb4c075a6c9fa3dc4cc400218f20d527c8856)

18.10 – For no particular reason, the King was rather fond of this nice little corner leading out to the highway.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fka7eYx9.jpg&hash=af04a32c44a8737af652f5f1a2af6d914ef29e1b)

18.11 – By 1987, the back part of Callistemon had been overtaken by the mega-rich. The Port had been open for a number of years and many well-heeled trade merchants, particularly the Dutch, took a shine to the region. They settled in and, before long, Callistemon was home to the region's first mega-mansions.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fihk73uY.jpg&hash=613b9d722cf0a881e2cb78f1088a76a49791ba1c)

We'll come back to have a closer look at this part of the suburb in a future update.

CALLISTEMON BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Marlboro Dietenhofenn
Deputy Mayor: Paul Smith
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 385
Median Age: 23 (yep, lots of rich parents means even more rich kids)
Average Household Income: $312,000.00
Average Education Level: VET/Business College or equivalent (plenty of sharp business minds here, but not too many PhDs)
Jobs: 970
Council Jobs: 45
Primary Industry/Tax Division: High Wealth Residential
Notable Features: Bran Castle's richest suburb, The Forgotten Horseman Memorial

Shield/Crest: (https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FipHMQJs.jpg&hash=c51079ccb416777d4b26bc9a0a988d9be2edcf81)
Motto:  Concordia Integritas Industria
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Nanami on July 16, 2017, 08:12:54 AM
Another interesting update! although I find it funny where the road mostly full with buses.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 24, 2017, 03:16:15 AM
REPLIES

Wow. 45 days approaches rapidly some times! Black Forest didn't develop quite as much as hoped for this update, but alas, work and family come first.

Nanami: As always, thank you for your comment. The bus routes are in their infancy in the region and Callistemon is in the middle of the only route. It's popular! So popular it's a wonder none of the school children have been killed crossing the road outside the school yet.

UPDATE 19 - BLACK FOREST

Black Forest is a small suburb just outside the castle walls, on the opposite side of the hill to Callistemon. It started as a small group of what were basically shacks against the river (seen across the bottom of picture 19.1, those on the north side of the river and to the left of shot were the start of the suburb, those on the south shore are actually on crown land and not part of Black Forest at all) and nothing much happened with the suburb for a number of years. Back then, it wasn't really a suburb and didn't have a name.

In more recent times, two significant developments occurred.

In 1962, a terminus train station was built and the suburb quickly expanded from about 120 residents to about 980 that same year. The station was nestled amongst the thick forest in the area to give arriving passengers a 'sense of place' as they pulled in to the station and it was the forest from which the name of the suburb was eventually derived.

Then in the late 70's another 'boom' hit when a new hospital was built. The medico's all built nice new houses close by and things like parks and schools and shops got a nice little boost as a result of the extra employment and money around the place.

By the start of the 80's it was nice little suburb, well serviced but still holding on to its close knit small community roots.

19.1 - An overview from early on, about 1967/68
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQLXFWLU.jpg&hash=2845fbbafc54de7b57d481a1e4f5d52fb5c6cff5)

19.2 - The station that really got it all started in 1962. Curiously, despite it being perfectly placed for the purpose, there was no bus service either into Bran Castle or to the holiday locations close by along the river. It was a terminus in the true sense of the word. Perhaps the Mayor will fix it now that it has been pointed out! The Mayor, by the way lives in the row house at the bottom of the shot, with his domestic and garden staff to the left and his deputy to the right.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYe3Z0Qf.jpg&hash=160e43d52b5771abf3ea03e99baa1f3fa7673327)

19.3 - Of course, the junction just outside the castle walls was seized by a few smart local businesswomen to take advantage of the passing traffic.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxL0SQgu.jpg&hash=44bdcd85d7ef09a2c8dc02b0f2bb02eed7fb7d72)

19.4 - One little pocket of the neighbourhood was built during an era when Asian architecture was really in vogue.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FB71356T.jpg&hash=ae740b8c8e71087d532d00ed7d65d778bc893020)

19.5 - The hospital, sandwiched between a petrol station and a record store. Many nice homes were built close by by the doctors who worked there and a lovely park was constructed just across the road.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4rfHO4w.jpg&hash=248f168aa9625249562f73e21372b5ecc0102792)

19.6 - And to finish, another overview as we leave off with Black Forest circa 1979 or thereabouts.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5iliQbV.jpg&hash=fa35d8f00ccc0d44f3feeeed5cdd8445d3b3fe87)

Facts and figures to follow.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on September 12, 2017, 03:36:09 AM
UPDATE 20 - BURBANK
Initially, Burbank was nothing more than a few enterprising young chaps who were cheeky enough to 'set up stumps' on the otherwise unused land outside the walls of Old Town and build a few modest little houses for themselves. In 1951 the suburb actually became a suburb when the mothers of the children of the men who worked in Newport started demanding a high school at which their youngsters could be properly educated beyond Year 7. It was a boom time for the region and the constituents wishes were the King's commands.

20.1 – This shot shows the bulk of the suburb as it existed in 1954 when the school was first opened. Amazingly, the first serious incident involving a student straying on to the dirt road running between the school buildings and the playing fields didn't happen until some 8 years later in 1962.

(https://i.imgur.com/TpPsh2E.jpg)

20.2 – There was a few commercial offices and a little diner close to the school, but otherwise nothing but houses really ...

(https://i.imgur.com/VHFTxN7.jpg)

20.3 –
... from the roundabout just outside Old Town to the east ...

(https://i.imgur.com/897qVyJ.jpg)

20.4 - ... right up to the rails to the west.

(https://i.imgur.com/hVIYqGs.jpg)

20.5 – As the suburb grew, the councillors at least had the presence of mind to keep a large expanse of land vacant for a large bushland park in the middle.

(https://i.imgur.com/QlInGTu.jpg)

20.6 – They did, however, let most of the agricultural land get overcome by development. Amongst many others, the Mayor took up in a Spanish styled mansion in the northern parts of the suburb where there used to be a bit farming take place. Eventually, grumpy old Farmer Joe (with his beloved strip of farmland running alongside the railway) was the only farmer left in the whole suburb.

(https://i.imgur.com/YLqBtnD.jpg)

20.7 -

(https://i.imgur.com/I2VraIK.jpg)

20.8 – It wasn't long until the suburb extended all the way to the railway line abutting Cowandilla in the east ...

(https://i.imgur.com/0kr7nmb.jpg)

20.9 - ... and started curving right back around to Bran Castle (out of shot to the left).

(https://i.imgur.com/eKEJOQn.jpg)

20.10 – As it grew, the Council had money to start building some niceties such as sound walls along the railway and playgrounds for the many young families who moved in.

(https://i.imgur.com/mvuPZbc.jpg)

20.11 – Some larger commercial zones developed ...

(https://i.imgur.com/EmVp5GC.jpg)

20.12 – with new schools and medical clinics to boot.

(https://i.imgur.com/3vtQuj8.jpg)

20.13 – The Council even relaxed its zoning policies. First it let in medium level residential development and  then ...

(https://i.imgur.com/rU9iI32.jpg)

20.14 ... whilst not without its problems ...

(https://i.imgur.com/TTkUI3q.jpg)

20.15 – full scale high rise commercial development.

(https://i.imgur.com/h821otw.jpg)

20.16 – Of course there were perks that went with the additional tax dollars, like ponds and walking trails in the park for the residents.

(https://i.imgur.com/pmD4a35.jpg)

20.17 – And unforeseen riches for the little petrol station owners who got in while land was still cheap and the suburb undeveloped.

(https://i.imgur.com/nEg884j.jpg)

20.18 - By the 1980s, the suburb was (mostly) a sight to behold. Thanks to the kit homes that were used for 99% of new home construction at the time and the neat orderly rows of houses, there is something very Edward Scissorhands about the suburb. In fact, many people say that this is the where the film's creator, Tim Burton, grew up.

(https://i.imgur.com/5XMRjeJ.jpg)

20.19 – Of course, all rapid growth brings a few problems and Burbank was no exception. This seedy little strip consisting of a cheap motel, a couple of 'gentleman's' clubs and laundromat and some low rent offices popped up just as one leaves the suburb for Cowandilla. Don't even ask what goes on in the well-trodden patch out the back!

(https://i.imgur.com/HgRlPTw.jpg)

BURBANK BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: William (Bill) Burton
Deputy Mayor: Kim Boggs
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 4,827
Average Age:27
Average Household Income: $98,000.00
Mode Education Level: High School or equivalent
Jobs: 5,657
Council Jobs: 248
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Education and Insurance
Notable Features: High School students - untucked shirts, short tartan skirts and poorly tied ties. Lots of holding hands up the back of the buses. Bad music, played loud in oversized headphones.

Shield/Crest: Subject to outcome of a school design competition (results under review on allegations of vote stacking and fixing).
Motto:  Educationem campester in medium de speramus
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kelis on September 12, 2017, 08:12:57 AM
These residential zones are really well done. keep up the good work.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on September 17, 2017, 03:22:11 AM
REPLIES

kelis -
Thank you. There are many more to come. Hopefully not too repetitive.

UPDATE 21 - MIDGARD

Midguard is actually slightly a slightly older suburb than Burbank. Although there were many houses that pre-dated the train station, it wasn't 'christened' as the subrurb of Midguard until 1947 when the station opened to the public.

To its inhabitants in particular, it is the true heart of Bran Castle – it has the main station for the workers who flock (or should that be 'trudge'?) to and from Newport each day and it received the high voltage power the Newport feeds to the city and transforms it to the 240v that the workers need to boil their kettles to make their coffees to actually get out the front door and off to work each day.

Midguard and its inhabitants were a pretty straightforward proposition. Loads of workers and their families living in modest homes, a few little shops (it was in desperate need of a small shopping centre with a supermarket) and a handsome train station to ferry the workers to work each day.

21.1
(https://i.imgur.com/xt8QanS.jpg)

21.2 – Along with the 8.37am from Midguard, the 5.08pm from Newport (seen here arriving at Midguard at 5.19pm) was the most popular (and longest) train between Bran Castle and Newport each day.
(https://i.imgur.com/YCp9nbQ.jpg)

21.3 – The Mayor loved nothing more than sitting out front admiring the power lines.
(https://i.imgur.com/jgAmbEH.jpg)

21.4 – Of course, as soon as Burbank got sound walls and playgrounds, Midguard wanted the same. Midguard got a library too. Take that Burbank!
(https://i.imgur.com/gzdNMl8.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on October 01, 2017, 08:05:30 AM
Well, those suburbs are actually a little bit scary for me. All houses packed up and nothing but dirt roads around them :D However, going back few updates, I like to see some more historical-looking buildings, as well as more modern commercial zones (fortunately with asphalt roads!) in New Portland  :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on October 07, 2017, 04:17:22 AM
kbieniu7 - Thanks, but there are plenty more packed suburbs and dirt roads to come.

UPDATE 22 – CAMBRIA
Cambria is one of smallest suburbs, if not the smallest suburb, in New Portland. It consists of two fairly distinct clusters of homes – one group just out the back of Bran Castle Central Train Station and the other abutted right up against the shire line adjoining Port's Corner (not shown to the left of picture). Although long inhabited, it wasn't recognised as a suburb until 1952 when the commercial establishments set up shop opposite the train station's rear car park.

22.1
(https://i.imgur.com/aq1iv3Q.jpg)

22.2 – The businesses in Cambria do very well thanks to their proximity to the train station, but there are less than a handful of them - three small retail outlets (two convenience stores, one computer/home technology store), two commercial service offices and a nice enough motel directly across from the station carpark. The residents are a clucky lot who won't allow much more commerce than that in their lovely little neck of the woods.
(https://i.imgur.com/q0wlzpR.jpg)

22.3 – The north west section of the suburb is the pick for families, with a nice little school within walking distance from pretty much all homes.
(https://i.imgur.com/L7xdFgE.jpg)

22.4 – The suburb is small but prosperous and the Mayor isn't short of a dollar. Nevertheless he has only modest digs, albeit on a nice sized plot. Rumour has it the Mayor is a bit of a lothario. And that is on pretty good authority as the pines across the rear of the yard don't provide anywhere near as much privacy for the various (and numerous) hot tub visitors as the Mayor thinks!
(https://i.imgur.com/fGpgPr8.jpg)

CAMBRIA BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor:  Steven W. Gottschalk
Deputy Mayor: Currently vacant
Number of Councillors: 7 (Normally 8, but Deputy Mayor vacant)
Population: 423
Average Age: 52
Average Household Income: $63,000.00
Mode Education Level: Year 10
Jobs: 64
Council Jobs: 1 (station car park ticket collector)
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Retired
Notable Features: Not much, just a nice little quiet neighbourhood.

Shield/Crest: None
Motto:  De currus parcum tesseras enim rely
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 06, 2017, 01:36:15 AM
UPDATE 23 - PORT'S CORNER
Port's Corner is one of the few suburbs in New Portland to have part of its boundary align perfectly with the boundary of the Shire within which it is situated (see left of picture below, which is where Port's Corner meets Cambria in the Shire of Portsview). It is another small suburb, which sprung up around the terminus station built in 1963 when the King decided the little strip of land between the lee side of the hill and the train line was another nice little spot just ripe for development.

23.1
(https://i.imgur.com/0upMp9g.jpg)

23.2 – There was a large IT Polytechnic across from the station and lots of cheap housing throughout the suburb. The rest of the shops around the station catered to a student crowd, it was well serviced by public transport and the suburb was quickly rather full to bursting with IT geeks-in-training.
(https://i.imgur.com/17Tmbwj.jpg)

23.3 – As with all educational institutions, there were good students and those that lacked 'application' to the learning tasks at hand. Inevitably, those who lacked educational rigor ended up without work, drinking and smoking and failing to pay rent because all their 'hard-earned' was spent on partying (at least when the good students failed to pay rent it was because of the price of their textbooks). This meant they didn't look after their houses and their landlords certainly weren't putting any of the non-existent rent money into repairs. These students seemed to migrate to the edge of the suburb where the rent was cheaper and the long walk to school didn't bother them because they never went. In the end, there was a couple of small pockets of houses inhabited by Polytechnic dropouts which became the blight of the suburb. Even the civic services generally wouldn't bother to attend in the case of emergency. No one knows what came of this poor little house. Certainly, the fire department never came to find out and none its neighbours were there (at least not sober or interested enough) to find out.
(https://i.imgur.com/Fy9SIAy.jpg)

23.4 – That little fire actually spread far enough that it opened up a nice little vacancy big enough for a small primary school. The area was soon filled with a few nicer homes, big enough and nice enough to accommodate a family (rather than a group of unruly students!) and they spread primarily along the road running next to the train line back to the station and near the primary school itself. There was a neat little tunnel connection to the neighbouring suburb of Hawthorn too.
(https://i.imgur.com/R5MZCEz.jpg)

PORT'S CORNER BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):
Still to come.

Mayor: Digby Palau
Deputy Mayor: Esther Nett
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 1,856
Average Age: 23
Average Household Income: $48,000.00
Mode Education Level: Diploma
Jobs: 95
Council Jobs: 16
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Tertiary Education
Notable Features: Cheap rent, cheap beer, cheap IT support, noise (trains and students).

Shield/Crest:
Motto: Speramus per tech
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 23, 2017, 01:51:32 AM
UPDATE 24 – MALVERN
Malvern followed around from Port's Corner and joined it to the Adelaide CBD. It was well serviced for educational purposes by the Watson Memorial R-12 School and was the region's first real park suburb.

24.1
(https://i.imgur.com/snxYG4b.jpg)

24.2 - A beautiful walking trail ran around between the houses and the school ...
(https://i.imgur.com/ZMsR8mr.jpg)

24.3 - ... and under the power lines and across the railway and into Peko Walsend.
(https://i.imgur.com/jUl4uIC.jpg)

MALVERN BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Thomas Whistler
Deputy Mayor: Seth Ferry
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 2,586
Average Age: 47
Average Household Income: $94,000.00
Mode Education Level: MBA or equivalent (they're all upper middle management in CBD offices)
Jobs: 46 (they all work in the CBD)
Council Jobs: 4
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential
Notable Features: Adelaide Loop North Station access, riverfront homes, hillside homes, walking trails and scenery.

Shield/Crest:
Motto: Ad urbum imus
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kelis on November 23, 2017, 07:33:52 AM
Fantastic job as always, your touch to create those residential areas is from another planet, even with those dirty road they looks very good  &apls
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on November 23, 2017, 10:36:35 AM
These suburbs do look good.
I like the organic look and I'm curious to see how they will evolve
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 24, 2017, 01:58:10 AM
REPLIES:

kelis: Thank you. Those dirt roads are a trademark of the region, part the stingy King not wanting to splash out the dollars for bitumen and part the King wanting to make sure precious resources (the region is a part of just a fairly small island remember and the trade routes and deals are still being put in place at this stage) are not wasted on bitumising roads where dirt will do. Don't worry though, there is an underswell of dissatisfaction amongst the residents who won't put up with the teeth chattering road quality  around the suburbs forever.

brick_mortimer: Thank you. I am hoping to put out a few more updates in slightly quicker succession than I have been, so you may not have to wait too long to see how the region evolves. And rest assured, we will be back to visit some of these suburbs to check on development down the track. But we haven't even looked at the developing farm lands are rural areas yet and there are still about 15 suburbs, 7 industrial parks and a state forest to have a look at.

UPDATE 25: PEKO WALLSEND
As noted in update 13, Peko Wallsend was one of the real success stories of King Schmo's innovative expansion-by-terminus-station projects. The station was built in 1967 and rapid development followed. It was actually the first mid-rise developed area in the region.

25.1 - Argument raged amongst the locals as to whether the suburb was most famous for its early mid-rise development around the station, the riverfront development looking across the river or its fantastic lake.
(https://i.imgur.com/TboUhak.jpg)

25.2 - The lake was certainly the nicest place for a walk on a hot day.
(https://i.imgur.com/e6AUwSW.jpg)

25.3 - The popularity of the suburb and the especially the lake meant that mid-rising housing started to fill in behind the single dwelling houses that looked over the lake.
(https://i.imgur.com/flHUlrN.jpg)

25.4 -
(https://i.imgur.com/CgnEmdP.jpg)

25.5 - Of course, the 'town centre' was to mid-rise business development what the lake was to residential - a magnet. It didn't take too long for the south side to fill out.
(https://i.imgur.com/wMi6vC7.jpg)

25.6 - A nice big school campus was built to the north and Peko Wallsend Juniors quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the local soccer leagues.
(https://i.imgur.com/W8yj3Fp.jpg)

25.7 - Low rise development ...
(https://i.imgur.com/ngVLQnU.jpg)

25.8 - ... was always at risk ...
(https://i.imgur.com/dYtDH1L.jpg)

25.9 - ... of higher density redevelopment
(https://i.imgur.com/Z1Xvhkg.jpg)

25.10 - And a panorama of the riverfront homes to close out our tour of Peko Wallsend.
(https://i.imgur.com/zKMCKGq.jpg)

PEKO WALLSEND BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Erne Peter Baume
Deputy Mayor: Clyde Holding
Number of Councillors: 24
Population: 4,879
Average Age: 37
Average Household Income: $76,450.00
Mode Education Level: Secondary
Jobs: 1,724
Council Jobs: 78
Primary Industry/Tax Division: General Commerce (primarily retail, insurance, banking)
Notable Features: French's Lake, riverfront drive and houses, town centre parks and plaza, Aligator River (and the riverside walking trails).

Shield/Crest:
Motto: defendat, et ad elóquium meum
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: vinlabsc3k on November 24, 2017, 06:45:50 AM
It's an interesting MD, :thumbsup: but why don't you use the WRCs on SAM
and the roundabouts with asymmetric intersection? ()what()
You build the intersections too close to each other, this is just my opinion and
if you continue as is, when you will develop more, the streets will be a mess of traffic. :(
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on December 28, 2017, 01:46:37 AM
REPLIES:

vinlabsc3k:
Thank you. I only recently discovered the WRC's on SAM and am yet to come across the roundabouts with asymmetric intersections - or maybe I have, I am not quite sure what one would look like to be honest. Anyway, keep an eye out in future updates. I have also just started to realise the mess of traffic that my street layout has created. This update will be a prime example. Oh well, we live and learn. No harm in having a reason to upgrade some streets to roads and some roads to highways and rethinking the transport network. If the game was easy it would get boring right?

UPDATE 26: DONNINGTON

Those of you with great memories or who have been paying very close attention will recognise Donnington as one of the success stories of the King's terminus expansion projects (update pictures 13.1 and 13.5). You'll also recall that it was due to snake back along the train line that serviced it, all the way around to the suburb of Hawthorn. Well the snaking back around to Hawthorn took a while.

26.1 For the first 12 years or so the suburb didn't change or grow much. It popped up pretty much overnight in the 60's with the injection of cash and other incentives provided by the King on the commissioning of the station itself but it was then slow to expand back around to Hawthorn.
(https://i.imgur.com/1T25z4f.jpg)

26.2 The suburb sat like this for many years. It was a nice suburb, but so were many others and the small council had trouble attracting new residents and businesses after the initial rush.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z5Ujyx2.jpg)

26.3 Eventually the Mayor and founding councillors (there were 8 on the inaugural council) convinced the King to enter a joint revitalisation venture, spearheaded by the following initiatives: improved civic services, including a new fire station in the heart of the township; a market hall with modern car parking facilities immediately across the road (which teemed with visitors, both local and from afar, each weekend); and ...
(https://i.imgur.com/VCX0O1k.jpg)

26.4 a significant revegetation and biodiversity project which saw the fairly sparse scrub converted to a much denser woodland with a large variety of wildlife. Beautiful walking trails were also promised, but still hadn't eventuated by the 80's. Other initiatives included building stronger connections with neighbouring suburbs, new churches and libraries, a commitment to fully funded education (the average age was quite high and the Mayor wanted to attract the 'family dollar' by getting young families to move in) and additional 12 month tax breaks for new businesses in certain designated areas. It worked. In a period of about 10 years the suburb expanded all the back around to Hawthorn, with a connecting road officially opened in 1982.
(https://i.imgur.com/NsDD1qO.jpg)

26.5 The only problem was it expanded beyond the capacities of its dirt streets. Of course, the council said it needed Crown Funding in order to afford an upgrade and, of course, the King could care less ... until ...
(https://i.imgur.com/y5Z5e1i.jpg)

26.6 ... people stopped going to work and started moving out and ...
(https://i.imgur.com/whqnDHq.jpg)

26.7 ... paying less tax!
(https://i.imgur.com/KkTGOiZ.jpg)

26.8 Then it didn't take long for a shiny new blacktop, complemented with a decent bus service, to pop up ...
(https://i.imgur.com/wQn8r50.jpg)

26.9 ... and snake it's way back to the centre of town. Further road and bus (and sometimes even train) connections to the two closest industrial parks were promised, but were seemingly very slow to eventuate.
(https://i.imgur.com/I8hSe6X.jpg)

DONNINGTON BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Richard Abberbury
Deputy Mayor: Thomas Chaucer
Number of Councillors: 24
Population: 3,026
Average Age: 47
Average Household Income: $86,080
Mode Education Level:  Post secondary vocational certificate
Jobs: 530
Council Jobs: 60
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Retail
Notable Features: Donnington Station, Market Hall, Town Square, access to Woodlands

Shield/Crest:
Motto: Omnis sequi lepores meam cuniculum
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on December 28, 2017, 01:19:39 PM
Hi! Haven't been there for a while next period, but I'm happy to see that there are some kind of skyscrapers and plazas grown on the royal land  ;)

I really like how you made a football pitch from the picture 25.6. Simple but very nice and fitting!  :)

Quote
Those dirt roads are a trademark of the region, part the stingy King not wanting to splash out the dollars for bitumen and part the King wanting to make sure precious resources (the region is a part of just a fairly small island remember and the trade routes and deals are still being put in place at this stage) are not wasted on bitumising roads where dirt will do. Don't worry though, there is an underswell of dissatisfaction amongst the residents who won't put up with the teeth chattering road quality  around the suburbs forever.

I'm just hoping that those residents living by more used dirt roads don't need any kind of anti-dust masks :-X
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 25, 2018, 12:38:51 PM
INTERMEZZO - A BREAK BUT NOT A BREAK

I was going to give my MD a short break while I was on a short break (well, 5 weeks actually) in the UK and Europe with my family. I can't post a picture update, but I also can't just let my MD languish for 45 days without a post - so what to do?

I decided on a poll update or a reader input update, which I hope still counts for 45 day purposes.

Now, the next update once I get home will be another fledgling neighbourhood because I've already started it but after that, I'd like to know what everyone would prefer to see next from my MD:

1 - introductions to more suburbs? My initial plan was to show the beginnings of all of the suburbs of Bran Castle before venturing to other areas. I estimate we are about 3/4 of the way through so far. Does anyone want more of the same (they are actually starting to get more varied now) or are we bored with suburbs?

2 - one of Bran Castle's industrial estates?

3 - leave the metro area to tour the agricultural regions?

4 - revisit one of the suburbs in an earlier update to see how it has developed further?

5 - development of the huge park adjacent Donnington?

I'm open to other suggestions/input as well.

Oh, and rest assured there will be some big 'park & ride' bus termini coming to my region courtesy of what I've seen (and ridden on) in Oxford since I've been here these last few days.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on February 20, 2018, 01:56:15 PM
Well, seeing as no one has requested that my MD goes in particular direction, I'll carry on as originally intended - with a circuit of all the region's suburbs before looking at what else the region holds.

This is update is more of a teaser than an full update, to introduce a small suburb next to one of Bran Castle's industrial estates and celebrate (commiserate?) my return from holidays. Lots of inspiration for new development/suburbs/the region from my trip.

UPDATE 27 - HAWTHORN
Hawthorn is another one of those suburbs where no one is quite sure exactly when it came into being. It grew quite organically, following the establishment of the Midtown Industrial Park in the early 60's. It was populated largely by workers who determined the best way to avoid a lengthy commute to work was to build a house as close to the workplace as possible. By the mid 70's it was recognised a suburb in its own right.

27.1 - This is the suburb circa 1985. Rapid expansion, including commercial services, schools and the like, as well as strong links with neighbouring suburbs ensued, but that is for a later update.
(https://i.imgur.com/2aVOJ56.jpg)

HAWTHORN BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1985):

Mayor: Glen Speer
Deputy Mayor: Davenport Elder
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 913
Average Age: 42
Average Household Income: $46,780.00
Mode Education Level: Year 11
Jobs: 0
Council Jobs: 0
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential rates collection
Notable Features: None (yet)

Shield/Crest: Nihil Nisi Labor
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on February 21, 2018, 12:35:57 PM
Happy to see a new update of your MD.
Thanks to strict IT-security SC4devotion is now a banned website at work, so I missed a lot of updates during my lunch break surfing  :angrymore:

So I didn't see your poll, but I'm glad you decided to follow your original plan and show us more suburbs (unpaved roads and all :) )before you show further progress of the entire region  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on February 23, 2018, 01:58:11 PM
REPLIES

brick_mortimer
: Glad to see you are still enjoying my MD, even if you have to follow along from home now - someone needs to have a word with your boss about safe-for-work internet browsing! You, and others, who are concerned for my Sims with the lack of 'black top' in my region should find a little relief in this update.

UPDATE 28: SUBURBITON (IN PROGRESS)
Those of you who have been following along might remember Suburbiton, or the station at least, from update 11.3. The suburb developed hand-in hand with the station, which was built in the mid to late 60's.  We ended up with a small commercial hub and a couple of residential areas and a nice big car park that saw it become a popular 'park and ride' location halfway between Bran Castle and the industries of the Port.

Apart from one tiny residential street at the outskirts of the suburb and the large group of homes 'across the tracks' back toward Midguard, it was the region's first suburb outside old town and the CBD entirely with sealed roads!

28.1: An overview of the whole suburb
(https://i.imgur.com/I3gpTgS.jpg)

28.2: The little row of homes that developed just across from the parking area for the station and at the entrance to the suburb off the highway was generally regarded as the suburb's finest strip of houses. Initially the noise from the railway was a problem, but the residents got together and formed a little cooperative to build a substantial stone wall to block out much of the noise. The guy in the mansion to the top right of the picture chipped in a substantial extra sum to see the project completed after recurrent delays and difficulties sourcing appropriate stone saw some significant costs blowouts.
(https://i.imgur.com/HqaWKZB.jpg)

28.3: Suburbiton laid claim to the region's first under rail street tunnel. It ducked down under the rails on the station side ...
(https://i.imgur.com/WAn7kEV.jpg)

28.4: ... and popped up again to spit cars out into the commercial area on the other side of the tracks.
(https://i.imgur.com/KKKHxiB.jpg)

28.5: The commercial area allowed a small amount of midrise residential development and the influence of the King's Japanese wife was evident in the style of street employed through the area.
(https://i.imgur.com/vv4czna.jpg)

28.6: An urban vegetation program helped tart up the entire area.
(https://i.imgur.com/pFeKu1k.jpg)

SUBURBITON BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1985):

To follow

Mayor:
Deputy Mayor:
Number of Councillors:
Population:
Average Age:
Average Household Income:
Mode Education Level:   
Jobs:
Council Jobs:
Primary Industry/Tax Division:
Notable Features:

Shield/Crest:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: vortext on February 23, 2018, 02:17:02 PM
been lurking way too long .  .  :-[

reason being I kick back, read neat little stories and enjoy watching development - the spacious and organic layout is marvellous.  &apls

Also appreciate the stats, and wouldnt mind seeing a regional view sometime!  ;)  :thumbsup:


Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on February 23, 2018, 05:10:50 PM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on February 23, 2018, 01:58:11 PM
...You, and others, who are concerned for my Sims with the lack of 'black top' in my region should find a little relief in this update...
You'll put the carwash out of business with all the paving :D

Joking aside, I love the use of FLUPS and the commercial area next to the railway station.

I always try to develop an entire region as organically as possible (not only economically/financially, but also geographically) and your MD is inspiring.
But I never tried this at such a large scale as you are doing  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on March 04, 2018, 12:44:16 PM
Quote from: brick_mortimer on February 23, 2018, 05:10:50 PM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on February 23, 2018, 01:58:11 PM
...You, and others, who are concerned for my Sims with the lack of 'black top' in my region should find a little relief in this update...
You'll put the carwash out of business with all the paving :D

...with producers of wellington boots aside  ;D

I agree, the "organics" is the strong point of your MD. Could we call it a "BIO region" now? :D

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Organic-Logo.svg/200px-Organic-Logo.svg.png)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on April 07, 2018, 07:58:30 PM
REPLIES: vortex, brick_mortimer and kbieniu - Thanks for the kind words. I'm always jealous of those who can meticulously plan and then execute a picture perfect city from the start. I'm glad my inability to do so is being enjoyed by some!

UPDATE 29 - RIDGE PARK

Ridge Park is a long skinny little suburb squeezed between Lesser New Portland Ridge and Ridgeland Industrial Park.

It was always intended to be a garden suburb, King Schmo figured it would need to be in order to offset the fact it was tucked in behind a massive industrial park and not very conveniently located to the rest of the suburbs and main commercial districts.

29.1 - Of course, it started off fairly barren:
(https://i.imgur.com/B8HzTCB.jpg)

29.2 - In some places, the garden suburb intention was clear, what else could this open space become other than a beautiful public park?
(https://i.imgur.com/8XFffyB.jpg)

29.3 - It did have a nice backdrop, on one side of the suburb at least!
(https://i.imgur.com/QyXFzSj.jpg)

Initially, the Mayor of Ridge Park was going to go for a 'free form' planting and pathing plan (read: MMP and God Mode trees and paths). But shortly after Ridge Park was conceived, he stumbled across an old Mayor's Diary in the Bran Castle library that had recently had an updated edition released and was inspired to try to his hand at building a number of purpose built lots to fit every conceivable park space in the suburb. And thanks to Thundercrack and his awesome diary of the creation of the region of Marathon, I thought I'd bring you along for the ride by posting a few updates as I work through lotting up the parks and placing them in the suburb of Ridge Park. So stay tuned...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on April 08, 2018, 06:04:30 PM
I like your suburb.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on April 10, 2018, 01:29:04 PM
Ah another beautiful suburb from the realm of king Schmo :)

Have you tried the new WRC for the different SAM streets yet?
I think they would make your garden suburb look even smoother.

Looking forward to your experiments with the new lots :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 06, 2018, 05:37:27 AM
REPLIES:

korver and Papa-J:Thanks

brick_mortimer: I discovered the rural roads smooth curve puzzle pieces at some point during my agricultural expansion (which is still a few updates away) and have since discovered the draggable WRC's. I'm torn between smoothing out the sharp bends and not demolishing the houses that reside on them. I'm sure you'll see them creep into my older suburbs as time goes on.

UPDATE 30

This is really just a request for tips. I don't how you 'lotters' do it. After what feels like hours (admittedly not weeks, part of it is I haven't had much time to play lately), I've got my placeholders laid out (12 lots in all) ...

30.1 - Ridge Park is based around an old fort/castle, converted in a play space.
(https://i.imgur.com/EQkm89d.jpg)

30.2 - With some walking trails and other play equipment.
(https://i.imgur.com/k5fctoi.jpg)

But I'm struggling to work out how to fill them. What is the best way to see what props I've got? Surely no one does what I have been doing and just scrolls endlessly through the list of props in the LE clicking what sounds like it might suit from the description and hoping it does? I'll see my little project through, but, boy, I can see why MMP's have become popular.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: huzman on May 07, 2018, 07:17:54 AM
Siemanthepieman: This a double slam for me: 1)the Dirt Roads as I'm working on (with) them and all those 1x1 houses both straight and diagonal. Besides enjoying all these posts, I'm learning from them. So, buckets and buckets of congratulations !!!

Of course I have tec questions but I'm not sure if this is here where I should put them. I will wait some feed back about it.

Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on May 07, 2018, 12:55:08 PM
Yeah I know the pain when you might have to destroy buildings / setups that took a while to grow...
But then again: Kill your darlings  :P

Did I understand it correct that Ridge Park is your own creation?
If so, you have more courage / patience than I. I only use the LE to remove / realign props :D

About those props. If I'm not mistaken, the LE only uses the props you have in your pluginsfolder.
So If you only leave 1 proppack in your plugins before you open LE, you'll have a smaller list to choose from.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on May 08, 2018, 04:47:50 AM
An interesting thing you can do also, is use the PIMX instead of the LE. It's a bit of a longer, harder learning curve as it takes a while to get use to, but it's much better. It lets you preview the props instead of having a list of names like that.

Be warned though that it should not be used with a full plugin folder, only keep in your plugin what you really want to use with it.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 13, 2018, 05:12:36 AM
UPDATE 31

Work on Ridge Park's grand park carries on.

It's slow going (open lot editor, edit lots, close out, open SC4, realise something doesn't align/didn't save, close out, repeat).

31.1 - But it's satisfying seeing your vision come to life (within the limitations of your ability!)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z22xEkp.jpg)

31.2 - And as I start to get the hang of it, I'm starting to enjoy myself more and more.
(https://i.imgur.com/LzyXrpH.jpg)

And I'm already tempted to jump back into the BAT to try to make a big overhanging diagonal hedge prop so that I can get the diagonal hedges right up against the road.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on May 13, 2018, 08:28:46 AM
Quote from: siemanthepieman on May 13, 2018, 05:12:36 AM
And I'm already tempted to jump back into the BAT to try to make a big overhanging diagonal hedge prop so that I can get the diagonal hedges right up against the road.

That would be quite nice to see.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: brick_mortimer on May 13, 2018, 01:51:06 PM
It's indeed satisfying seeing your vision come to life.
Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 19, 2018, 04:59:44 AM
REPLIES: Thanks PaPa-J and brick_mortimer. The last few times I've had a chance to get into the game I've just felt like playing. So I'm returning to my MD proper for this update so you can see where I've been working - Newland was left as a blank canvas for many sim years. Ground has broken now!

Huzman - Sorry, I missed your post following my last update. I'm not sure if there is some forum rule/policy against tech questions in MDs but if not, then I'm more than happy for you to ask about anything you see in my posts that might be able to assist you in building your own city.

UPDATE 32 - Newland, Cowandilla and Banksia Park

This is a tripartite update taking in three suburbs.

NEWLAND

Until 1982, Newland was nothing more than land set aside for a relatively high density, primarily residential suburb to help fuel Ridgeland Industrial Park (which you can just see to the top of picture) with workers. The King actually appointed himself mayor and the Royal Reeve as his deputy in 'placeholder' appointments. Primarily he wanted to ensure that there were strong transport links to Ridgeland Indistrial Park and that the suburb otherwise remained largely cut off from the other surrounding suburbs to ensure the industrial park presented the most attractive work location by quite some margin when people started moving in.

32.1 (https://i.imgur.com/NE7VWTm.jpg)

NEWLAND BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1982):

Mayor: King Schmo
Deputy Mayor: the Royal Reeve
Number of Councillors: 0
Population: 0
Average Age: N/A
Average Household Income:N/A
Mode Education Level: N/A
Jobs: 0
Council Jobs: 0
Primary Industry/Tax Division: N/A
Notable Features: Vast emptiness

Shield/Crest: N/A

COWANDILLA

Cowandilla wasn't much of a suburb until after Burbank really started to fill in in from the mid to late sixties. Development was further fuelled by Banksia Park to the east (see below to see Banksia Park in all its glory). It was named after a small suburb in metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia, which is probably just like a million other small suburbs around the world - a small commercial hub, a couple of small schools, scurvy or two and a few parks amongst lots of unassuming homes on small eight-acre blocks. Over the next 20 years or so it just sort of popped up and then sat there.

32.2 (https://i.imgur.com/cGdGzkl.jpg)

COWANDILLA BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1987):

Mayor: John Trainer
Deputy Mayor: Colton Buchannon
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 1,675
Average Age: 31
Average Household Income: $66,000.00
Mode Education Level: Diploma Level Trade/Vocational Qualification
Jobs: 80
Council Jobs: 12
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential
Notable Features: Forest Bend

Shield/Crest:(https://i.imgur.com/oDj355E.jpg)

BANKSIA PARK

Banksia Park barely existed in 1968 but it's full footprint was in place by 1976. This was despite the fact it didn't have its train station in place until 1980.

32.3 - At the start, Banksia Park was accessed by local street connections only.
(https://i.imgur.com/GHXuIy1.jpg)

32.4 - Without so much as even a week of public consultations, the main connector was severed and several houses demolished in December 1978. Whilst everyone knew it was the King on one of his transportational whims, no one knew quite what was up.
(https://i.imgur.com/Buu3f5D.jpg)

32.5 (https://i.imgur.com/REiJb0t.jpg)

32.6 - It didn't take long for the King's workmen to leave a little clue.
(https://i.imgur.com/0SDgVw8.jpg)

32.7 - And by 1980, no one (except those who actually lost their homes) was even sad about the inconvenience and destruction of 1978. A brand new 6 line terminus station will keep a neighbourhood happy!
(https://i.imgur.com/S2kKj5c.jpg)

32.8 - THe new station lead to improved commerce and some upgraded arterial roads
(https://i.imgur.com/ShGNsur.jpg)

32.9 - The new station lead also spurred a refurbished plaza from the main station the smaller one to the north. Talk about prime commercial real estate. All of Bansia Park's most high end businesses and boutiques line this strip.
(https://i.imgur.com/6UKEmi3.jpg)

32.10 - Banksia Park Public High had lovely grounds.
(https://i.imgur.com/LLjNOfH.jpg)

32.11 - The suburb enjoyed a number of small commercial strips/hubs away from those centred around the two stations.
(https://i.imgur.com/SjY3Ii6.jpg)

32.12 - Here you can see the Mayor's interesting choice of Japanese inspired mansion directly across from the large station
(https://i.imgur.com/jf2DcmE.jpg)

32.13
(https://i.imgur.com/G7uJ3JS.jpg)

32.14
(https://i.imgur.com/ZN9Zbi4.jpg)

32.15 - The suburb had a beautiful little church, and the parish priest enjoyed a nice home in a lovely setting to the rear.
(https://i.imgur.com/buxczvP.jpg)

32.16 - An overview shot, circa 1984 Banksia Park in 1984
(https://i.imgur.com/66YKmV2.jpg)

BANKSIA PARK BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1984):

Mayor: Marcus Newland
Deputy Mayor: Frances Makin
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 2,455
Average Age: 27
Average Household Income: $57,000
Mode Education Level: High School Graduate
Jobs: 1,685
Council Jobs: 78
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential/High Wealth Commercial Boutique
Notable Features: Terminus Station, commercial plaza, interesting mayor's house, large and well regarded public high school, quaint church, expansive woodland surrounds

Shield/Crest: (https://i.imgur.com/aUj1LJz.png)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on July 05, 2018, 03:46:23 PM
PRELUDE TO UPDATE 33 - FOREST'S END

I didn't realise how long it was since my last update. Lest my MD fall into the 'Inactive' sub-forum,  I present an introductory shot of Forest's end, which runs along the Crown Land abutting the Schmotenton River below Blackforst and Banksia Park. It's a long skinny suburb currently undergoing a bit of a revitalisation.

(https://i.imgur.com/iXac9Ix.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on July 05, 2018, 06:03:36 PM
Looking forward to the real update. LOL
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 05, 2018, 04:38:27 AM
UPDATE 34 - FOREST'S END

Forest's End didn't really hit the map until the early 1970's when the space between shacks on the Crown land along the Simoleon River and the development in Blackforest started to fill in.

34.1 - In its early days it was just an unusually stretched and laid out suburb, the residents were laid back and easily satisfied in terms of utilities, local facilities, jobs and commutes.
(https://i.imgur.com/Xx7IQ8L.jpg)

34.2 - It later came to be plagued by abandonment problems and unemployment. In 1980 a committee was established to revitalise the area and improve desirability and job availability and in 1982 commercial development was in full swing.
(https://i.imgur.com/lkVrfSF.jpg)

34.3 - As trade and commerce came to town, a unique opportunity to align with a small commercial hub in Banksia Flat and create a true 'shopping corridor' linking the two suburbs was identified.
(https://i.imgur.com/wYON4Ue.jpg)

34.4 - It was decided the expense of a tunnel was worth it due to the lessened impact on the small run of trees separating the two suburbs.
(https://i.imgur.com/BKhVU8I.jpg)

34.5 - The project was a massive success.
(https://i.imgur.com/5RRLYFh.jpg)

34.6 - Major road upgrades and traffic management improvements were implemented.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZDdpxpt.jpg)

34.7
(https://i.imgur.com/VGpdAg6.jpg)

34.8 - There was another very small, but very swish small block of commercial mid rises in a lovely location overlooking a small tributary of the Simoleon River.
(https://i.imgur.com/bltU1Pt.jpg)

34.9 - The rest of the suburb is really not that far from where it started - quaint and fairly scenic. Example A
(https://i.imgur.com/U8G7RD3.jpg)

34.10 - Examle B
(https://i.imgur.com/hEAQb8k.jpg)

34.11 - Example C
(https://i.imgur.com/BcIjBTN.jpg)

34.12 - Example D
(https://i.imgur.com/E7Oo8ib.jpg)

34.13 - Overview after development, circa 1986.
(https://i.imgur.com/9u2cU3I.jpg)

There will be a short part 2 to this update, looking at the long arm of the suburb that snakes along the Simoleon River. So stay tuned.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Tarkus on August 08, 2018, 05:06:58 PM
First time here, and as a NAMite, I'm quite impressed with your usage of diagonals throughout here--it's really a distinct style of network layout, and I like what you've done with it.  I'm also always drawn in by road construction, so I'm enjoying see the upgrades you're doing as well. There's also a good interface between the natural and built environment, too.

And also, since this is now Reply #100, it's my distinct honor as a member of SC4D Staff to move "From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle" up to the Best Sellers category.  Congratulations! :thumbsup:

-Alex
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Seaman on August 10, 2018, 10:37:21 AM
Congratulations, siemanthepieman! Well deserved.  &apls
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on August 11, 2018, 02:45:48 AM
Great update, I also like your network layout.  Outstanding work.  Congratulations on the move to "Best Sellers" Category, well deserved.   &apls &apls
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 12, 2018, 05:19:44 AM
UPDATE 34.2 - THE END OF FOREST'S END

The part of Forest's End which runs along the bank of the Simoleon River can thank its existence to its most notable and distinguished feature - it is home to the region's first brewery, now mostly a museum although it still produces a small batch saison twice a year (one dark winters brew and a spring/summer edition). To start, the brewery was all alone on the banks of the river. Of course, people wanted to live closer and closer and eventually the long arm of Forest's End came to be!

34.14 - Whilst not the biggest, nor the fanciest, homes in New Portland, the four houses overlooking the river and closest to were coveted by many as the best four houses in the realm.
(https://i.imgur.com/XOnAATU.jpg)

34.15 - Of course, the outlook and general ambiance for most of the places along the banks wasn't too bad!
(https://i.imgur.com/gGhx2X2.jpg)

34.16 - Even the little commercial strip was quite nice, although regarded by many as wasted on shops and parking (at least wasted on such a drab little strip).
(https://i.imgur.com/DI1LV76.jpg)

34.17 - An overview of 'the arm'
(https://i.imgur.com/4utRNnW.jpg)

FOREST'S END BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Lyndon Schneiders
Deputy Mayor: Penny Sharpe
Number of Councillors: 24
Population: 3,978
Average Age: 37.6
Average Household Income: $72,500
Mode Education Level: Bachelor Degree
Jobs: 1,640
Council Jobs: 400
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Educational sevices
Notable Features: The Old Saison (the brewery), tunnel/shopping connection to Bansia Flat, riverside housing and walks, access to picturesque Crown land

Motto: Formae autem in flumen implete
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on August 12, 2018, 05:25:15 AM
UPDATE 35 - PICKET WEST

Ground wasn't broken in Picket West until 1969, it was always destined for great things.

35.1 - From humble beginnings ...
(https://i.imgur.com/TAbeNPL.jpg)

35.2 - its proximity to North Adelaide and the Adelaide CBD assured the suburb of its popularity.
(https://i.imgur.com/joLnbkx.jpg)

35.3 - As the usage of the regional highway crossing the river picked up, a large roundabout came to dominate the entrance to the suburb and construction took off.
(https://i.imgur.com/ObiMeCl.gif)

35.4 - And construction carried on.
(https://i.imgur.com/8Ir7Net.jpg)

35.5 - And on.
(https://i.imgur.com/ewiPlZ2.jpg)

35.6 - And on.
(https://i.imgur.com/20IJLdb.jpg)

35.7 - Picket West was regarded by many as the perfect mix of high rise development and impressive low density stately homes, complemented by some of the best walking trails in the region. The Mayor's house - to the far left - was also regarded as one of the region's best.
(https://i.imgur.com/RyWl2Eo.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on September 23, 2018, 06:12:18 AM
UPDATE 36 - AMBLESIDE

Ambleside, aptly named for its long ambling arms stretching out from the heart of the suburb, didn't start to develop until sometime after 1968. Word leaked from the Castle that the King was going to order the construction of a highway and an additional railway to cross the river and head east and the suburb had burst onto the map by 1970.

The suburb had taken on its basic current day footprint by 1976, even though neither the train line nor the highway had been built.

36.1 - An overview circa 1981. The highway actually terminated at Ambleside when first built. On the other hand, the train line ran straight through - with not stop!
(https://i.imgur.com/Z8ZQGrE.jpg)

36.2 - Being across the river and initially very isolated as it was, a substantial school was built to ensure access to quality education for those on the south side of the river.
(https://i.imgur.com/gsk04GZ.jpg)

36.3 - The King insisted a that there be a small group of shops which covered most necessities (groceries, post, banking, minor hardware and small furnishings, etc) nearby to the school to ensure a thriving but also very close-knit school-centric community.
(https://i.imgur.com/X0qyMwU.jpg)

36.4 - And it worked. Before long a high capacity station was built. The station did two things. It ensured those young, knowledge thirsty Ambledians could continue their education to tertiary level with a quick commute across the river the (soon to established) University in the CBD (and of course study is not the only reason to travel across the river to the CBD and beyond). It also gave a boost to the local economy.
(https://i.imgur.com/a7VBsMd.jpg)

36.5 - Building ...
(https://i.imgur.com/c4kiuaD.jpg)

36.6 - ... building ...
(https://i.imgur.com/9S4fh5r.jpg)

36.7 - ... built!
(https://i.imgur.com/oWLm5Le.jpg)

36.8 - What a result.
(https://i.imgur.com/UxkE8Xm.jpg)

36.9 - And so Ambleside went from a truly suburban suburb to a suburb of transitions. From low density residential to mid rise commercials.
(https://i.imgur.com/C2MsmcE.jpg)

36.10 - And mid rise commercials to mid rise residentials
(https://i.imgur.com/cFbJbPg.jpg)

36.11 - And more mid rise residentials.
(https://i.imgur.com/INoK5wT.jpg)

36.12 - And then beck to low density residentials and boys in between.
(https://i.imgur.com/KPQ1Smv.jpg)

36.13 - And then in some parts of the suburb you'd be forgiven for forgetting what a school and a commercial hub even were, let alone that both are within a kilometre of your front door!
(https://i.imgur.com/app7mT7.jpg)

36.14 - We finish with an overview circa 1984, with the highway now running through the suburb and making road travel to the east of the region a possibility.
(https://i.imgur.com/3TeTOkT.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on October 12, 2018, 05:01:12 AM
AMBLESIDE BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Paul Franklin
Deputy Mayor: Frances Beacon
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 5,287
Average Age: 34.5
Average Household Income: $62,500
Mode Education Level: Bachelor Degree
Jobs: 2,180
Council Jobs: 180
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Residential
Notable Features: Nameko Station,  16th century church house

Motto: non solum transitum discere posses
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: fantozzi on October 12, 2018, 10:05:42 AM
Hm. My latin got really weak.

Learning doesn't mean always to overcome?
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: scott1964 on October 15, 2018, 07:35:23 AM
Nice work  :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on October 15, 2018, 09:07:36 AM
Looks like there is a bit of an unemployment problem in Ambelside. They live so close to the center and train stop, yet are too lazy to go.. Great updates again. Always a nice read.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 02, 2018, 03:44:17 AM
REPLIES

fantozzi-
All the Latin l know (apart from a few of the legal phrases still in use) comes from Google. According to whatever translator l used, it says "Don't just pass through". l like your translation too though.

Scott- Thanks.

art128- I was hoping no one would notice - although the King & the Mayor certainly have. That is the problem with the slow speeds and unpleasant travel conditions on old, poorly thoughtout, narrow, dirt roads. The King and Mayor are still "umming and ahhing" over whether they will tinker with the road rules and the bus timetables and trip times (ie: l am thinking of tweaking my NAM settings and/or learning how to make my own changes to the traffic simulator to encourage longer commutes) or just bite the bullet like they know they should and start improving the road network by creating better more efficient routes from the outskirts of suburbs to their centres and by upgrading many of these dirt streets to sealed roads. Of course, the Mayor says he has no money. And the King is often reluctant to part with all of his!

UPDATE 37 - EAST CROSSINGTON

East Cossington is to many just another 'arm' of Ambleside. If you look back at image 36.1 and imagine that the line pointing from the train station through the school to the river points to 12 o'clock, East Cossington can be seen as the arm that runs away from Ambleside at about 9 o'clock. Of course, it's a brave man or woman who tells anyone from East Crossington that - there was a small band of fiercely local locals who fought long and hard to establish East Crossington as a suburb in its own right.

37.1 - Here you can see the original East Crossington. No one is quite sure exactly when this photo was taken but presumably some time in the seventies.
(https://i.imgur.com/69wf8mC.jpg)

37.2 - The locals really put some effort into the area immediately surrounding the train station - some commercial services, Some swanky shopping options and some warehousing and distribution capacity. Not to mention the walking trails by the river and throughout the woods.
(https://i.imgur.com/eaQHpOM.jpg)

37.3 - By the eighties, East Crossington was really filling in. The area pictured was (once built) arguably better serviced by Ambleside than East Crossington itself, but hey, the Mayor didn't really care where the shopping dollars and the school fees went. As long as the rates still came into his coffers.
(https://i.imgur.com/OdTBIBK.jpg)

37.4 - This brief update concludes with an overview taking in three suburbs -  parts of Ambleside at the top, our pfeature suburb East Crossington in the middle and Campbeltown at the bottom. Pleasingly, for those concerned with the current update at least, the lack of jobs only starts in Campbeltown. We might get to see what the Mayor of Campbeltown is doing about that in the next update.
(https://i.imgur.com/16xGtVi.jpg)

EAST CROSSINGTON BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1986):

Mayor: Richard Duke
Deputy Mayor: Kate Exeter
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 3,846
Average Age: 28
Average Household Income: $59,000.00
Mode Education Level: High School Certificate
Jobs: 1,956
Council Jobs: 56
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Office/Warehousing
Notable Features: The 'U' (an interesting 'U' shaped residential street), Jon Tomes' celebrity mansion, the East Crossington Nature Reserve and Walking Trails

Motto: Nice quod vias magna mora agebantur, et veniet, et faciam parcos
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: huzman on November 02, 2018, 04:17:40 AM
siemanthepieman: This is the best! Lots of ideas and tips! Hats off to you...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 18, 2019, 03:00:13 AM
REPLIES

huzman -
Thank you. I am glad if my MD is enjoyed by a few. If it actually helps someone with their own region, all the better. And the best part (to the extent I should be the one to judge) is that my BAT, Lot Editor and other modding skills are extremely limited - so anything you see you should be able to copy, if not 'straight out the box', then with nothing more than about half an hour of 'Google-ing' and a bit of fun mucking around with the game and its add ons.


UPDATE 38 - HAKONE PLATEAU

I thought I'd better not completely abuse my new found 180 day freedom from becoming an 'Inactive MD'er', albeit with just a small update.

Those of you paying very close attention (and with exceptional memories to boot!) might be able to work out from where this quaint suburb derived its name. Of course, it derives from the name of the ship (the Hakone Maru) which was captained by the father of the young Japanese woman who alighted from the ship in 1957 whilst it was docked up the Port Schmo Shipping Co docks and who married the King in 1959.

In the early days of the King's romance with his bride-to-be, it was a favoured location by the two for day-trips and camping ('glamping' really) stays. Their union was cemented on many a long walk around the untouched and unspoiled beauty of the large island in the middle of the river and the small tributaries running off the river in and around this area.

Eventually the King' camping days dried up and the area succumbed to some development. The suburb is now filled, almost entirely, by retirees who want to see the area remain as untouched as possible and whose needs are simple. A few

Cement was first poured in the region in 1971. It was designated a suburb and named in 1973 and was developed, pretty much, to its present day state by 1976. It has remained in that state ever since and unless the Councillors are prepared to seriously upset the King (and who would be?) it is unlikely to change significantly in the future. It has what its residents need to avoid having to travel back to Ambleside for their essentials, but little more. And that is how everyone hopes it will stay (thus the one picture update - it popped up quickly and, hopefully, will forever remain pretty much the same).

38.1(https://i.imgur.com/IuOR578.jpg)

HAKONE PLATEAU BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1988):

Mayor: Richard Duke
Deputy Mayor: Kate Exeter
Number of Councillors: 16
Population: 3,846
Average Age: 28
Average Household Income: $59,000.00
Mode Education Level: High School Certificate
Jobs: 1,956
Council Jobs: 56
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Office/Warehousing
Notable Features: The 'U' (an interesting 'U' shaped residential street), Jon Tomes' celebrity mansion, the East Crossington Nature Reserve and Walking Trails

Motto: Nice quod vias magna mora agebantur, et veniet, et faciam parcos

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: pressus on January 18, 2019, 03:18:52 AM
I am glad that you are not afraid of varied terrain, you are planning interesting arrangement of the area  :thumbsup:
In my opinion, the smooth road arches SAM (Rural) would look good here ...  ;)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on January 20, 2019, 03:37:46 AM
REPLIES

pressuus -
Thank you. Some of these streets have been around for many years, SAM smooth curves are coming!

UPDATE 39 - CAMBELTOWN

We saw a little bit of Cambeltown when were looking at East Crossington in update 37.4. And as appearances would suggest, Cambeltown really just came about when people started moseying down past East Crossington to see what was there and a few decided to stay. It was favoured by the Italian residents of Bran Castle and, while you wouldn't know it to look at it, it did start to take on its own unique Italian flavour as it developed.

39.1 - When it first popped up in the late 70's, it was a pretty boring suburb with not much to commend it - apart from its residents!
(https://i.imgur.com/JQkD4Lx.jpg)

39.2 - The town centre underwent a small renaissance in 1983 and a relatively fantastic park was built smack bang in the middle. The small pizzeria to the right of shot was hands down the best in town, obvious not just from the late night queues out the front but the mountains of pizza boxes always out the back.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZcKQFyS.jpg)

39.3 - Feng Shui got big at some stage, and later on scented candles became all the rage...
(https://i.imgur.com/78mHPRQ.jpg)

39.4 - ... to the suburb's great detriment!
(https://i.imgur.com/GnmK0UT.jpg?1)

39.5 - Luckily, the coffers in Cambeltown were pretty full. All it took was a new fire station ... 
(https://i.imgur.com/8gd911M.jpg)

39.6 - ... and a shiny new school ...
(https://i.imgur.com/6w86uj4.jpg)

39.7 - ... and they rebuilt.
(https://i.imgur.com/oOHkUyZ.jpg)

39.8 - In the end, it was a nice part of the suburbs to live in.
(https://i.imgur.com/lbtnxCA.jpg)

39.9 - And there we have it. Cambeltown. Just a simple little suburb, full of lovely people, living peacefully in a place that stretched off into yet another part of the region's beautiful wilderness. There is nothing that strikes you to look at it from above. It's down on the ground and in the details that this suburb's charm is to be found. Hopefully, one day, we'll get a chance to return.
(https://i.imgur.com/K9GDEOH.jpg)

CABELTOWN BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1988):

Mayor: Anthony Vallelonga
Deputy Mayor: Ada M. La Vista
Number of Councillors: 8
Population: 1,898
Average Age: 47
Average Household Income: $67,000.00
Mode Education Level: High School Certificate
Jobs: 687
Council Jobs: 42
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Retiree
Notable Features: Bobby' Pizzas

Motto: segmentum italia paulum bran
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Seaman on January 20, 2019, 04:24:26 AM
oh, that second pic looks great!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on January 20, 2019, 06:17:33 AM
I think they all look great.  I really like the dilapidated houses.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: pressus on January 20, 2019, 07:10:07 AM
We can see a lot of potential  ;), I hope that the end result did not turn out to be schematic  &Thk/(
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: dedgren on January 22, 2019, 09:21:21 AM
Nice work.  To the extent I have any critiscism, it is to compare the sharp angled bends in your dirt roads with your beautifully sinuous rail line seen a few pics back.  I've never been the biggest fan of the dirt road textures, but softening the turns a bit would certainly help.

David
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on March 06, 2019, 03:17:43 AM
REPLIES

Seaman -
Thanks. I was pretty pleasedu with that park too. Quite simple to make with a couple of nice SFBT downloads. Credit to the SFBT more so than myself.

Papa-J - At least someone likes them. They are the bane of my life! I am slowly bringing a decent portion back to life following a bit of searching on the forums which suggested a better bus and mass transit system might help. I wouldn't mind a few to stay delapidated except they are so dark. Easy to spot in game, but very unrealistic.

pressus - I'm making it all up as I go along. So if it ends up too schematic, it's only by chance.

dedgren - I think I have mentioned before that some of these uodates include pictures from some time ago - both before I discovered the SAM smooth curves (care of you, no?) and before the Draggable curves now available in the NAM itself. Bear with me and you should notice things start to get much smoother.

UPDATE 41 - DOWNTOWN

We saw the start of Bran Castle's Downtown in Update 12. Back then, 1962 and thereabouts, it more of a commercial centre than anything like a downtown. But it was popular and the King was determined to make it a success. Good amenities, a focus on plazas, fences and surrounds and targeted tax breaks helped significantly.

41.1 - The RBCH (Royal Bran Castle Hospital) was a big draw and a boon for the local economy, and largely paid for from the King's own coffers! It had the best of everything - even the hospital food was renowned for its high quality. If you had more than a mild cough, you wanted to be carted off to the RBCH for treatment and all of your nearest and dearest would come to visit. The RBCH, perhaps more than any other single building, ensure a steady train of visitors to Downtown.
(https://i.imgur.com/MvvpxzP.jpg)

41.2 - The domineering Police Headquarters building was valued by the local businesses for the security they provided, but other than with respect to the region's aspiring police cadets (who came to see the views across the river and town they could enjoy if they ever made it into the brass) it was the people it deterred from Downtown rather than anyone it attracted that gave it its value to the area. For those who made it in to the brass, it sure did offer nice views across the town and the river. Much better than the vile those on the beat got to deal with out on the streets on a daily basis.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKKFsI0M.jpg&hash=24bc10506ed0991bff4146e47efb1f8a7109b6db)

41.3 - Downtown High and the region's main library drew hordes of people, especially younger people into the city on a daily basis. The King was known the hand out generous Christmas bonuses to the staff and handsome scholarships to students at the school. As a result, the school drew the best and brightest teaching and learning brains in the region and developed quite some renown for the fervour for education that existed within the school. The library became not just an extension of the school environment (ie; full enough of text books that any thirst for knowledge, no matter how large, could be quenched) but a hub for further education and self betterment in and of itself (ie; full of exhibitions, artworks, books and displays of general intellectual interest).
(https://i.imgur.com/Rr9BbR3.jpg)

41.4 - As you'd expect, Downtown started off as a fairly modest affair. Beautiful and, certainly in parts, impressive - check out that magnificent Town Hall with a plaza leading down the water's edge - but modest by many standards ...
(https://i.imgur.com/hGfE19N.jpg)

41.5 - But it grew ...
(https://i.imgur.com/1manjP6.jpg)

41.6 - And grew, filling in in what the King considered to be a nicely balanced manner - creating a hub for business and development and a centre for the region, without compromising too much the residential offerings that surrounded Downtown and which wanted their own access and proximity to the river.
(https://i.imgur.com/0OIecYJ.jpg)

41.7 - And it continued to fill in ...
(https://i.imgur.com/2YpdBMC.jpg)

41.8 - And fill in.
(https://i.imgur.com/XoxKKNw.jpg)

41.9 - Eventually, whilst it could always go up higher or fill in more densely, it became pretty much full. Thankfully careful planning by the local council and the King meant that the river and its banks remained largely untouched by the development, which gave Downtown a softness and touch of serentiy not often found in other highly built up areas. The area was well serviced by trains coming in from the rest of the region, and enjoyed a well developed bus and subway system to save commuters too much walking once they got off at their station.
(https://i.imgur.com/8SelsUI.jpg)

41.10 - Whilst everyone though Downtown had pretty much established its footprint, there was always someone talking about that empty island, well serviced by RHW and rail that could be spied from many a boardroom across the skyline. It was Crown Land, but the rumours and wondering just wouldn't quit.
(https://i.imgur.com/hcXyvxK.jpg)

DOWNTOWN BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1990):

Mayor: Adolph Heinrich Friedrich Bartels
Deputy Mayor:  Arthur Wellington Ware
Number of Councillors: 24
Population: 700
Average Age: 29
Average Household Income: $48,000
Mode Education Level: Year 11 or VET equivalent
Jobs: 15,000
Council Jobs: 890
Primary Industry/Tax Division: Commercial services
Notable Features: C'mon, it's the CBD! What more do you want - services, shops, great schools, great libraries, great public transport around the CBD and to the rest of the regions, a beautiful setting, great views, amazing bridges crossing the river, cobblestones, cobblestones, huuuge hospital, more cobblestone! And a million other little hidden gems.

Motto: Ut Prosint Omnibus Conjuncti

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on March 07, 2019, 08:21:48 PM
UPDATE 41.5 - NORTH ADELAIDE

Originally, North Adelaide was going to be a suburb that would deserve an update all of its own.

41.5.1 - It was established as a separate suburb next to Down Town - sharing the island upon which a large part of Down Town was built but separated completely by rail lines, in some places by up to four lines, from Down Town itself.
(https://i.imgur.com/evfYvXO.jpg)

41.5.2 At its most humble beginnings, it really wasn't more than a place for power to come in from New Port and be transferred to underground lines across the business district. You can still see the transformer station to this day.
(https://i.imgur.com/7xleLcv.jpg)

As North Adelaide grew, it got, as did all suburbs, its own mayor and small council with 8 councillors. At the same time, Down Town had a Mayor and a council of 16 councillors.

41.5.3 - Sometime in the 80's - and no is quite sure when, it was just one of those cases where before anyone actually realised it had happened it had happened - the two suburbs basically developed themselves into one. Economics, if nothing else, dictated that the councils merge and the rest, as they say, is history.
(https://i.imgur.com/moV9XNU.jpg)

NORTH ADELAIDE BY FACTS AND FIGURES (circa 1990):

For census purposes, North Adelaide and Down Town are treated as a single suburb.

The council is now merged with the Down Town Council, albeit the Council's constitution and by-law require the Deputy Mayor and at least 8 councillors to be elected by it North Adelaide constituents.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on March 08, 2019, 06:29:04 AM
Nicely organic development. Also not too griddy ! I am sure you would love Mattb325 recent uploads here for the future of North-Adelaide !
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on March 22, 2019, 08:31:39 PM
REPLIES

evarburg -
Thank you. I thought avoiding too much orthogonal development would help keep things interesting and give a more organic feel to my city. It certainly has its challenges - I've found it not because there is a lack of diagonal RCI options, but it's harder to fill the little gaps between those options - but it does keep it fun and interesting in the building too.  Perhaps I just need to spend a bit more time in the LE and the BAT to make a few more 'gap fillers' to suit my needs. And, yes, a Matt325 download binge is well overdue - probably for all of us, even those who only did one last week the rate he releases quality new content!

UPDATE 42 – BACK TO THE TRANSPORTATIONAL EXPANSION TO THE EDGES OF THE REALM
For those of you who have been with us since update 14, you might remember that in 1972, King Schmo issued three Orders – 1, the construction of two rail lines, one each side of the Simoleon River, to run to the north east edge of the realm and beyond, 2, the construction of a highway from the downtown business district, south across the river end then east to the edge of the realm and 3, that all agriculture be strictly confined to 'Designated Agricultural Zones' to the west and south of Goose Island and the Knoll, or east of the Lesser New Portland Ridge. 

We then got a bit distracted by our tour of the many suburbs surrounding Bran Castle and never got to see the rail lines, the highway or the agricultural zones develop. The next couple of updates will detail the construction of the railway and highway, with a look into the vast agricultural delights of the region coming later.

The second of the three orders of 1972 was promulgated because development in the CBD had stalled and it was commonly thought that it was due to lack of a road based crossing into the CBD for those who lived on the south of the river (although the fact that the rest of the realm was still stuck chugging along on dirt streets with barely a tar sealed road in sight also didn't help!)  So crossing the river with a new motorway was top of the agenda.

42.1 – The new highway was built across the river at the same time as the passenger railway an in the same location as the original (now purely freight) line that lead to Newport. You've probably noticed the crossing in other updates, but it's a spectacular crossing worthy of its own particular note – many an amateur photographer, and even a few professionals, will stroll down to the banks of the Simoleon River on a warm calm evening to try await the elusive but treasured shot of traffic crossing on all three bridges at the same time as the sun sets over the region or with headlights leaving a light trail across a long exposure with a lovely star lit sky in the background and moonlit waters to the fore. As you can see, the passenger railway line fed into the city loop (and by virtue of that to the rest of the regional rail network) ...
(https://i.imgur.com/7E4zkuq.jpg)


42.2 - ... and the highway scooted past what was then a new row of development against the water's edge.
(https://i.imgur.com/kESdDu3.jpg)

42.3 – Ambleside and East Crossington didn't quite know what was about to hit when the highway first landed on their shores.
(https://i.imgur.com/RBu2GtW.jpg)

42.4 – At first the residents of Ambleside were quite happy to learn that the railway line was going to pass through their suburb, with a shiny new station to let them board services running direct into the CBD. Most of the residents remained happy throughout. Those that eventually realised the line and the highway were going to run not just through their suburb but through where their living room once stood were a little miffed!
(https://i.imgur.com/hrDVxZH.jpg)

42.5 – Of course, a few local heros managed to negotiate with the civil works guys to avoid the wrecking ball and then steadfastly refused the King's paltry offers of just compensation to buy up their land. Why you'd want to live between a railway line and a highway was anyone's guess (and most people guessed 'I don't know') but you know what they say about a man and his castle. Throw in someone even only slightly more stubborn than usual and you probably have your answer.
(https://i.imgur.com/BR0aMjA.jpg)

42.6 – Madness. Nice houses. But surely even stubborn gives at some point.
(https://i.imgur.com/lFlWRKu.jpg)

42.7 – Initially, the highway stopped at Ambleside and it was only the railway line construction that carried on to the east of the realm.
(https://i.imgur.com/2G3Mxtt.jpg)

42.8
(https://i.imgur.com/pqXWwaT.jpg)

42.9 – Snaking its way past Hakone Plateau
(https://i.imgur.com/bQpP6lQ.jpg)

42.10 – Past some picturesque river settings.
(https://i.imgur.com/AwCh4vr.jpg)

42.11 – And across bridges where required.
(https://i.imgur.com/SglzdOd.jpg)

42.12 – As soon as the railway hit the edge of the King's dominion, the highway followed. No one followed its construction very closely, but when it was finished, the King sent one of the local reporters up in the police helicopter to take an overview shot. Two long snakes along the river. Locals said if you hadn't ridden the train or driven the highway along the southern bank of the Simoleon River you hadn't really lived in Bran Castle.
(https://i.imgur.com/PYW95zU.jpg)

42.13 – Of course, the trip along the northern bank wasn't the worst train ride in the world either. Many said the views across the region's northernmost 'Designated Agricultural Area' (coming in a later update) were as good as, if not better, than the views of the river.
(https://i.imgur.com/Gjp98rK.jpg)

Stay tuned for a return to New Portland's roots - s tour of Newport and the rest of the region's beloved industrial zones.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: fantozzi on March 23, 2019, 01:33:48 AM
The last picture with the agricultural area is sensational. Landscaping until the cows come home.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on March 23, 2019, 01:56:21 AM
The smooth railway line along the river is brilliant, very realistic.

Excellent couple updates!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on March 23, 2019, 06:14:05 AM
I agree with both fantozzi and art128, those are some really good scenes.  I also like your use of angled streets, it helps with a scenes of realism.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: c.p. on March 23, 2019, 12:09:20 PM
Nice towns and rural scenes, but I especially enjoy the storytelling style of this MD :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: 89James89 on March 23, 2019, 12:20:44 PM
I second that the agri area in the last picture looks very nice along with the rest of the update. One thing in particular that I like about it though is the way you've created the very natural looking river systems.

Very nice job!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: mattb325 on March 23, 2019, 06:48:58 PM
Beautiful river and rural scenes. Well done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 03, 2019, 05:03:51 AM
REPLIES:

fantozzi, art128, PaPa-J, c.p., 89James89 and mattb325 -
Thank you. I am delighted to have some of my favourite forum participants, MD'ers and content contributors following along and providing encouraging comments. It is a shame it is the rural scenes that seem to excite you all the most. You won't like this (short) update then! Or the few that are slated to follow!! But if you hang around long enough things might return to your liking.

89James89 - I wish I could take credit for the river system but I can't. Credit goes to the map maker - I think dobdriver but maybe drunkapple or maybe both, I'm not quite sure, they seem to collaborate sometimes.

UPDATE 43 - 1972, ORDER 3
The third of the three Orders issued by the King in 1972 was that all agriculture be strictly confined to 'Designated Agricultural Zones' to the west and south of Goose Island and the Knoll, or east of the Lesser New Portland Ridge. It was partly due to the King's desire to ensure that the produce grown and made available to the region was produced in pristine environments, away from the smog and pollution of the port and any built up areas. It also ensured the rest of the region would slowly have to build in on itself creating a hub of residential, commercial and industrial zones and that there would always be a thriving rail freight transport industry into Bran Castle and its surrounds - the King didn't want that original rail line into the Port going to waste, even if it was already well utilised by trains coming from Schmotenton.

This brief update is just to show what happened to the agricultural zones which were not within the designated zones.

43.1 - There one day ...
(https://i.imgur.com/BS4vP6X.jpg)

43.2 - Going the next ...
(https://i.imgur.com/cv8fUPn.jpg)

43.3 - Then gone! From green to grey, just like that. Just how the King wanted it.
(https://i.imgur.com/lBwp60c.jpg)

We'll visit the industrial zones of Bran Castle next. Then we'll get back to the agricultural zones, wherever they went!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on May 03, 2019, 05:28:18 AM
(Having been abroad, I got two for the price of one ! ;) Wonderful landscape -- I love the "picturesque" part of it in the previous entry. The river system looks very natural, as well as the development of the city. Damn that king enamoured with grey, though !  :D
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on May 03, 2019, 10:34:23 AM
My sentiments exactly, but show one good king that doesn't get his way. ;D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on May 03, 2019, 11:21:52 PM
Wow some big factories replaced them. I like that the small farm is still there in the middle. It reminds me of the people who refused to move when they built Narita Airport in Tokyo, who are now living in the middle of the taxiways...
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 04, 2019, 06:00:59 AM
REPLIES:

evarburg, PaPa-J and art128 -
We're sticking with the grey theme for now.

art128 - There are a few stubborn sims in my region who have refused to move despite the best efforts of the King and/or developers. I was thinking more Darryl Kerrigan and the Castle (mattb325, noahclem, and the rest of the Aussie cohort will get the reference, I'm sure), but it's nice to know there is a real world equivalent too.

UPDATE 44 - NEWPORT

44.1 - Newport was the only industrial estate which wasn't really planned at all, it just grew organically from the Port as the city grew. As a result, it become more a collection of smaller, quite separate industrial estates that one cohesive whole. It is nevertheless revered as a single important historical and industrial zone, considered by many, quite fairly, to be the heart of New Portland. Industrial business aspire to establish themselves here, and industrial workers aspire to work here (even despite the longer commute). Those that do work here are known to say that you can trace the entire history of the region through the varied buildings and operations within Newport and nearly all of them are only too willing to 'chew your ear off' for an hour or two explaining just how that is so. Whether that is true or not, it is certainly one hell of an industrial zone.
(https://i.imgur.com/H9BvqZq.jpg)

44.2 - Although renowned for its many separate industrial parks, many businesses and factories did sit 'side by side'. In fact, there were probably more sitting side by side than there were those separate by any significant space. Those that were well separated established a lovely 'green belt' worked in amongst what would otherwise be the grays and browns of any other industrial zone. It didn't, by any means, create country fresh air, but it did provide a nice outlook from many different points within the zone and plenty of nice spots for morning tea and 'smoko break'.
(https://i.imgur.com/GcpZmDv.jpg)

44.3 - Side by side or separate, the businesses, factories, and everything else in Newport was joined by winding dirt roads – roads which snaked along, over and even under the ground when necessary.
(https://i.imgur.com/WSRR0ZM.jpg)

44.4 - Some of the underground connections were actually reasonably substantial even.
(https://i.imgur.com/7QuxA3L.jpg)

44.5 - Nothing to see here, just typical Newport.
(https://i.imgur.com/Jdo5fzU.jpg)

44.6 - Almost as often as roads it was railway snaking between the estates. Although it was often a curse (who likes waiting 30 minutes with 100 freight carts due for port whilst another train clears the line), Newport was known for its (relatively) picturesque single track.
(https://i.imgur.com/bpr1NyB.jpg)

44.7 - Of course, the single track doubled up where it needed to - usually where it was on private company coin rather than out of the King's coffers.
(https://i.imgur.com/zA22qTt.jpg)

44.8 - Again, nothing to see here (apart from some hefty road networking). Just more typical Newport.
(https://i.imgur.com/RE9u7CL.jpg)

44.9 - In many places, the scenery between two estates or between or beside the road and development was quite beautiful ... even in winter.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ch6qUoQ.jpg)

44.10 - Just another nice scene. Initially the King had to work quite hard to convince business of the benefits of leaving some of Newport's nicest natural areas untouched (or at least 'undeveloped'). Eventually business came to realise what the King always knew - he was a visionary, who knew at all times and in all circumstances what was best for any given part of his realm.
(https://i.imgur.com/cv37Dok.jpg)

44.11 - The highway in Newport was always busy.
(https://i.imgur.com/it2teSg.jpg)

44.12 - Always busy.
(https://i.imgur.com/qEoYHy8.jpg)

44.13 - Truly. It was always busy.
(https://i.imgur.com/ex12IQy.jpg)

44.14 - Some of the estates ran almost seamlessly to the next. Within those estates, and against the backdrop of some fairly sheer hill/mountain faces, there were some quite picturesque scenes.
(https://i.imgur.com/Q6c9eOZ.jpg)

44.15 - The mountains really were something else, coming, as they did, down to the sea. Surprisingly, they saw only very limited hiking (or any other) activity which meant they remained largely untouched.
(https://i.imgur.com/389d5wB.jpg)

44.16 - Even when the scene was half full of garbage (literally), it was still a sight to behold.
(https://i.imgur.com/laW8IE8.jpg)

44.17 - Speaking of garbage, Newport became the region's garbage disposal unit. The garbage docks were, on most days, the busiest docks in the whole port. The King had long encouraged the mayors of the various councils that make up New Portland to work co-operatively with one another to funnel all of their landfill through each other and into Newport, where it could be better managed with improved recycling outcomes, whilst keeping the suburbs free of nasty piles of landfill. These neighbour deals got cancelled from time to time (often without notice and for no apparent reason!) but, by and large, the system worked.
(https://i.imgur.com/aJfjPts.jpg)

44.18 - Of course, it wasn't long before there was too much garbage for it to all be sent offshore. It was expensive too. At first, the excess garbage just piled up and very little, if any, of the region's waste was recycled.
(https://i.imgur.com/w41yd0O.jpg)

44.19 - So land was cleared and/or set aside ...
(https://i.imgur.com/NclusoW.jpg)

44.20 - ... nice big spaces ...
(https://i.imgur.com/jcyJJQ3.jpg)

44.21 - and nice big recycling facilities were built.
(https://i.imgur.com/3oKCe3T.jpg)

44.22 - Freighted garbage fired incinerator power anyone?
(https://i.imgur.com/s8H1Y3z.jpg)

44.23 - It was one hell of a garbage wonderland.
(https://i.imgur.com/eoDCDjD.jpg)

44.24 - Whichever way you looked at it.
(https://i.imgur.com/lMqdvDS.jpg)

44.25 - Such was the reputation and demand for garbage facilities in Newport, some 'premium' or 'boutique' facilities popped up (can there be such a thing in the garbage industry?), nestled usually amongst trees and other more discerning (in environmental and desirability terms) businesses and often focussing on particular items - clean fill, composting and organics and chemical disposal for example.
(https://i.imgur.com/mY5PPX6.jpg)

MD44.26 - The region's 'dual pumpers' - the two big coal powerplants sitting side by side - had been a regular sight coming into Newport on the passenger rail (and from the highway) for many years. They always inspired, looking, fittingly, powerful amongst the trees and other surrounds.
(https://i.imgur.com/wMAJc8z.jpg)

44.27 - The region was never going to run out of paper (and not just due to the digital age) with the Newport Paper Mill in town. The giant coal pile next door meant that there was also always a 'little in reserve' for the powerplant, should heady times require it. 
(https://i.imgur.com/bueQu18.jpg)

If we take tour around the rest of Newport, it isn't hard to find many notable factories and businesses.

44.28 - A motor body factory, disease research centre, cyber security firm, and a sports shoe factory (everything from casual runners to cleats, golf shoes, cycling shoes, and more).
(https://i.imgur.com/9MyvKP1.jpg)

44.29 - Two large textile halls, a pharmaceutical research centre and, just because there was a spare little patch, more recycling.
(https://i.imgur.com/lsqx9GX.jpg)

44.30 - The giant Newport Flour Mill and its surrounding warehousing facilities (often with short term/private spaces available).
(https://i.imgur.com/tgvCXY0.jpg)

44.31 - Cryo testing facilities, large scale distribution centre and, of all things, a polish factory!
(https://i.imgur.com/t1q456k.jpg)

Touring further, we can see nice little snippets of otherwise fairly non-descript industrial life

44.32 -
(https://i.imgur.com/M5zA4l5.jpg)

44.33 -
(https://i.imgur.com/IvNuRUr.jpg)

44.34 -
(https://i.imgur.com/ECIEKNb.jpg)

44.35 -
(https://i.imgur.com/DNUwdpO.jpg)

44.36 -
(https://i.imgur.com/XziubJM.jpg)

44.37 -
(https://i.imgur.com/0han3US.jpg)

44.38 -
(https://i.imgur.com/l3ydBeQ.jpg)

MD44.39 -
(https://i.imgur.com/wCDqKjI.jpg)

44.40 - Pleasingly, the original docks remained in situ and largely unencroached by the larger development that overtook much of the rest of Newport.
(https://i.imgur.com/2bkelp0.jpg)

44.41 - Perhaps that is because once it was dwarfed by the Newport dock, everyone basically forgot about the original docks that kicked it all for King Schmo.
(https://i.imgur.com/SQPnmqn.jpg)

44.42 - Let's leave Newport with a panoramic view of what it is really all about, a snakelike network of roads and rails funnelling goods down to a small but extremely efficient dock, breathing life and ambition into the industry not just of all of New Portland, but to Schmotenton and every other part of the island on which New Portland sits.
(https://i.imgur.com/yDqSJkV.jpg)






Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on May 04, 2019, 06:26:43 AM
I like the rural look the dirt streets give it.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on May 07, 2019, 11:00:50 AM
Well, that kind of grey is legit  :D  Excellent industrial zones ; I like that they're not all stuck together (there is some green in-between....)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: fantozzi on May 07, 2019, 11:24:39 AM
44.19 funny!  :P

Someone should educate those Sims to make less garbage.


The tourqoise silos seen in 44.32 (bottom center), 44.34 (center right) - what are those?
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 18, 2019, 05:18:35 AM
I have finally finished my most recent update - apologies for the delay.

REPLIES

PaPa-J and evarburg -
Thank you both.

fantozzi - The silos you ask about appear on a lot called 'Dead Forest Paper'. I think it is a Maxis creation that ships with the vanilla version of the game.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 25, 2019, 04:40:38 AM
UPDATE 45 - OUTER NEWPORT INDUSTRIAL PARK

Rather predictably, Outer Newport Industrial Park was in many ways just the very end of Newport itself. However, it wasn't always like that - and indeed, when ground was first broken for development, Newport wasn't even really close to reaching it. And it started off with, and retained, a few important points of difference.

45.1 - Both of Outer Newport's points of difference are readily apparent in this picture. Undoubtedly the easiest feature to notice (at least from the sky) is it's substantial distribution centre and surrounding warehousing and other facilities. As Newport itself grew people thought the Outer New facility would become obsolete. But because many of the suburbs developed away from the highway that ran directly to the port and the snake like dirt roads that wound into Newport from any other entry route, the distribution centre became an extremely popular and efficient way to transfer cargo from truck to ship (or vice versa) with just a short train leg in between.
(https://i.imgur.com/uNIPBVx.jpg)

42.2
(https://i.imgur.com/TAObPLI.jpg)

42.3 The other point of difference was the increased tax on heavy, dirty industry. It meant Outer Newport was cleaner and quieter than neighbouring Newport and a little bit more abuzz with technological and research whizz kids doing all kinds of interesting stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/PDfXyD6.jpg)

42.4
(https://i.imgur.com/GvIPTKz.jpg)

42.5 - The benefit of such clean industry was two fold. UHigh wages for all the clever cookie tech boffins, and they all wanted to live close by.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZsDyP7J.jpg)

42.6 - Giant mansions next to an industrial park? What will they think of next?
(https://i.imgur.com/SdVP9UC.jpg)

42.7 - I almost forgot the whole other section to the east. Maybe another update in and of itself?
(https://i.imgur.com/j29yjNj.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on May 25, 2019, 07:28:07 AM
The battle between modernity and the old walls will be interesting (if highrises ever come to town) ! (PS : remember to hit G when you take pictures !  ;) )
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: kbieniu7 on June 27, 2019, 10:19:34 AM
I need to say that those industrials plots and areas look quite nice from the distant view. And good to see that more and more of them got asphalt roads :D

However, the road crossing from the photo 42.1.... well, the tunnel engineers must have quite a big amount of ground water to handle  &Thk/(

Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on November 01, 2019, 03:39:39 AM
UPDATE

I know it's been a while between drinks and, honestly, I haven't played SC4 much lately. My young son, who, on the one hand I am trying to discourage from too many computer games but, on the other, am (of course!) happy to build with on mutually enjoyed activities, has taken a serious like to Minecraft and, to be honest, so have I. There has been some serious hours recently wasted building blocked worlds by the two of us which is nice, but also means not too much progress in SC4 of recent times. Still, I have a few updates up my sleeve. And development has not been entirely stopped. So I thought I'd pop in for a small update of another industrial precinct within the region.

A short word of warning - it's a fairly polished piece, with not much more than a couple of pictures and a brief explanation and we're done.

UPDATE 46 - Downtown Industrial Park

46.1 - It's a small industrial park. The picture will probably do the talking. But it is tight knit and safe, thanks to its 'one road in, secure road in' policy.
(https://i.imgur.com/90M8Oqj.jpg)

46.2 - As said, a nice, tight knit little industrial park. 'Nuff said!.
(https://i.imgur.com/6rOQ17n.jpg)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on November 01, 2019, 07:27:38 PM
I don't quite get why it has to be defended like a castle but it looks nice nevertheless !  :)
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: PaPa-J on November 02, 2019, 12:39:25 PM
Interesting!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on February 21, 2020, 03:03:39 AM
UPDATE IN PROGRESS

UPDATE 47 - RIDGELAND INDUSTRIAL PARK

As we approach the end of our look at Bran Castle's industrial areas we get to Ridgeland Industrial Park. We've seen Ridgeland Industrial Park before in update 43. It was the first industrial area to pop up outside of Newport - coming into existence when the King ordered all agriculture be limited to 'Designated Agricultural Zones' to the west and south of Goose Island and the Knoll, or east of the Lesser New Portland Ridge. It is still the closest industrial park to Newport and probably the best connected to it, and undoubtedly the biggest to develop to date.

47.1 - It's an impressive sight from above
(https://i.imgur.com/bPhgvMR.jpg)

47.2 - The rail
connections to Newport ensures the development of the regions biggest textile halls.  (https://i.imgur.com/DJ7c5Vs.jpg)

47.3 - The raid transport connections were actually better than those in Newport, favouring particular enterprises, such as automotive components and cabling/piping manufacturing.
(https://i.imgur.com/3UmgpJJ.jpg)

47.4 - Some bright spark even had the idea to build a convention centre within the park. Somehow, it worked. With spacious trade stall areas and a state-of-the-art AV system, at any given time, you need to book your convention at least 18 months in advance to ensure your preferred dates are available. (https://i.imgur.com/tuwDeCn.jpg)

47.5 - A few of the original farmers/landholders managed to hold their titles (or at least, successfully bogged down the acquisition attempts in legal proceedings indefinitely) ...(https://i.imgur.com/TER6VBu.jpg)

47.6 - ... although they never seemed to keep much of their actual land, presumably one doesn't need to work a field after a King compulsorily acquires all your land for good compensation
(https://i.imgur.com/s8LOGmw.jpg)

47.7  - Some places became real high tech hubs
(https://i.imgur.com/H9bJfmp.jpg)

47.8 - Others went from citrus groves to, well, a citrus grove with a big lemonade factory in the middle!
(https://i.imgur.com/wvoiIxo.jpg)

That concludes our tour of Ridgeland Industrial Park. Only one more industrial zone before this MD heads elsewhere!
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: evarburg on February 22, 2020, 09:27:29 AM
It is a bit too repetitive in places (exact same buildings), but the layout is quite good !
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on March 06, 2020, 02:11:52 AM
REPLIES: Thanks evarburg. I find lots of industrial areas are full of similar - although admittedly not exactly the same - buildings. Alas I lack the dedication to open up each of the fantastic buildings I've downloaded from the LEX and elsewhere in the Lot Editor to tweak them to create that subtle variation to turn it from repetition/exact same to similar but still different. Maybe if I one day revisit the area I'll make some changes. For the time being, bigger and (for me at least) more fun development awaits.

UPDATE 48: DOWNTOWN INDUSTRIAL PARK (Short but Sweet)
King Schmo always thought of the Downtown Industrial Park as more of a staging area than an Industrial Park. Squeezed, as it is, between, the pluch mansions of Calistemon and Downtown, no one was ever going to stand for anything too heavy or too industrial. A few power distribution centres, some warehousing and some freight connections to ensure the shelves on the stores Downtown stay full and the wealthy folk of Calistemon have somewhere close by to collect their larger deliveries, landscaping supplies and dump their rubbish and Downtown Industrial Park is just about done.

48.1 - It serves its purpose, but really only needs one picture to say it all ...
(https://i.imgur.com/oU7Rwa3.jpg)

Next up, we're heading to the forest or the fields. Any preferences for where we head first?
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on May 02, 2021, 05:19:46 AM
I was quite pleased to come back here after dusting off SC4 after a long hiatus to see my diary still in the 'active' section even though by rights it shouldn't be.

Let's just say some friends and I went camping ...

(https://i.imgur.com/z8irFXv.jpg)

... but now we're back and working on a proper update (including a fancy gif if my technical ability doesn't fail me) shortly.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: siemanthepieman on December 30, 2021, 12:11:02 AM
Let's just say it was a long camping trip.

I have learnt how to make a gif though and the farming regions around Bran Castle have been developing nicely.

(https://i.imgur.com/g0m7sxc.gif)

This in only an interim update to welcome in 2022. I'm only about half done with the farms. Hopefully by 2023 we can be touring some of the small country towns that are starting to dot the region. 
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: art128 on December 30, 2021, 08:14:20 AM
It's very nice to see an update from you! Looks like you've been busy with the farms... I know this can (and is) tedious, boring and time consuming.
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: warconstruct on January 07, 2022, 07:12:40 PM
great job, it's very clean and care for  &apls
Title: Re: From Schmotenton to New Portland - the rise (and possible fall) of Bran Castle
Post by: Ulisse Wolf on February 01, 2022, 05:21:07 AM
I like how the region is developing