Tillerworld

[Catch21]

Ok, I took the plunge into Tillerworld on Day 1. Hard to resist at $44.98 with Christmas round the corner and given I've been watching them change hands on ebay for a while for a lot more. And with no European VAT/Sales Tax if you can successfully navigate the Digital River system. That's some bargain to me at €30 or less than half a tank of gas at today's prices here for all these games. Thank you Matrix!

I've been reading around to try to understand the fossil record on these games- if anyone could either confirm or correct my impressions it would be appreciated.

These widely-regarded classics have been out a while now (90s) starting with a Battleground Bulge/Ardennes (BG1) and progressing to include all the ACW and Napoleonic Games we now see in the Matrix bundle (to BG9- Chickamauga). John Tiller has moved on from these games, though he has helped here by making them Vista-compatible. However he views the future as more to do with the Campaign series at HPS than Battleground, the Campaign Series being something of a Battleground++ in that they include the Battles as part of a 'campaign' as opposed to the Battleground approach which revolves purely around the individual battle and parts thereof- historical and what-if scenarios included. It would appear doubtful he'll work on the Battleground series again.

As regards PBEM play it should be possible to play against anyone with a Talonsoft version of these products as long as 'you were updated to the latest unofficial update version'.

A few Qs:

1) Any definition on what latest version is (for PBEM purposes)?
2) I haven't seen that many mods for counters/maps/scenarios etc... which I find surprising in a game that's been around so long. Or am I missing a site or two?
3) I've seen quite a few articles on tactics but have yet to come across a step-by-step tutorial that would introduce me to the game. Is there such an animal? I've lived without them on other games but they can IME be useful.

Thanks for any responses.

P.S. The 2D Graphical Unit Icons seem fine to me- elegant and utilitarian. Plus I don't need my sunglasses which I tend to have to reach for when I stray into 3D-Land.

[MartNick]

This site has the odd scenario or two. They certainly work with the old Talonsoft version of the game. I haven't tried with the new Matrix edition yet as I only got it today myself, but I see no reason why it shouldn't.

http://www.nir-project.com/

[Catch21]

This a huge help- thank you. I'm starting the BG series in date order so that means the Napoleonic world (in Russia) first. So far I've uncovered the following links that- though I haven't looked in too much depth- might be useful to others:

John Tiller & Team
http://www.wargamer.com/articles/tiller ... efault.asp - good article with some history on the games

Sites
http://www.nir-project.com/ - this looks VERY extensive and useful. Seems you can get almost any Napoleonic era battle via this project
http://www.cobexlaw.com/campaign/eckmuhl.htm - seems Campaign Series specific so doubtful if useful for BG Series
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ianboys/nir.htm - looks a very useful Strategy Guide
http://www.hist-sdc.com/tut.html - useful articles.
http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/downloa ... =cat&id=90 - downloads- graphics, scenarios.
http://nap.phxsim.com/ - Looks a very good- maybe the best- starting point, what with all the links and downloads
http://www.wargamer.com/talonsoft/bg.asp#bg - NiR article already covered but some Waterloo advice that should be generic.

Clubs - They seem to do very useful articles too.
http://www.wargame.ch/wc/nwc/Napann1.htm
http://battleground-club.de/
http://mastersofthefield.com/index.htm

I wish it were easier to separate- if it is necessary at all- BG and Campaign Series content (or can they work together in any way?) as I'm pretty sure others will find it initially as confusing as I have.

I'll add other sites as I find and hope others will do the same.

[1925frank]

The NIR-Project site looks like it might be a goldmine. 
 
It looks like you can get battles from from about 1797 until 1815 involving any number of countries not currently part of the NIR, Waterlook, or PTW games.
 
A number of the battles look like you cannot download directly from the site but must, instead, contact the site creator, who apparently can send the battle to you.
 
Can anyone vouch for this site?  Is the quality of work comparable to that already part of the games?  Is the creator responsive, or is the site effectively dormant?     

[MartNick]

Hi

You are correct that due to server size limits you cannot download everygame and every map from the site. The site also has its own 'style' which takes a little getting used too, but once you've figured it out, it works fine. The games drop into directories of whichever BG series game they apply to. They will overright existing files, so you need to backup if you want to restore to the original.

I found Jean-Marie the site webmaster very easy to deal with, and he sent CD's to me very promptly. There was a small cost involved to do this.

From memory the maps are created somehow using either the Campaign Series East Front or East Front II editor. Not quite too the original Talonsoft standard but pretty close and easily good enough. I think most maps have both 2d and 3d graphics and these are simply excellent. The research that has gone into these parts of the games is second to none. I've not had a problem with any of the games I've tried so far. My current game (Leipzig 1813, 350 turns!!) works fine with the new Matrix version, see my thread for a screenie, so there is plenty of longevity in the BG series yet!

Hope this helps

[1925frank]

Thank you, MartNick.  I appreciate your taking the time to respond.
 
The inability to open this game up to the other conflicts seemed like a drawback.  How could you limit the game to just the 100 Days or the Russian Campaign?  The NIR-Project site looks like it eliminates that concern and, to the contrary, opens the game up to degrees I hadn't thought possible.  I saw battles in there for the Egyptian Expedition.  Even if Matrix doesn't expand on the game, it may not have to if others have already expanded on it and if their work is available to download or purchase.
 
When I originally had the games, I played only against the AI, and the weak AI caused me to lose interest.  The games look like they may be ideal for head-to-head play.  I've heard the games are enjoyable to play by PBEM notwithstanding the many phases within a turn.  Anyone care to comment on PBEM play?  I'm reluctant to purchase the game for play strictly against the AI.

[Bioman]

MartNick, I am glad that you have had no problems getting games from the NIR Project but I have been trying for over a year to contact Jean Marie about Leipzig and he does not return my emails. When I contacted him about the missing files for Austerlitz it took over 6 months for him to respond.

[Catch21]

ORIGINAL: MartNick

Hi

You are correct that due to server size limits you cannot download everygame and every map from the site. The site also has its own 'style' which takes a little getting used too, but once you've figured it out, it works fine. The games drop into directories of whichever BG series game they apply to. They will overright existing files, so you need to backup if you want to restore to the original.

I found Jean-Marie the site webmaster very easy to deal with, and he sent CD's to me very promptly. There was a small cost involved to do this.

From memory the maps are created somehow using either the Campaign Series East Front or East Front II editor. Not quite too the original Talonsoft standard but pretty close and easily good enough. I think most maps have both 2d and 3d graphics and these are simply excellent. The research that has gone into these parts of the games is second to none. I've not had a problem with any of the games I've tried so far. My current game (Leipzig 1813, 350 turns!!) works fine with the new Matrix version, see my thread for a screenie, so there is plenty of longevity in the BG series yet!

Hope this helps

It would seem there's more than one way to get at these. The first entry point lists all scenarios but there looks to be a limited number to download.

However if you enter the site via http://www.nir-project.com/index-nap.html and select 'All Games' from the 'Games with 802 Scenarios' drop-down list, you can select a particular battle or Series (Serie) and it will take you to a page which seems to have far more of them downloadable.

Or to go directly to the Series Links use http://www.nir-project.com/p980329z.html . Series # 6 for example seems to have most of the Peninsular Campaign's battles complete with map and OOB/Scenario/Other Files available for download.

Hope this helps.

[MartNick]

Hi Bioman

Which Austerlitz files are you missing? Maybe I can send them too you.

[Catch21]

ORIGINAL: Bioman

MartNick, I am glad that you have had no problems getting games from the NIR Project but I have been trying for over a year to contact Jean Marie about Leipzig and he does not return my emails. When I contacted him about the missing files for Austerlitz it took over 6 months for him to respond.

Are these the Leipzig files you're looking for?
http://www.nir-project.com/gle02.html

Austerlitz shows at http://www.nir-project.com/gau01.html , but I couldn't say whether or not the missing files you speak of are included here.

LATE EDIT: I notice the first file is noted as password protected, which means you have to get in touch with Jean-Marie Barbier to get the password anyway.

[MartNick]

Hi

GS that is indeed the Leipzig page. To get the maps you need to click on the map graphic on that page which takes you to a seperate page and DL all the bits. You will need Filesplitter to put them together. I just looked on my system, the main 3d map is 200 meg [:)]

[Catch21]

ORIGINAL: MartNick

Hi

GS that is indeed the Leipzig page. To get the maps you need to click on the map graphic on that page which takes you to a seperate page and DL all the bits. You will need Filesplitter to put them together. I just looked on my system, the main 3d map is 200 meg [:)]

MN- thanks. 90 meg zipped totaling pieces. Good job I have DSL. Might take 1/2-1 hour. Dial-up and snail mail is really the only way to go...

[MartNick]

I'm going to have a look at all the disks I have and figure out what is what. I originally got 15 CD's from J-M at NiR project.

[Bioman]

Hi Bioman

original:MartNick

Which Austerlitz files are you missing? Maybe I can send them too you.

Sorry if I was not clear. I did get all of the files for Austerlitz and the password to open them. It is Leipzig that I am having problems with. I have been trying since June of 2006 to get Jean-Marie to send me the CD with the files on them. Whenever I try to download any files from the website I keep getting error messages. I even tried today with the same result. I also would like to know which volume has the Leipzig game that you had the screen shot of.

Thanks!
Nick

[MartNick]

OK I see. Did you get a password from J-M when downloading?

I certainly have all the files. If you cannot get the info from J-M I could upload the files for you.

[lancerunolfsson]

For what its worth JM seems to respond much more rapidly, if the e-mail you send him describes a scenario in wich you give him money;^)

[MartNick]

Oh thats not so good. It says they are for free on his site [X(]

[Bioman]

original: MartNick
OK I see. Did you get a password from J-M when downloading?

I certainly have all the files. If you cannot get the info from J-M I could upload the files for you.

Thanks for the offer. I still can not download any of the Leizip files from the NIR Project website as I keep getting an error 404 message. If you could send me the files on a CD with the password I would gladly pay for it. I think that sending me the CD would be the easiest way but if you can send it to me electronically that would work also.
I tried sending you an email through the Forums but I don't know if you got it or not. If you did get it send me an email and I will contact you that way.

Thanks!
Nick

[MartNick]

Hi

We may get a DL site here with Matrix. So you possibly can download from there, just waiting to hear back from David Heath.

I dont actually need the passords from J-M as I have the games on CD that I bought from him. So one way or the other I'll get the files to you.

Hopefully Matrix will setup a DL site that everybody can benefit from the mod stuff.