Exactly how much of a bonus does Trainiac give you?

[Jackson]

Just that. I'm fairly new to the game and enjoy the pauses. I got president rating on one campaign not using it, but in checking a guide before starting the next, it says to use it.

[28rommel]

I'm like you. Unless it's completely vital to get the President rating with a "normal" setting for the "Pause Mode." I like to pause the game while building, and thus have it set to "manual."

But if you set it to "manual," you need to make-up for the decrease in points you will get because of this feature. By making the game more difficult in other areas/options, you will get more points.

Remember that you do get more points depending on the number of "Competitors" that are in the scenario you are playing. You will see the number on the setup screen, before you start the scenario. A pretty good rule that I use is when ...

Having my game set to "manual" for "Pause Mode" :
-- and there are 3 "Competitors," you can leave the "AI Level" at "normal."
-- and there are 2 Competitors, you should change the AI Level to "hard."
-- and there is 1 Competitor, you should change the AI Level to "very hard."

You need to get all gold check marks (not green ones), in most cases.
I think there was one or two scenarios where this "rule-of-thumb" did not work out, and I was just barely shy of getting President (I was CEO), and so I had to play the game again, with a "normal" setting for "Pause Mode."

I have never tried Trainiac for "Pausing Mode," as I fear it would drive me mad while playing.

[Jackson]

I did get President on the 2nd scenario in an unexpected way. (everything normal)

I struggled a bit with it and got a bit (very) inefficient toward the end. I had invested heavily in one AI that ended up being by far the most valuable. After the scenario ended (And I was two or three steps down from president) I continued playing anyway. I found I could sell all the stock (25%) in the valuable company. That gave me a ton of cash and I bought out the "bad" AI that was worth much less than me. Bang. I won with President! I was surprised the achievement would pop after I'd officially finished it.

[Marquez von Hinten]

manual pause setting feels pretty worthless, since you can use the track construction button as a pause substitute

[gardlt]

The modifier for Manual pause is 0.8. Trainiac is 1.25.

Scenarios without AI are the only ones that you need to use Trainiac on in order to get president rating.

There is a guide that details all the modifiers: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2224883959

Originally posted by Marquez von Hinten:

manual pause setting feels pretty worthless, since you can use the track construction button as a pause substitute

Yeah. Use the hotkey "t". The scenarios/campaigns are almost a sandbox on anything but
Trainiac because we can fully refund all our track/stations at any point, with unlimited time to adjust/re-work them.

This game has done completely opposite to what past rail tycoon games did. In those pause is forced when setting up train consists except if we are in a multiplayer game. Trains were the important focus. The player could in some way become attached to them.

[pmcmull]

The 'trainiac' mode gives you a bonus to the scoring at the end of the scenario for the rating. If you don't care about the rating scores then don't worry about it. I am never going to use it because the time pressure to analyze the situation, build track and stations and set the train routes is way too much for me. Even on the Normal mode, when you look at cities to decide what resources are needed, what industries to build or change, look at the task list or plan out strategy, the clock is running. Manual pause mode is much friendlier.

[pmcmull]

Originally posted by gardlt:

The modifier for Manual pause is 0.8. Trainiac is 1.25.

Use the hotkey "t". The scenarios/campaigns are almost a sandbox on anything but
Trainiac because we can fully refund all our track/stations at any point, with unlimited time to adjust/re-work them.

I would rather have a different choice that the pause mode. A choice to change the full refund on demolishing track and buildings. Choice of 1/2 refund or no refund. Only build what you intend to keep or pay the price. This would cut down on exploits force a more permanent layout of the tracks. Also maybe an Undo button for the track building. To deal with the Oops moments.

[Jackson]

I think you may not have to use trainiac. So far I've got president with the first two scenarios without using it. I'll see how the third goes later tonight or tomorrow!

[28rommel]

I have never used trainiac, and I have President rating for every single scenario for the USA map.

[Jackson]

Originally posted by 28rommel:

I have never used trainiac, and I have President rating for every single scenario for the USA map.

Thanks! That's encouraging.