Nice question, for me i play mostly realistic, only testing something without realistic mode.
To know what the most people do there would be a vote interessting.

I have tried realistic and have had to restart 3-4 times to figure out the strategy to make money given that play only workshop created maps and not random. In my current game, I finally figured it out. It is very slow at times but makes you think and strategies on build and how to use your resources carefully.

A good amount of people, myself included, played realistic mode before its existence, by simply self-imposing the rules to the extent possible at the time. I only play realistic myself, except when I want to test something.

I like it for the challenge, as it rewards long term planning and creative use of the mechanics.

it is very difficult to say without automatically collecting statistics for each player. The survey will show the result from a sample of those people who notice and complete the survey. Steam says there are 2,159 players in the game right now. If even 20 people write in this topic, that’s only 1%.

There is also a nuance: some players follow many of the restrictions of the realistic mode, except for some. For example, automatic construction of only railway tracks is allowed.

For statistics: I play with realistic mode

I am playing realistic only since it was implemented. HMC since like 2years.

Yes :)

me too, once you have tried realistic for the 1st time then you cant go back to other settings

I'll add to this small survey by noting that I have only played realistic mode since it was released as part of the game.

I would agree that it is 'slower' than vanilla, especially in terms of having to haul all resources to construction sites, but it makes the game *much* more fun and immersive. That said, even with the slower pace of Realistic mode, you end up often doing so much more in parallel than with cash-build available, so it's not like you end up just sitting and waiting on construction deliveries or anything.

Rather, whereas in default cash-build you'll be placing down roads & buildings and constructing them as soon as you place them, in Realistic mode you end up having many different construction zones going on at once, and sending your attention back and forth between them. I find it much more fun!

the game is revealed exclusively in realistic mode. This is a complex strategic simulator. Pause, microcontroller, planning, resource saving, efficient construction management, etc. I returned to the game only because of this mode)

The majority of people who post in this forum are probably playing "realistic mode" but

Originally posted by melkij:

it is very difficult to say without automatically collecting statistics for each player. The survey will show the result from a sample of those people who notice and complete the survey. Steam says there are 2,159 players in the game right now. If even 20 people write in this topic, that’s only 1%.

There is also a nuance: some players follow many of the restrictions of the realistic mode, except for some. For example, automatic construction of only railway tracks is allowed.

For statistics: I play with realistic mode

Best answer so far.
The majority of people who post in this forum are probably playing "realistic mode" but as has been said, the real number is just a guess.

I tried playing 100% realistic, but I grew too tired of moronic traffic that can jam everywhere becouse you have to send 10 trucs to single store to supply it.
I often switch to normal mode when I need to build something very fast. Game also doesnt allow to upgrade powerlines or pipes so I replace them with auto build

Originally posted by Tar-Mairon:

I tried playing 100% realistic, but I grew too tired of moronic traffic that can jam everywhere becouse you have to send 10 trucs to single store to supply it.
I often switch to normal mode when I need to build something very fast. Game also doesnt allow to upgrade powerlines or pipes so I replace them with auto build

Just build the new pipe/line next to the old one and once it is done, snip a tiny portion off of both ends of the old line and connect the new one in.

Or just plan ahead and leave extra switch connections to connect new lines into.

I don't activate the realistic mode, but play according to its rules, i.e. no automatic purchase, vehicles and goods are bought at customs and sent on the journey to the destination.
The only exception is the power line, as you know, short periods without power have fatal consequences.

Originally posted by Silent_Shadow:

[quote=Tar-
Just build the new pipe/line next to the old one and once it is done, snip a tiny portion off of both ends of the old line and connect the new one in.

I didn't understand your idea (maybe it's because of my bad English)

Originally posted by Silent_Shadow:

[quote=Tar-
Or just plan ahead and leave extra switch connections to connect new lines into.

I do that too, I build almost the entire republic in planning mode, and let them build little by little, but sometimes the switch connections are useless, or are missing in the wrong place due to the development of the republic

Old (small) pipe to be replaced:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3074824812
Place, but do not build, a building with a pipe connection and build new pipe from it next to the old pipe:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3074824919
Delete just a small part of the ends of the old pipe (reduces the total demolition time) and the connected end of the new pipe, and connect the new pipe at both ends:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3074825207
Upgrade complete:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3074825253
You can plan a pipe that connects the old pipe to a building so demolition offices can access it and remove it, or you can just leave it in place.

Electric wires and heating pipes can be done in a similar manner.