Which John Tiller Napoleonic game should I buy ?

[nukkxx5058]

Hello,

I decided to try for the first time a JTS game. I'm interested in Napoleonics and as it seems there are multiple titles, I would appreciate some help to decide which one to purchase.

- Napoleonic battles.
- I would prefer the best engine (tha latest ?) in case there are several versions of the engine.
- I'm not afraid of comlexity
- I would preferably play as French (yes, I am)
- I would prefer battles that Napoleon historically lost to try to outsmart l'Empereur. Waterloo?

I'm also open to all suggestions, including other muskets time suggestions like American Civil War and other historical conflicts for a secondary purchase if I like the first one.

Comments and suggestions welcome !
Thank you and Merry Christmas !

[nukkxx5058]

This is crazy, there are so many titles ..
my preference so far goes to (not necessarily in the preference order):
- Waterloo
- Leipzig
- Napo's Peninsular war
- 1814
- Russia

But also musket times are also very tempting
- Renaissance
- 7 years war.

And I'm also very curious about "Modern Air Power"

I wish I had enough money ...

http://www.johntillersoftware.com/Napol ... ttles.html

(hope it's OK to post about this here, not sure if JTS is part of Slitherine's portfolio ...) In case, Admin let me know and I will delete my messages.

[Zorch]

IMHO, there is not much difference among the titles. You can get more info at http://johntillersoftware.com/NapoleonicBattles.html

[Simulacra53]

Check TheBlitz.org
There is something you might enjoy.

Also Renaissance is a lower priced item, can be a cheap way to see if these titles are to your liking.
Personally I prefer the PZB, FWWC, PzC and MC titles.

[nukkxx5058]

Thanks guys !
What about the engine ? Are all those games based on the engine or more recent titles would be using a more modern/elaborate engine ?

[nukkxx5058]

ORIGINAL: Simulacra53

Check TheBlitz.org
There is something you might enjoy.

Thanks, definitely of interest !!

[Blond_Knight]

I think they have a short Waterloo demo Link.

I got Bonapartes Peninsula war because it has smaller battles.

[Blond_Knight]

This page intentionally left blank.

[TheGrayMouser]

Your best bet is to pick the one that grabs your interest most. For the Napoleonic games, the latest one does have a nice new feature, but nothing so crucial that makes the others obsolete. Also the older games are eventually updated with the newer games bells and whistles.

[nukkxx5058]

ORIGINAL: TheGrayMouser
Your best bet is to pick the one that grabs your interest most. For the Napoleonic games, the latest one does have a nice new feature, but nothing so crucial that makes the others obsolete. Also the older games are eventually updated with the newer games bells and whistles.

Thanks, great answer, very helpful !

[rommel222]

Greetings nukkxx5058,
I have the entire Napoleonic series and enjoy them all. JTS continues to provide FREE updates to the latest release.
There are excellent spotlights at the Scenario Design Center website for 11 of the Napoleonic titles:
http://hist-sdc.com/spotlights/index.htm (check the Designer notes there)

I find Leipzig excellent due to the number of scenarios and the nature of the Battle of Nations.
https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/napole ... n-leipzig/

For the Napoleonic version of the Eastern Front, I recommend Napoleon's Russian Campaign.
The sheer scope and immensity of the summer, fall & winter battles is great. General Winter is devastating during retreat:
http://hist-sdc.com/spotlights/nb_nrc.htm

For Napoleon's Spanish Ulcer I recommend Bonaparte's Peninsular War. The battles and troop numbers are small to medium and include Spanish guerrillas.
http://hist-sdc.com/spotlights/nb_bpw.htm

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/review ... sular-war/

JTS also just released the follow up title Wellington's Peninsular War.

The Campaign 1814 is cool since it covers Napoleon's Six Days of Glory in rushing back and forth defeating Prussians & Russians.
Battles and force sizes are small to medium.


As mentioned in earlier posts, pick a battle you are interested in and go from there.

[nukkxx5058]

Thanks Rommel222 !
Good to read advices from a veteran player.
I will certainly pick Leipzig sooner or later and I wasnt sure about Russia but your comment sold it to me.
I already took Waterloo yesterday (as I find the battle particularly interesting and it was the rerason why I started to look at JTS games).
And I also will pick the Spain campaign, sooner or later.

Good to see there are so many titles, but will a life be enough to play them all? especially given the fact that I'm now past half way ...

[nukkxx5058]

Just a question: where is the official JTS forum ? I can't find any forum on their web site.
I'm always a bit reluctant to post here if JTS is a separate company from Slitherine/Matrix.
Because yes, I already have lots of questions

[loki100]

its sort of scattered around - there is some stuff on grogheads.

but generally I think that matrix are relatively tolerant of JTS discussions here, they must know that there is both a substantial cross over of player base and that there is little direct competition.

You mentioned above about 7 Years War, I bought it a year or so back and not hugely impressed to be honest. Maybe due to playing vs the AI but I find the scenarios are often very slow and then the AI doesn't make a great job of deploying for battle. The scenarios were you start more or less in contact seem to be slightly better but overall I've enjoyed the pzr campaign series more than the musket era (despite a strong interest in grand tactial games set in the era)

edit: this might help you a bit: http://www.theblitz.org/message_boards/ ... php?fid=11

[nukkxx5058]

Thanks for the Seven Years War feedback, and for the link

The only game I know and that is approaching these JTS games is Campaign Series Middle East. Very similar. Must be the same designer ?

As it seems there are many JTS "pros" here, where can I find the list of keyboard shortcuts ?
Is there a shortcut to switch from movement to fire mode ?

Thx

[TheGrayMouser]

ORIGINAL: nukkxx5058

Thanks for the Seven Years War feedback, and for the link

The only game I know and that is approaching these JTS games is Campaign Series Middle East. Very similar. Must be the same designer ?

As it seems there are many JTS "pros" here, where can I find the list of keyboard shortcuts ?
Is the a shortcut to switch from movement to fire mode ?

Thx

7 Years war is a great game, but perhaps Loki personally doesn't enjoy the stately process of the height of linear warfare and prefers the more democratic chaos of Napoleonics It should be known that the 7 years game does not (currently) have 3d graphics in case that matters to you.

The Ai is not "great" in any of the tactical games, however if you play historically with your own troops, doent do things that would be unlikely or impossible in real like, they play out much better. A lot of good opportunity for solo play too if that interests you ( basically do to the quasi operational scale of many of the maps!!)

[76mm]

The. Ampaign series was originally from tiller, but i understand that the current team is upgrading it, and doing a fine job.

JTS games have poor hotkey support, but that is easily remedied with a third party program lime autohotkeys—makes the games much more playable.

[nukkxx5058]

ORIGINAL: 76mm

The. Ampaign series was originally from tiller, but i understand that the current team is upgrading it, and doing a fine job.

JTS games have poor hotkey support, but that is easily remedied with a third party program lime autohotkeys—makes the games much more playable.

autohotkeys

Yeah, I remember someone gave me an example of hotkeys modification for TOAoW made with Autohotkeys. It worked fine. Would be fantastic if I could create all hot keys I need for all main functions of the JTS games. I definitely should investigate it further ...

***edit***
I just found the key to switch from movement to fire mode: it's the Ctrl key I'm a happy man

[nukkxx5058]

Stupid question: what's the difference between HPS and JTS ? Most games seem to be the same on both websites ...

[rma901]

I need to look at JTS. I like the HPS games I have bought.

Could someone tell me what TBS means?