For Liberty VS Birth of America

[JJB647]

Just wondering if anyone has tried out For Liberty and Birth of America. Any comments on either of them?
Thanks.

[Jakerson]

For Liberty is more fun that Birth of America.

Birth of America game system looks like board game conversion that’s why I don’t like it as much as For Liberty with is purely computer game. Graphic is better in BoA but I think there is more content in For Liberty. IMHO

I don’t work any of these companies so my opinion is neutral one I'm just Hardcore war-game hobbyist from Finland. So this is not any type of secret hidden company endorsement. [:'(]

[jimwinsor]

I have 'em both, and comparison is real tricky because they are really apple-and-oranges kinda games, depite both being American Revolution themed.
 
FL has a detailed battle system which is really the heart of the game IMO. The strategic game, while it has a lot of depth, can be considered, really, an adjunct to the tactical game.  It serves to give each of the tactical battles some context.  Of course you can play FL w/o detailed battles, but you are basically throwing out half the game by doing that, IMO, which is thus kinda silly.
 
BoA, on the other hand, is purely a strategic game.  Battle results are shown to you after the fact on a little report screen, with numbers and little icons telling you what happened.  Players don't make any tactical battle decisions at all...even the computer decides for you if and when you are going to retreat or not.  However...this more limited focus has given the strategic game in BoA more depth than FL, IMO.  Naval units are represented in BoA, for example, whereas in FL naval matters are handled more abstractly.
 
This difference in focus is neither good nor bad...just different.  Hence you see why I say making hard qualitative judgment calls between the games is problematic.  BOTH are great games IMO, and both succeed in capturing the feel of the period.

[JJB647]

Thanks.

[TheHellPatrol]

They're both great in their "own way" and a steal for their prices...i'd suggest getting both[;)].

[jimwinsor]

Oh and I should probably add too...both FL and BoA include as an extra added bonus other games that also look interesting to play: FL a couple of games dealing with Hungarian independance wars, and BoA has a French and Indian War campaign.

[TheHellPatrol]

ORIGINAL: jimwinsor

Oh and I should probably add too...both FL and BoA include as an extra added bonus other games that also look interesting to play: FL a couple of games dealing with Hungarian independance wars, and BoA has a French and Indian War campaign.

Yes, both are full games...well FL/Hungary is a set of campaigns whereas BoA is one big scenario(or 2 iirc).