Pike & Shot or Battle Academy for iPad?

[dboeren]

I'm interested to try out one of the Slitherine "Battle Academy" style games but due to the cost I only want to buy one for now and I'm not sure where to start.

I'm not really a history buff, but I have a long experience with strategy games and also with tabletop minis - mainly Warmachine/Hordes, Infinity, Uncharted Seas, things like that. I've also played some board style wargames such as Hammer of the Scots, Sekigahara, War of the Ring (stretching the definition a bit here), and Napoleon's Triumph.

Pike & Shot sounds good and the setting is appealing (closer to the fantasy I'm more used to), but I've also heard comments that the style of play is slower and less action oriented, as well as being a little more "flat" in presentation. Should this be a concern? Are games of Battle Academy much quicker? I do have somewhat limited gaming time due to a 4-year-old. It sounds like Pike & Shot has a stronger skirmish mode though which should give more replayability.

I'm also open to other suggestions if you think there are better options or something soon to be released I should consider.

Thanks!

Edit: One additional question... Can iPad users participate in tournaments or is this a PC only function?

[keyth]

I have both and P&S on PC and iPad. iPad is no bar to to multi-player - you use the same lobby as the PC players.

I am a fan of both periods, but tend to play BA/BA2 in single-player mode as it has some interesting and well made campaigns, whereas Pike & Shot I play single-player to get some understanding of the different army lists as a learning exercise for multi-player. Just my personal preference - both games are very good!

[dboeren]

The online mode sounds interesting. It's asynchronous, correct? How long does it usually take to finish a game?

Is there a way to talk with your opponent? I'm thinking this would be useful for new players to ask questions and learn from the veterans. How does the matching system (if any) work? Is there some sort of ELO type rating?

Do the other games have as good an online mode as Pike & Shot? It kind of sounds like this game has a greater selection of armies to play. If that's the case, then I think that probably clinches it as I could use a little more competitive bloodshed in my life.

[keyth]

Correct, each player takes a turn which is then uploaded to the Slitherine PBEM server - it's seamless. As to game time, that depends very much on you and your opponent. I have had games play out over a few hours in one evening and others that may have a turn every other day. Time zones and lifestyle are the major impacting factors I guess. After a short time you will probably find other players of your 'style' and arrange matches with them. If you create an open challenge it will usually be accepted very quickly - there are not shortages of people wanting a game

At the end of every turn you can type a message into a message box so you can communicate with your opponent. If you are looking for some guidance, posting here on the forums will usually get you all the assistance that you need. There is no matching system, just ptich in and hope for the best Though as I mentioned, after a few games it should be easy to find players at the same stage as you when yo uwant a fair fight and those who will most likely kick your *rse when you want a challenge

As far as I know, all Slitherine turn-based games have the same type of PBEM so no worries there. If you get P&S and the expansion, Tercio to Salvo, you will have no shortage of armies to play with.

[rbodleyscott]

If you create an open challenge it will usually be accepted very quickly - there are not shortages of people wanting a game

And because of this you should not wait for other players to post open challenges - they are usually picked up very quickly after they are posted, so you won't see many. Best to post your own.

[TimW]

From a playing against the AI point of view, the AI in BA2 is pretty good and can come up with some surprises, though generally beatable once you get the hang of the required tactics. The AI in Pike & Shot can be quite merciless, especially in some of the historical scenarios, and can provide a pretty strong opponent in "skirmish" mode as well.

From a variety point of view, P&S covers a huge period with (in a period context) significant changes in military technology and methods. The range of armies is very extensive and covers everything from Western European armies that were emerging from the medieval era through to just before things settled down into everyone doing it pretty much the same way while, further east, armies like the Russians turned out forces that mostly wouldn't have been much of a surprise to Alexander. P&S is unique, whereas BA2 is yet another World War II game with tanks in it . Though a very good game indeed.

The pike and shot era possibly requires a bit more background reading to get the hang of what's going on and how to combine the various arms and to get the historical perspective, but it's an unusual and (for me) fascinating period of military history.

BA2 generally seems to play faster than P&S, which is in tune with the more stately nature of its period. You don't get the (almost) god-like total control of every unit like in BA2, but a more realistic portrayal of what happens when units engage and the general gradually loses control over commited units. Advance planning is a requisite in P&S even agains the AI because once commited disengaging can be lethal.

Really you ought to get both games, though they share an engine they are quite different in feel and approach.