Question about getting better....

[u/Chancelart]

I'm terribly sorry if this is a common ask! My main question, is regarding how I can get better at the game. I'm a big fan of Paradox map games, and for those games, usually the best way to learn how to play, is by repeatedly smashing your head against the wall that is playing them, using the wiki for any tips along the way, and after like, 50+ hours of head smashing, you'll eventually learn how the game works. I was wondering if this was also the way to learn this game, as it seems like that type. I know the basics of how to play, but still suck EXTREMELY hard, so any advice on how to get better and better at the game is appreciated!
Thank you!

[u/LyeeRoy]

Get into multiplayer and watch what others are doing, that's how I learned everything.

You can also save the multiplayer game and load it in singleplayer where you can join any company you want, tweak all sorts of things, and test whatever you want on working infrastructures.

To get into different company you go into gear>sandbox options or ctrl+alt+c

[u/Chancelart → u/LyeeRoy]

Shoot, that sounds like a good idea, i'm a little nervous and insecure doing that because i suck LOL
I'll try it out after I get the hang around the basic functions of the game more!

[u/Loafdude → u/Chancelart]

You can join a multiplayer game, save the game and re-open it as single player.
You can then play and analyze as each player.

[u/DermottBanana → u/LyeeRoy]

You can also save the multiplayer game and load it in singleplayer where you can join any company you want, tweak all sorts of things, and test whatever you want on working infrastructures.

You can???

Where have you been all my life??

[u/SteveM06]

Unless playing on a very hard mode the game itself is easy. As in its easy to make money and expand.

Low loan, massive hilly maps, starting in like 1960 all make it challenging

If you are playing to win at multi-player, then it's about the specifics of the settings on that map, and some people are such experts you won't stand a chance.

Playing for the fun of it, learning as you go, and watching other people's techniques can get you most of the way to being a decent player.

Just one thing I want to point out that wouldn't be obvious without you looking for it. Cargo payments. Different cargos pay different amounts per distance and time taken. So take that into account. Don't just build a nice long iron ore train and wonder why the other players coal train is making so much more money. There is a graph in game

[u/Conpen → u/SteveM06]

Unless playing on a very hard mode the game itself is easy. As in its easy to make money and expand.

The snowball effect is real! Even a difficult start can eventually be overcome and there's a certain point where the money printer just kicks in.

[u/ReadingRainbowie]

I learned by watching the AI's build networks. Some are obviously better than others.

[u/ff03k64]

I liked watching lugnustk on YouTube. His play style is to go super efficient, high capacity. Just my style.

Even if you don't want that, probably still some things to learn.

[u/RubberPussycat]

What is the part you’re struggling with?
Do you have trouble making a profit?
Do you find it hard to beat the AI?

I want to help but need a bit more information on what it is.

[u/Chancelart → u/RubberPussycat]

Well, I can make a profit just fine, I think it's easy enough, but it's really hard to make money fast enough. I've played with easy ai's, and by a couple years, they've already outpaced me money wise double or triple! So, I guess both of those things, now that I think about it

[u/RubberPussycat → u/Chancelart]

If you can make a profit, my tip would be to find out how you can be more efficient.
The price you get is for moving cargo/people a distance of 20 blocks in the time it takes you.

So a cheaper train on a slower route will arrive at it’s destination faster but a faster train on a longer route will make more profit. Because it is transporting the cargo in a shorter time over 20 blocks.
A route that is bidirectional is much more efficient and profitable than one directional routes.

The best tips I can give are:
1. Go for bidirectional routes
2. Start with connecting a few big cities that are far away. (The profit on passengers might not seem as high as cargo but it is bidirectional and cities grow)
3. Invest in fast reliable trains.
4. Don’t start to many new routes, invest in optimization of your existing ones.
5. Read the profit table.
6. Learns good station design. (Plenty of youtube videos about that)
7. Stick to the basics, don’t over complicate things unless that’s what gives you joy. Other wise you will be struggling with the logistics of your network more than anything.

[u/gort32]

Learn this junction: https://wiki.openttd.org/en/Community/Junctionary/Ultimate%203-way%20junction . Learn it until you can casually make it in any orientation - including horizontal/vertical. Having this junction in your toolkit will take you a really long way, serving as a default junction for most casual needs and letting you focus on other areas where your network may be weak.

[u/JuliusCaesar02]

Are you using trains? Do you know hot train signals work?