Realistic start on the populated map

[Vohan]

Could you help me how to run realistic mode on a populated map? I mean, what should I build first? Is it worth using small buildings like a small grocery store or a small police office or is it just a source of future problems?
Do you have any recommendations for a good youtuber who recently started like this?

[Sim]

When building with realistic mode around existing populated towns - you need to build everything in a way where you don't "activate" citizens. All citizens initially are dormant (they don't have needs) but as soon as they are activated - they will start demanding things and will escape too soon (and it will take you some time to build all required infrastructure).

Things that will activate existing population:

• Working at any constructions. So make sure if you are building around existing town to use "Max workers outside CO" as 0 always. Use only workers from construction office (using buses shipping from customs or some other town).
  
• If you build a building that has some jobs - make sure to set max jobs to 0 immediately after building (you can check "notify when completed" toggle to help with this). Otherwise citizens will start working there and will activate too soon.
  
• Don't build bus stops/stations etc to 100% - as citizens will start going there and will activate. Just finish the building to 95% and stop construction. Resume only when you want to launch the town.
  
• It's safe to build pathways/roads etc around existing towns as citizens will not go there to help with construction (unlike other building where they can go directly).

I have recently jump started one existing town with population without losing anyone from escapes. it takes time - but 100% possible and is quite rewarding when you pull it off.

Is it worth using small buildings like a small grocery store or a small police office or is it just a source of future problems?

I think it's better to just build small shopping centre instead of small grocery store from the get go. One key thing to note - you do need to build some kind of university as soon as possible. Otherwise you will not be able to get higher education workers (and they are needed for schools/hospitals/etc). So without university it's just a matter of time until existing higher education workers die off and your town collapses.

[Fry3k]

I'm currently trying this with the Slovakia map. Currently I'm 3 In-Game years into the game and did the following:

1.) Building a starter town (~2000 people with shopping centre, pub, cinema, sports hall, kindergarden, school) near a large populated city and big customs house and 3 clothing factories to make money. I have deticated lines for each factory to move fabric in and clothing out. No expensive cargo stations. Clothing is low volume high value so it's perfect to start with. I try to max out using free COs and maybe one or two normal ones. I import used vehicles if possible since they are cheaper.
Power is imported, water gets a basic setup (well, treatment, pump, water tower) and waste is getting dumped. Heat of course is neccessary (always use the big heatplant). I relocate some workers from far away existing towns to avoid spending to much money on inviting soviets. I always fill up the houses with third country people since they get educated fast and can work from now on.
It is important to keep away a safe distance from already inhabited towns (~ 500 m), since "awaking" them will make the inhabitants realize that they are missing power/water etc. and they will die or flee.

2.) To get something else going I build the technical university since it can research the best stuff. I did go for geology to find iron and/or coal since producing steel is most crucial to get the import volume down.
Also, a vehicle repair shop is needed soon, since all the old used vehicles wanted to be repaired sometimes. I really don't know what happens you don't repair them at all.

3.) I started approaching a larger town and startet to build the needed stuff (power/water/sewage/shop/school/...) near the buildings but with own roads leading to the constructions in order to avoid waking up the city. I don't know if the need external heating when activated. After everything is constructed, I will activate the town an quickly build garbage stands and a bus stop to make use of the workers. they can go to university in the starter town and the starter town people can go to church if they want.

4.) Now it's time for Rail CO and connecting the iron mine with the steel mill which has to build now. Coal will be importet at start since there is no deposit in my particular case. Next steps depend on the local options. You can do a lot of research with the technical university so you could go petrochemical, bauxite, uranium. With the addition of the headquarters tourism is also possible which gets you a lot of money (but costs also a lot of workers)

I hope this path will lead to success

[Beast of War]

If i start a new map i do this : i start a small city with construction material production as it's core business. That will consume money but at steadily reducing rate as you produce a lot of the materials you keep consuming yourself. Import electricity and build a University to invent stuff you need. The city should not be bigger then it needs to be to support the university and construction factories. You can also import coal and produce your own electricity ( you need it for heating anyway )

From there start building a railroad to where you want export-capable industries to emerge, with their own mines. That works 2 ways : you can send construction materials by train ( faster and larger quantities the trucks ) and you have put down infrastructure to export at large quantities at the same time.

I found oil ( with a pipeline to a border transfer oil connection ) and oil products ( bitumen, excess fuel ) to be the easiest and fastest way to make early game large profits to support you while still importing stuff, until you can set up larger more demanding industries, from oil a fuel production and an airport ( planes consume a lot of fuel ) tourist industry and farms to provide them with food, meat and alcohol.

With oil export, free construction materials, free fuel, free food, and alcohol and tourist income you cannot financially fail anymore. Then it is steady expansion in whatever you want to build to stop importing anything in the end.

My "method" will import steel a long time as it's most expensive import product of which you need a lot of, but the waste industry ( a side thing you need anyway ) and scrapping facility produces a lot of it as well.

[gax]

Pics please!