Napoleon TW vs Waterloo: Scourge of War

[RyanE]

I am looking at both from a battle perspective and looking for some informed opinions on which I should get...caveats:

1) I am looking for a battle game more than a campaign game
2) Decent realism is important, but I know some concessions have to made for playability
3) Don't really care about the naval aspect of TW
4) Graphics aren't the most important thing, but I do consider it
5) HW performance isn't an issue...my rig should run either one without issues.

Normally I would dismiss the TW game as too arcady, but a friend uses the DarthMod and and swears its one of the most realistice Napoleon-era battle simulators around.  Hyperbole aside, it makes me consider the comparison.

[sandman2575]

Normally I would dismiss the TW game as too arcady, but a friend uses the DarthMod and and swears its one of the most realistice Napoleon-era battle simulators around.

I think that's a claim that's pretty hard to defend, actually. I'm no expert on Napoleonics (others around here are and hopefully they'll chime in), but even fully modded Napoleon TW is still an arcade game. I'm not saying that as a diss -- I think it's a terrific game. But where realism is concerned -- there's just no way Napoleon TW holds a candle to SoW Waterloo or Histwar les Grognards.

If you're putting a premium on realism, get Waterloo -- it's no contest, IMO.

EDIT -- there's an excellent mod for Napoleon TW by the Lordz (Napoleon III? or some such?) that's really worth checking out if you do get TW (and why not, with all the sales) -- I'd say it far surpasses DarthMod on capturing the feel and flavor of the Napoleonic wars.

[Jarhead0331]

Normally I would dismiss the TW game as too arcady, but a friend uses the DarthMod and and swears its one of the most realistice Napoleon-era battle simulators around.

I think that's a claim that's pretty hard to defend, actually. I'm no expert on Napoleonics (others around here are and hopefully they'll chime in), but even fully modded Napoleon TW is still an arcade game. I'm not saying that as a diss -- I think it's a terrific game. But where realism is concerned -- there's just no way Napoleon TW holds a candle to SoW Waterloo or Histwar les Grognards.

If you're putting a premium on realism, get Waterloo -- it's no contest, IMO.

EDIT -- there's an excellent mod for Napoleon TW by the Lordz (Napoleon III? or some such?) that's really worth checking out if you do get TW (and why not, with all the sales) -- I'd say it far surpasses DarthMod on capturing the feel and flavor of the Napoleonic wars.

I dont think it is an unrealistc claim to defend. There are only, what, two or three NW battle simulators available? Surely out of the three, its one of the most realistic. 

[Nefaro]

Realism? 

Scourge Of War, easily.

[sandman2575]

I dont think it is an unrealistc claim to defend. There are only, what, two or three NW battle simulators available? Surely out of the three, its one of the most realistic. 

Foiled by lawyer logic!

OK, here's something we can all agree on:  Napoleon TW is the most realistic Napoleonic simulator in the Total War series...   O0

[Cyrano]

From a realism perspective, N:TW is a dumpster fire.

It and SoW both have Napoleon IN them, but there the similarities end.

Jim

[AchillesLastStand]

I was really hoping SOW would be on sale during the Christmas Steam sale, at least 10% off maybe. That being said if you do decide to get NTW{4.99 on steam} get the NTW3 mod from the Lordz http://thelordz.org/ it adds tons more units/maps and even a fog of war and does as much as possible with the limits of the TW engine to make it realistic as possible.

[Pete Dero]

I am looking at both from a battle perspective and looking for some informed opinions on which I should get...caveats:

1) I am looking for a battle game more than a campaign game
2) Decent realism is important, but I know some concessions have to made for playability
3) Don't really care about the naval aspect of TW
4) Graphics aren't the most important thing, but I do consider it
5) HW performance isn't an issue...my rig should run either one without issues.

Not on your list but this one checks all your marks : Histwar Les Grognards  (on sale for 20 €)

http://www.histwargames.com/boutique/en/12-chappe.html

Mods add a large number of battles :

http://www.histwar.org/mods/category.php?id=3
http://www.histwar.org/mods/category.php?id=14

You can try a demo for the game   http://www.fileplanet.com/208823/200000/fileinfo/Histwar:-Les-Grognards-Demo

There is also a new version but the development on it seems to have halted.

[Father Ted]

Scourgeloo is a great game, but you will have to learn how to play it (unless you've played, er, Scourgeburg), whereas NTW is pretty much the same as all other TW games.

[RyanE]

I am looking at both from a battle perspective and looking for some informed opinions on which I should get...caveats:

1) I am looking for a battle game more than a campaign game
2) Decent realism is important, but I know some concessions have to made for playability
3) Don't really care about the naval aspect of TW
4) Graphics aren't the most important thing, but I do consider it
5) HW performance isn't an issue...my rig should run either one without issues.

Not on your list but this one checks all your marks : Histwar Les Grognards  (on sale for 20 €)

http://www.histwargames.com/boutique/en/12-chappe.html

Mods add a large number of battles :

http://www.histwar.org/mods/category.php?id=3
http://www.histwar.org/mods/category.php?id=14

You can try a demo for the game   http://www.fileplanet.com/208823/200000/fileinfo/Histwar:-Les-Grognards-Demo

There is also a new version but the development on it seems to have halted.

They are not on the list because...what's the word?  Dumpster Fire.  I don't how realistic it is or isn't.  They way that thing is being developed will only lead to heart ache.  That is why I asked what I asked.  I played the demo a couple years ago and wasn't very impressed with the experience.  Now, trying to figure out what to buy, whether it works, and what's going to be delivered gives me a Grand Mal.

[mikeck]

Stay away from Histwar. Gone in the wind

I say Scourge of Waterloo

[Pete Dero]

Stay away from Histwar. Gone in the wind

I know, that's why I only mentioned the first version of the game.  It received its final patch in may 2015.

The new versions probably will never be completely finished in our lifetimes.  However I consider the first game to be an excellent simulation of napoleontic battles, once you get used to the UI.


Now between TW and SOW I would go with SOW.

[panzerde]

SOW:W beyond a doubt given what you're after. Just be advised that like all SOW games, it's a pretty realistic command simulation at even simple levels. Troops and commanders don't just go where you tell them to; they have minds of their own and can decide that your orders aren't what they should be doing. That frustrates people who are used to playing in god mode rather than commander mode, sometimes.

[jomni]

Vote goes to SOW Waterloo no doubt.
But the said engine is still better at depicting American Civil War.

[panzerde]

Vote goes to SOW Waterloo no doubt.
But the said engine is still better at depicting American Civil War.

Completely agree. I expect they'll make progress at that over time.