AZ, I am tremendously flattered by your compliment!
That means a lot to me, especially coming from you.
I am particularly happy that you like the map, even though you didn't get a medal!
I never really felt that my large maps came out all that well. This is the first time I have made a really large map that did not end up in the trash bin. It is just so much easier to set up game balance and make the landscape if you are working with a small area. So that's another reason I am happy about your comment. :D
Your strategy tips make a lot of sense, and your blog also shows that it is possible to take the 'last RR standing'-route to the Gold.
I think you could win this one much earlier if you used bonds, stock issues, industry, and AI connection to the fullest.
For example, in my last game on this map, by December 1918, I had earned $40mil. That sum broke down almost exactly evenly into one quarter, each, from freight, express, industry, and 'other' (that is, usage fees the AI pay me).
The AI really is your friend, here - their trains don't cost you a cent, and all their revenue goes to you (while they're on your track). The AI are great at optimizing the profits on any given haul. Plus, the more cities are connected in a continuous network, the more passenger traffic you get - exponentially, actually.
'Other income' varied in the years from 1909 through 1918, between 11% and 30% of my total income. It was never less than 23% since 1914, and, as I said, was 25% on average since the game started, in 1905.
As far as expenses in the same game, by the end of 1918, I had spent $20mil., of which only 13% had gone towards interest (I had $7mil. in bonds at the end of 1918, at an average rate of slightly under 6%).
Everything else weighed heavier: 20% on overhead, 23% on fuel, and a whooping 37% on maintenance (track+train+station).
I share your sentiment on credit when it comes to consumer credit (do not ask me about my car loan -
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
). But for investment credit, it is ideally a win-win situation, since you can get an ROI of 10% and more (not that I have any experience with that type of credit in real life
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
) on productive capital.
I like your suggestion about staggered goal deadlines.
About the load haul counter: Because the loads hauled only start counting
after you connect the capital, I had to use events to keep track of the loads hauled
before and after you connect. Since events never get triggered after a medal has been awarded, this counter stops.