For a long time, I stayed away from the NewGRF button. I would see the screenshots on Discord — elaborate Japanese trains, hyper-realistic Dutch landscapes, and complex industrial sets like FIRS. It looked like a ‘Matrix’ and a little ‘non-TTD’. Frankly, it was a bit intimidating. I was worried I would break my game or get lost in a sea of technical jargon. What I was comfortable with was going ‘buy buy’…
I felt like an outsider looking into a shop window. I wanted my game to look as sharp as the ones I saw online, but the fear of a ‘Modding Muddle’ kept me playing with the same 1994 sprites for years.
Finally, the moment arrived after watching the Master Hellish: My Top Mods for Beginners video. I realized I did not have to overhaul the whole game at once. I started small — just adding OpenGFX2 for better UI clarity and Shark for better-looking ships.
I learned that the ‘NewGRF’ menu is not a trap; it is a toolbox. I did not need to be an expert to make the game look beautiful; I just needed to take it ‘one mod at a time.’
Something that happened to me is I jumped into FIRS, a more complicated industry chain with a number of added industries and dependencies. I found it a bit overwhelming.
What I did then is find a NewGRF that just adds parameters (more options) so you can decide to add industries (a few) and decide things like what industry chain stuff. Maybe I want to enable copper as well as iron ore to go to a steel mill, or want certain things like fruit that go to a food processor instead of a factory. Maybe I only want certain commodities to be available in tropical climate.
So I added the OpenGFX+ Industries NewGRF that takes somewhat normal industries, adds a few extras and allows you to decide what is enabled and what goes where. It gave me more control over the whole Industrial Complex.
OpenGFX+ Industries 0.3.5 (often colloquially referred to as "OpenGRF+") is a utility-focused NewGRF designed to enhance and modernize the original OpenTTD industry set without drastically changing its core mechanics. [1]
I also added Industrial Stations Renewal (ISR). This gave me a nice variety of train stations that match the industries such as one with silos for grain, one for coal with cranes, a few for goods with containers, etc. and they are all animated as well.
Industrial Stations Renewal (ISR) is a popular OpenTTD NewGRF that adds detailed, modular, freight-focused station tiles, including cranes, warehouses, and functional cargo-loading graphics. It is primarily cosmetic, enhancing immersion for industries like coal, steel, and food, and supports cargo-loading animations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
I then increased some road, rail, and tram choices and a couple of NewGRFs for vehicles, mainly road, rail, tram, and ships. I could then build alternate roads, rails, and trams I had not used before as well as a huge variety of ships.
I call it ‘baby steps’ or actionable changes and enhancements… at your own pace. Add one NewGRF at a time to try before you buy… (although they are free so just an expression).
Meticulous Insight At 71, I know that 'change' is easier when you do it in small bites. Do not try to install 50 mods on day one. Start with one that fixes a visual itch, and go from there. Customization is the ultimate way to make the game your own. Enjoy!