Any Rail Baron Players here? - Page 3

Urban Ranger · August 21, 2003, 22:48

I think the impact is greater than that. It shifts the balance to buying railroads. Would you use the PA often enough that you'd save 30 grand in fees in the long run?

Ming · August 22, 2003, 00:39

In a normal game, you are buying rails anyway... and once they are all bought, you are staying on your rails anyway... and unless you rail network sucks, you won't leave it often. So everybody is saving pretty much the same money.

The only impact is to speed up the game, and it makes sense to do it in tournament play.

Urban Ranger · August 22, 2003, 04:25

Yeah, but you guys have stopped buying railroads, right?

rah · August 22, 2003, 08:21

Only in three man games.
All the rails are still being bought in four+ man games.

RAH

-Jrabbit · August 25, 2003, 17:56

I'm sure there are scenarios in 4-man where "run away and hide" would succeed, but we haven't gotten there yet. (Well, thinking about it, it may have happened once or twice, but with only a couple rails left over.)

rah · August 26, 2003, 09:00

The best way to beat "run away and hide" is to purchase all the rails to double the penalty. In a three man game, it costs too much money, in a four man game it's much easier.

Urban Ranger · August 28, 2003, 01:24

So, how do you rank the Big 3 rails? I myself have always liked Santa Fe.

Ming · August 28, 2003, 03:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
So, how do you rank the Big 3 rails? I myself have always liked Santa Fe.

Depends on the number of players.

In a real game... where all the rails are bought... the PA is still the best. The ATS&F is probably number 2. If you mean the Big 3 are the ATS&F, the UP and the SP... the Santa Fe is indeed the best of those three.

Urban Ranger · August 28, 2003, 05:05

Yeah, "Big 3" are the AT&SF, the UP, and the SP.

Ming · August 28, 2003, 13:50

The ATS&F's strength is that it's fast and goes all the way to Chicago. The UP is fast and gives you some coverage in two regions... but without the WP, not being able to get to Oakland/SF is a big minus. At least it's usually easy to hook up to.
The SP is a great rail and gets to a lot of cities... but it's really slow, really doesn't give you any locks...

Urban Ranger · August 28, 2003, 22:37

The SP is excellent if you travel between South Central and Southwest. Otherwise it's just very slow.

rah · August 29, 2003, 10:02

If I already have the WP, I'll go for the UP.
If I have the Denver-Rio, it speeds up the SP some.
But with neither, ATSF is prefered.

Urban Ranger · August 30, 2003, 01:44

In a normal game, would you not save up to buy one of them instead of getting WP or Denver-Rio?

Paddy · August 30, 2003, 07:16

Good game

Ming · August 30, 2003, 12:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
In a normal game, would you not save up to buy one of them instead of getting WP or Denver-Rio?

If you are saving for a big rail... It never hurts to buy one of those two while you are getting enough money.

6 or 8 thousand doesn't really hurt your ability to buy a big rail. Especially if you are on the West Coast, and you are only 10 short of what you need... the odds are, your next run will give you the money you need, and you will also have the small rail

In our normal games, those rails go pretty early.

rah · August 30, 2003, 19:16

And if you have to sell it after getting a big one, you can sometimes make a profit.

Urban Ranger · August 31, 2003, 01:06

That's true.

What about the 3 railroads connecting NW (CMStP&P, NP, and GN)? I always go for CMStP&P first, even though it connects fewer cities and is the most expensive. What about you?

rah · August 31, 2003, 20:22

NP. It's cheaper, has the most coverage, and it still connects easy. If i have the WP, i'll splurge for the GN.

The CMStP&P is only prefered if it's a 6 man game and connecting is a real problem.

Urban Ranger · August 31, 2003, 22:13

CMStP&P is more efficient though.

rah · September 1, 2003, 01:10

But it doesn't go to portland. The number one probo city in the northwest.

Ming · September 1, 2003, 23:13

Yeah... the CMSTP&P is nice in a 5 or 6 person game.

But portland is big... and the NP or GN can be easily hooked and give better coverage. the one or two squares you save aren't worth it if you have to go to Fargo or Portland

rah · September 2, 2003, 08:33

Hooking the NP with the CB&Q can be real nice. Especially if you have the ATS&F.

Ming · September 2, 2003, 13:57

The CN&W and NP combo costs $28 K. For the extra $10K over the cost of the CMSTP&P... You get to the following additional cities:

Fargo
Omaha
Rapid City (which you lock)
Casper
Billings
Portland

And still get all 6 cities that the CMSTP&P gets to.
It also makes the Northwest a lot more "comfortable" to call for a long run

-Jrabbit · September 2, 2003, 14:07

CMSTP&P is fast but not thorough -- and it's harder to hook (no CB&Q option). If you're not going to calling the NW region, it's fine. If you have the UP without the WP, it's the preferred rail.

Overall, (in general) I agree that the NP is the best of the lot -- the most flexible, fine coverage, inexpensive, and fast enough.

I sometimes buy the C&NW first. It makes all the others better, provides a lock, and takes away the only cheap hook.

Ming · September 2, 2003, 14:20

Harder to hook?????

It is the only one of the three that goes to Chicago

-Jrabbit · September 2, 2003, 14:56

OK, sorry, technically the CMSTP&P doesn't need a hook. But having every return trip from a NW destination go through Chicago *can be* a major pain.

rah · September 2, 2003, 16:17

Especially if you're doing a seattle - LA run and your only other rail west is the ATS&F

Ming · September 2, 2003, 16:57

Quote:

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
OK, sorry, technically the CMSTP&P doesn't need a hook. But having every return trip from a NW destination go through Chicago *can be* a major pain.

That I agree with... not the harder to hook line

Urban Ranger · September 3, 2003, 01:37

Yesterday I had a solo game on the Rail Baron Player. After awhile, I noticed the B&O was still avilable while I already had the PA and one of the big western rails, so I grabbed that, which proved to be enough of an edge to win.

rah · September 3, 2003, 12:29

That has happened more in the normal 4 player game. If someone thinks they can stall on the B&O and C&O to harvest another area, the person with the PA buys it and get's two benefits. The phil, baltimore, pitts, lock, and watching the other two fight for the C&O.

But sometimes having both will encourage people to take the NYC if possible to avoid you for being a pig.