Cargo loading query

[petesaysblimey]

Hello all

i'm often quite baffled by the algorithms used in the cargo distribution between rival stations. For example:

There is a coal mine where i've built a train station of mine and a competitor has a road cargo terminal. When i look at my train station i have 100 tonnes of coal waiting, whilst the road terminal has 400 tonnes. No matter what i seem to try to increase my cut of the output, i get less.

What is the code that determines how a mine's output is distributed between them. In laymans terms, how can i ensure one of my terminals gets more than theirs!?!?

Thanks!
Pete

[RandomAlien]

I think it's based on company rating... Try running advertising campaigns in the corresponding town, or even bribing the authorities... Maybe even buy exclusive rights for a year and your opponent will lose a lot of ratings.

[3iff]

One thing is that your trains can carry the goods away far better than his trucks. If you open up station windows for both stations, you 'might' just be able to see how much is added each time. The station ratings give a reasonable idea of how much share you get.

Adding a statue will allow your rating to get closer to 100%...the limit is 80% without a statue.

It IS annoying though that even though there's 400 tons waiting at his station, more is added, while your station is relatively empty.

Perhaps a large stockpile waiting to be moved should lower the rating and discourage more cargo being added...

[michael blunck]

What is the code that determines how a mine's output is distributed between them.

AFAIR, the cargo distribution scheme in plain TTD is as follows:

Number of stations in catchment area:

1 - distributed amount is directly connected to the ratings, i.e.. if rating == x% then x% of the produced cargo is deposited.

2 - amount is distributed between them according to the relative ratings, i.e., station_1 with 40% rating will get 1/3 of the cargo and station_2 with a rating of 80% will get 2/3 of the cargo.

>2 - the two best-serviced stations are selected and the cargo is distributed between them according as above, i.e. all other stations get nothing.

As the only relevant part in the calculation is station rating, it should be clear that the AI gets the usual advantage.

regards
Michael

[DaleStan]

Number of stations in catchment area:

2 - amount is distributed between them according to the relative ratings, i.e., station_1 with 40% rating will get 1/3 of the cargo and station_2 with a rating of 80% will get 2/3 of the cargo.

Nope. Not in TTD, anyway. Highest-rated station gets <rating>% of the production. Second-highest gets <rating>% of the remaining production.
So, in the above, station_2 would get 80%, and station_1 would get (20%*40%=)8%.

TTDPatch does things more like how you said, but TTD does not.

[Ben_K]

There is a coal mine where i've built a train station of mine and a competitor has a road cargo terminal. When i look at my train station i have 100 tonnes of coal waiting, whilst the road terminal has 400 tonnes. No matter what i seem to try to increase my cut of the output, i get less.

The other thing I have noticed is regularity of service. I have rail stations served by trains that carry 200-400 people with few waiting passengers with lower ratings than bus stops with over 1000 people waiting. The reason is the bus service provides regular services as run more busses on those routes due to their lower capacity. If 200 people sit on the train at the rail station for 2 days I get a lower rating than if just 30 of them wait on the bus for an hour and then leave.
The logic for your case being that although you move more, the opponent moves little but more regularly, so it doesnt sit around.