User:Pikkabird

Sunshine standard cost calculations

For ease of balancing, vehicles use the same number for purchase and running cost, but with different base multipliers.

Running cost base multipliers in NFO / NML

• 07 / -1 locomotive purchase cost
• 0b / 3 locomotive running cost (steam locomotive basecost used for all locomotives, regardless of type)
• 0b / 3 wagon purchase cost
• 05 / -3 wagon running cost (diesel locomotive basecost used)

• 0a / 2 road vehicle purchase cost
• 0a / 2 road vehicle running cost

• 08 / 0 aircraft purchase cost
• 0d / 5 aircraft running cost

I usually include a GRF parameter to halve all purchase and running costs (by decreasing the bases by 1).

Variable running cost

You should reduce the running costs of vehicles to 25% when the vehicle is stationary (current_speed == 0) for rail locomotives (ie not wagons), road vehicles and ships, or when an aircraft is on the ground (variable e6 != 12). This balancing feature improves profitability of shorter connections, vs the meta of building the longest possible routes from one side of the map to the other.

Cost formulas

"p" may be either metric or imperial horsepower; these units are similar enough that the results will be comparable. For those using SI units, the conversion factor is 1 kW = 1.35 hp.

• Locomotives: (p * 0.025) + (s * 0.1) + (c * 0.1) + ((2000 - y) * 0.1)
  • Where p = power in hp, s = speed in km/h, y = year of introduction, c = passenger capacity.

• Wagons: (s * 0.5) + (c * l)
  • Where s = speed in km/h, c = capacity, l = "luxury" value (1 for passengers, 0.5 for freight).

• Road Vehicles: (p * 0.1) + (c * l) + ((2000 - y) * 0.1)
  • Where p = power in hp, c = capacity, l = "luxury" value (1 for passengers, 0.5 for freight), y = year of introduction.

• Aircraft: (s * s / 25000) + (c * 0.2) + ((2000 - y) * 0.1)
  • Where s = speed in km/h, c = passenger capacity, y = year of introduction.

• Ships: TBD

If you have very overpowered vehicles in your set, the calculated numbers may exceed 255; in that case, you'll have to increase the relevant bases by 1, and divide costs by 2.