This is a post of what I have done with Simutrans to create a game that feels very different from a typical Simutrans game, as another example of how flexible this game is.
As background, I play the game solitary. I do not like the typical point A to point B distribution, where you have large amounts of goods transported on one line; I prefer, as an example, every town having a small consumption Construction Wholesaler supplied by one sawmill.
Here are the mods I made:
- I turned off the creation of industry chains.
- The initial tourists attractions consist only of a 5x5 resource square, of which I place many. In the map editor I delete these and insert a resource; Timber Plantation, Coal Mine, ....
- Each town starts with 100 inhabitants
- I use curiosities to "zone" a 5x5 square in a town to build factories. Some of my "Zoned for a Factory" curiosities are specific to a type of factory. I also include a User Choice zone, in order to complete an industry chain.
- I use curiosities to "zone" consumer outlets, like the Marketplace, Pharmacy, etc. These have a 100% chance of being built.
- I added many more industry chains, such a Red-mix from the Cement factory to the Construction Wholesaler, Orchards supplying fruit for the Marketplace, or a Canner, or a Bottler.
This leaves my games with complicated rail networks, especially around cities where the factories are built.