Hard@Work FAQs and
Tips Sheet
1. Why is this FAQ
neccessary?
It seems there are a lot of newer players that want to play these maps
that tend to need a little more help getting things moving.
2. Why does the newspaper
blame me for a stock scandle when I
didn't do anything of the sort?
Because some of the things that the more skillful robber-barons are
doing to get free money, I've had to make doing some things against the
law. It is against the law to: [buy a company that is under 1
year old] - [sabotage a company's connection to a city] - [prevent a
company from hauling or making musiums out of its trains] - [on
purposely make a company's stock drop in value] - [go in personal debt
without collateral for more than $500,000]. If you don't do any
of those, then you should be able to stay out of trouble.
3. Why is my picture
removed from the map?
You went to jail. Read question 2 again.
4. With so many laws
keeping you honest, how are you supposed to
win?
The map was intended to be hard, very hard. It was made for
people that have mopped the floor with other maps. It is possible
to win and even win big.
5. My company has lots of
money, why does the status screen show
that I have amassed only a small amount of cash?
Company cash is the company's money, not your money. You need to
find a way to move the money from the company's account to your
personal cash holdings. See the stocks screen.
6. I've taken control of
another AI company, how come I can't get
back to my first company?
You need to have 51% of the stock to guarantee you a wining vote to get
back into your first company. You could however work very hard in
the company you are CEO of now. Then later, if the board of
directors likes your performance in that company, they will sometimes
accept you back. 51% is usually easier to do though.
7. When I got back to one
of my other companies, it now will not let me
lay but only a short piece of track. What's up with that?
When you first started that company you were asked if you would like
this company to be able to lay track when you were away. You
answered no. You were away so it cannot lay track. Turn the
timer on for a little bit. The company will realize that you are
back in the office and will then be able to lay track again.
8. Why would you need that
feature for track laying?
Because a lot us that play RRT3 don't like the way the AI (Artificial
Intelligence) lays its tracks. When it is a company that we
didn't start, it's none of our business. But when we start a
company, we are the CEO and we will say when it is OK to lay track to a
new city. Even when we are busy running another RR for whatever
reason. We are also looking for a way to limit our companies from
buying trains like no tommorrow. But we haven't found a way
yet. And I don't mean "using the editor mode".
9. Why does the AI buy so
many trians for such a short RRs?
Because there is a lot of cargo that still needs hauling. If you
leave a company, the AI will buy more trains as long as it sees there
is more cargo that needs hauling. The AI will sometimes buy
upwards of 10 trains per month. Especially if you haven't been
moving
enough of the cargo previously. Hard@Work produces a lot of cargo
so that you may meet the game goals.
10. I've notice you have
updated the map occasionally on your web site. How do I know if I
have the latest version of your maps?
In the status screen (ledger (bottom tab)) you will see the version
number at the top. The latest version should match the version
displayed on the web site. It will be in a date format like
20041024 (year-month-day).
11. Is Hard@Work
multi-player capable?
Not as far as I know. The events and goals have not been set up
for it.
12. How long did it take
Harold to make the World Record time for Hard@Work?
Harold set the world record to 23 years. It took him about 40
hours of play time to complete the game for just that record.
13. Any tips on how to
improve my play?
These maps are kind of like chess. There are opening moves,
midgame strategies, and endgame tactics. Everything you do at any
point of the game opens new opportunities and closes others. It
is simply a matter of finding the best possible move with what
resources you have at each and every step in time. Unlike chess,
you can make several moves at each turn. You need to learn to
push the game into your desired direction and not just accept what is
handed to you.
14. What is considered
cheating?
At the moment. Shift-E in game editor fixes. And
redirecting loaded trains from their original destination. Now,
of couse, I cannot police those actions. But since it will take
you quite some time to complete the goals, know that the World Record
was set without using those cheats. If you use them, you're only
stealing from your own enjoyment.
15. Why do the AI players
only just sit there? They don't seem to buy or sell stock or
start their own companies.
They are the original capital investors in the RR you started working
with. If you make them rich enough, they will start another RR of
their own. They seem to be happy with their original investment
in Everail.
16. Come on,
give us a
starting clue as to get going in this map. Why is it taking me
too long to get going?
For the first 8 years, you need to grow the company as best you
can. Do not pay any dividends and buy stock when you can.
You'll need to pull some shady activities after that, but what is up to
you. You can make 30 million cash at the end of the 8th year if
you did all the right steps. Use this money to finish the game
and make the goals. Harold told me he had once managed to squeeze
38 million from that first company. Sometimes, you just a have to
get your hand slapped!