I only just got the game and was looking for an official (or at least heavily populated) forum-does anyone know of one? Firaxis and 2K don't seem to host one.

Also, I'm not sure why folks are complaining about no sandbox mode-it's in there and called "train table" mode.

RockHPI

Well, basically Civilization IV doesn't even have an official forum. CivFanatics, Apolyton and the like are all fansites. So I doubt there will ever be an official Railroads forum. Perhaps a fansite dedicated to Railroads will emerge. (Perhaps there's one dedicated already to the Railroad Tycoon series?) Until that time, this subforum will have to do. http://www.straland.com/images/smilies/tiphat.gif

There's a subforum devoted to the Railroad Tycoon series (http://www.tt-forums.net/viewforum.php?f=46&sid=76989a53583859ea7881e265affa8c1a) (including Railroads!) over on the Transport Tycoon Forums (http://www.tt-forums.net/index.php), but there hasn't been too much activity regarding SMRR! so far.

Two other forums are...

Hawk & Badger (http://hawkdawg.com/Forum/index.php?act=SC&c=5) A pretty good forum but a lot of 'hardcore' train guys. But a decent amount of discussion.

Gamespot's forum for RailRoads! (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidmeiersrailroads/forum.html) A lot of discussion here. You have to be a member to post but a nice place to read about the game.

Dev's are patrolling both of those forums and have been a help to me. But it would be nice if this became a main hub for the game.

Don't forget Hooked on Railroads! (link in sig) I know, it's brand new since yesterday but it'll get there. :)

Basically Firaxis doesn't do official forums. They haven't got one for Civ, there wasn't one for Pirates! or any of their other games. For Civ, Civfanatics is by far the best community, even if Apolyton is pretty good too. For Pirates! the most active community is hookedonpirates.com (addictedtopirates.com has more members but HoP has always been far more active and their mod database is a drop on a hot plate compared to HoP's).

I don't know what I prefer though. I mean, look at this site, or HoP. Fantastic communities that would never have been what they are if there would have been official forums. Kind works out well don't you think?

Anyways, while no one has started a full fansite yet, at least everyone can talk in a Railroad-y environment now. :)