Howto make the game more difficult (discussion)

[Raichase]

Rai:

You are demonising the DBXL set, unless something changed since I last played it, that is. I remember having all my trains run with the 'expensive' electrics before the forties. Money ceased to be the problem around then too. I always play on harder-then-hard settings, often with my custom ultra-hard settings

Now, see, I don't think that gives me justice there...

I'm not "demonising" anything, what I am doing, is pointing out that more sets need to adopt Michaels methods of the close-to prototyical pricing scheme. The DBXL is my FAVORITE set, mostly because of this (but also, it looks purty), and I don't want to be seen as "demonising it", which I consider unfair...

As to all of your trains running with expensive electrics before the 40's, perhaps you're not playing the game realistically, with tracks and stations everywhere. Becuase, thats the only thing I can think of that would seperate us - I consider real life to be an accurate guide when doing things in game, and I have yet to have a massive money windfall. It may seem so now, in 2006, but those Euros could easy be snaffled by the mass-replacement of my mighty fleet of BR140's and 150's to modern trains...

[uzurpator]

Rai:

I play the way I wish and I do so in a fashion that yelds me most fun. Obviously.

If I see away to improve the game for _me_, considering the way I play, I express it. There is no 'right' way of playing TTD. If your goal is to have realistic use of rolling stock and every town connected - go for it. Have fun. I don't play that way. I play the way of having a little network that I squeeze everything out of. Read: I run 3000ton trains with a single loco, use least possible track etc. And no - I don't use ICEs and TGVs for coal

For now DBXL, despite being one of the top notch sets, is not the most difficult one.

[michael blunck]

You are demonising the DBXL set, unless something changed since I last played it, that is.

Well, the pricing scheme for the XL version is very much different from the former DB Set. Unlike other sets, DBXL doesn´t simply increase running cost but instead raises the price level for rolling stock and track building which results into a very different experience.

O/c, ATM no vehicle set would be able to handle the money surplus problem in the long run.

regards
Michael

[uzurpator]

Well, the pricing scheme for the XL version is very much different from the former DB Set. Unlike other sets, DBXL doesn´t simply increase running cost but instead raises the price level for rolling stock and track building which results into a very different experience.

The difference being the fact that one pays the running cost up-front when buying the loco, encouraging using the stock until it literally falls apart.

O/c, ATM no vehicle set would be able to handle the money surplus problem in the long run.

Indeed.

[Patchman]

Adding a counter would need some extra space, and currently we don't have any, neither in the vehicle struc nor in the landscape arrays. We'd need something more clever, that achieves the same effect without adding a counter to every vehicle and rail/road tile.

You only need one such counter per company, and that's easy enough to implement. Simply add the fractional dollar (I mean pound) costs to it for every tile that is entered, and when it overflows carry it to the real money cost.

[The Irish]

...

For now DBXL, despite being one of the top notch sets, is not the most difficult one.

That is certainly true. I know that your new Tropic Refurb Set is very hard, as well as Pikka's Pineapple Set, which I'm playing at the moment.

Hell, I'm 50 years into the game and still, my yearly profit is at around $3.5m, with my overall balance at $54m.

But I'm not complaining. By all means, please make the game more difficult.

[DanMacK]

Tropicset = Hard? I don't think so

Pineapple... yes. Out of the several dozen games I've started w/Pineapple, only 1 has made it past 1950. Pineapple's one of my favourite sets... I'd really like to see it done

[uzurpator]

pineapple?

--verbose please

EDIT: btw - TRS might be hard, but that's irrelevant - nobody is playing it anyways

[Dave]

Pikka's Pineapple Set!!!

Tis awesome.. I've played it.

EDIT: I realise this was not verbose...

It's a set that modifies the tropical climate with new industries and landscape. New vehicles too I believe.

I don't know if it's based on Australia, but there's some really cool stuff in it... Even if it's unfinished .

[uzurpator]

Any downloads?

[Dave]

You'll have to ask Pikka, but I'm sure it's on his livejournal page. No idea how to get to that though.

[Raichase]

It's based on Queensland, in the our countrys North East.

You can download it from Pikkas live journal, and it's the toughest set I have ever played!