Options - [RBP Help Contents]
Via the Game Options/Settings window you can alter the operation of several aspects of a match. To change the "master copy" of these options (saved in the RBP.INI file), choose the File, Program Settings pull-down menu. To change the settings for the current match, choose the Game, Edit Options pull-down menu or click the More Game Options button in the Game Setup/Configuration window.
Related configurable items are grouped into frames, and described below.
MOVEMENT - DICE BONUS
Under strict interpretation of Rail Baron rules, the bonus die is rolled after the normal roll has been used. However, many people roll the normal and bonus dice at the same time. Both options are available in RBP. Also available is an option often employed in official RB tournaments: rolling of normal and bonus dice together only when you have a Superchief engine.
MOVEMENT - FIX DICE AT 12
You can also force the dice roll to 12, that is, all rolls for movement are 8 on the normal dice plus 4 on the bonus. Use this option to remove some of the randomness associated with dice rolls. NOTE: even when this feature is enabled, normal dice rolling is employed for all players when any player is declared.
MOVEMENT - MANUAL DICE
Enable this to enter train movement dice rolls manually; RBP will prompt you. For truly random numbers, employ an online site that generates them via a quantum mechanical process. If entering each dice roll is too tedious, consider the Randomness setting described next.
MOVEMENT - RANDOMNESS
By drawing random numbers from a long list, RBP generates the next destination and simulates dice rolls. Via the Randomness setting, you can control how randomly RBP draws those numbers.
When set to Normal (the default), RBP chooses from a long list of possible values that is randomized based on varying factors such as the amount of time since your device was started, the amount of free memory available, etc. Nevertheless, since conventional computers are deterministic, none can generate values that are entirely, unpredictably random.
Choose a setting of Quantum to introduce an unpredictable factor into RBP's Normal random number generation. This makes the random elements in RBP, such as the simulated dice rolls, non-deterministic and thus, according to quantum physics, truly random. To initiate the process, RBP will prompt you to enter a number in the range of 1 to 9. You can obtain the value to input from any online source that displays a random result it derives from a quantum mechanical device. Search online for quantum dice generator, or quantum world splitter.
Choose a setting of None to instruct RBP to not randomize its list of random values. RBP will prompt you to enter a number in the range 10 to 32000, which determines the location in the list at which RBP starts retrieving random numbers. For any given value you enter, RBP will, during the match, generate the same sequence of random numbers for dice rolls and next destination city. You might use this to test a map, or to replay a match from its start and make different choices along the way to see which would have been best. When this feature is in use, a match of all AI bot players will proceed and conclude in the same manner each time it is executed (within a given version of RBP). Do not use the None setting with Web or Pbem matches since random number lists are not coordinated across multiple devices. Note that if you reload a saved game that employs the None setting, the random number sequence is restarted rather than resumed.
COMPUTER PLAY - NON-STOP
Enable this to skip the messages during computer player turns that require you to click OK. NOTE: even when this feature is enabled, if an error occurs, the game will stop and show the error message.
COMPUTER PLAY - CONTINUOUS GAME REPEAT
Enable this to have RBP start a new game immediately after one finishes. This feature is handy for running multiple games that consist only of computer players. For such multiple games, also enable the non-stop feature described above. Cumulative statistics for multiple games can be found in the Game Status window. Enable the Save checkbox to automatically save each game at its end.
COMPUTER PLAY - MAXIMUM PROCESSOR USE
Enable this to tell RBP to not give much processing time to other Windows applications running simultaneously. Takes effect only when the map window is minimized, and then boosts play speed 10% to 20%. Useful when running continuous games while you are away from the computer.
COMPUTER PLAY - SUM DATA (RUN MULTIPLE RBP)
Enable this on multi-core processor computers, to collect and combine AI statistics from multiple instances of RBP running continuous games simultaneously.
COMPUTER PLAY - AI REVENGE
Enable this feature to make the AI bots team up against human players. When revenge is enabled, the computer players make every effort to avoid riding RRs owned by human players. They also will not chase another computer player for a rover play. Revenge games are an added challenge for experienced players.
COMPUTER PLAY - BALANCED
When this is enabled, computer players try to reduce their use of RRs owned by the leading players (as determined by net worth), even if it means using a less optimal route. Balanced play mimics what usually happens in multi-human player games. When balanced play is enabled, RBP might suggest routes that at first seem roundabout, but that minimize use of the leading players' RRs.
COMPUTER PLAY - SKIP BRUTE FORCE SEARCH
RBP's AI employs a variety of search techniques to find a good route to the destination. When you enable this option, RBP will bypass this search technique, resulting in faster, though somewhat less skillful, trip selection. The speed difference will be most noticeable on faster computers. Note that lower skill level settings also skip the brute force search. To maximize the speed of Continuous Play games, enable this skip option.
COMPUTER PLAY - AI THINK TIME
This controls the approximate maximum number of seconds RBP will spend attempting to find a good route to the destination. In some situations (such as for a rover play) RBP might exceed this limit. On very slow computers, the max time will be exceeded if RBP can't find any possible route within the time limit. We recommend a value of 1 second.
COMPUTER PLAY - PAUSE
Enter the number of seconds to pause after each computer turn. Enter 0 for no pause, or -1 to pause until you click OK (done).
MONEY
Via the money fields you can customize the values for cash, engine and rail use fees. RBP's AI should be able to handle all reasonable customizations. An example of an unreasonable customization is setting the rover fee greater than the amount of cash needed to win. We cannot guarantee that RBP will operate properly with unreasonable custom values.
Starting Cash - the amount of cash each player starts the game with
Announce Cash - the level at which each player must announce his total cash
Win Cash - the amount of cash needed in order to declare and win
Rover Cash - the amount a declared player must pay when rovered
Rail Use Fee #1 - the fee for use of unfriendly RRs before all RRs have been sold
Rail Use Fee #2 - the fee for use of unfriendly RRs after all RRs have been sold
Friendly Use Fee #1 - the fee for use of friendly RRs before all RRs have been sold
Friendly Use Fee #2 - the fee for use of friendly RRs after all RRs have been sold
Superchief Price - the cost to purchase a Superchief engine (see info below)
All money settings must be evenly divisible by 100.
MONEY - SUPERCHIEF PRICE
You can choose the cost of a Superchief engine. Use 0 for a free Superchief that requires the use of a purchase opportunity. A setting of 1 is the same as 0, except the player must already have an Express engine in order to upgrade for free.
AUTOSAVE - BEFORE EVERY TURN
Enable this to automatically save the game before each turn; the games will be saved in files with names such as AUTOSAV1.RBG, AUTOSAV2.RBG, etc.
AUTOSAVE - LOCATION
Choose the disk path to the location for storage of AutoSaved games; a RAM disk makes the fastest AutoSave location. RBP will also use the location for temporary files.
MISC / VARIANTS - AUTOMATIC SUGGEST ROUTE
Enable this to have RBP suggest a route each time you can move. This turns off the window that 1) advises you of your turn and 2) asks if you want the program to suggest a route.
MISC / VARIANTS - BACKTRACKING
When enabled, a train can reuse a route it employed during a prior turn, even reverse direction, before arriving at its destination.
MISC / VARIANTS - BONUS DIE BOUNCE OUT
Enable this to require players to depart their destination city if they had not used their bonus roll upon arrival.
MISC / VARIANTS - HALL OF FAME
Enable this feature to make the game eligible to appear in the Hall of Fame should player end-game score(s) qualify.
MISC / VARIANTS - HOME CITY CHOICE
Enable to permit each player to choose a home city from those available in his starting region.
MISC / VARIANTS - HOME SWAPPING
Enable this to allow the popular Home Swapping variant. Home Swapping gives each player the option to swap his home city and first destination prior to moving during the first round. Home Swapping helps to reduce the chances of getting an easily monopolized first destination; such a single piece of bad luck can ruin the match for that player.
MISC / VARIANTS - KEEP CASH SECRET
Enable this to keep the cash level for a player secret until he reaches the announce cash level (normally $150,000). Note that you can hide the cash display box that appears to the lower left of the map window by double clicking on it; double click again to unhide the cash box.
MISC / VARIANTS - PAY BEFORE PURCHASE
When enabled, players must pay pending rail use fees before they can make a purchase.
MISC / VARIANTS - RIDE FREE ON OWN RRs
When enabled the use fee for movement upon a player's own properties is zero.
MISC / VARIANTS - ROVERING
When enabled, players can move to capture declared opponents.
MISC / VARIANTS - SELLING ALLOWED
When enabled, players are given the option to sell back a railroad to the bank, rather than auction the railroad to others, when they have too little cash to pay use fees.
MISC / VARIANTS - SOUND EFFECTS
Disable this to turn off audio sound effects throughout RBP.
GAME REMARKS
In this field, you can enter a brief comment about this game. The comment will be visible from the Load Game window when you click once on the file name of the saved game.