SB Vietnam vs Tour of Duty

[WargameGeneral]

Hey guys,

I would like to get into Squad Battles; the Vietnam-related titles have caught my attention...

Apart from different scenarios and the campaign feature, what are the major differences between "Vietnam" and "Tour of Duty"?

I read in a blog post (can't find the link at the moment) that "Falklands" uses the same weapon simulation model that is used in "Tour of Duty". So are there any mechanical differences between those titles regarding the mathematical simulation of damage, weapons, probabilities etc.?

Are the scenarios more interesting in one particular title?

With which title would you start?

Thanks for your feedback...

[Compass Rose]

Check out this thread to help answer your question.

https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...?tid=72061


The general answer we offer to when someone is new to a JTS series, and they are asking about which title should be their first, is to select a title that interests you the most, as that will help keep you interested while trying to learn the game system.

[WargameGeneral]

Thanks for your feedback, Compass Rose.

Could anyone share some light on the complexity and length of the scenarios in V vs ToD?
I would prefer smaller scenarios to get started with.

On YouTube, for instance, I noticed more videos on ToD, which seem to be the more popular starting point. Is there a particular reason to start with ToD over V?

[Compass Rose]

If you have not already done it, check out the list of the scenarios for the two titles you are trying to compare.

Just scroll down to the Squad Battles Section and select a title.

https://www.theblitz.club/scenarios/b-15.htm

You can read through the scenario descriptions, and determine the number of turns, size of the scenario, and even read what other PBEM players have to say about the scenarios, if they took the time to rate the scenario, after they played it.


Most scenarios listed will be stock (come with the game) however, there will be some 3rd part scenarios listed, too.

[Embis]

Vietnam and ToD are so very similar it's hard to recommend one over the other. Although Vietnam was the first SB game to be published and ToD the second, since they came out each has been updated in line with the other SB games so now the only real difference is the number of scenarios.

 My feeling is that ToD is more popular than Vietnam. But I don't really know that should be so, I suspect it is still seen as the "newer" title and therefore must be better and, for the reasons stated above, I don't think that is actually the case. 

My choice? ToD. ...but even as a veteran player of the game and the whole series I couldn't give you a rational reason why. It's just my gut preference. Whichever you choose you will have plenty of choice for opponents for pbem and you'll love the game.

..and let's face it.. you'll end up buying both anyway

[Embis]

One more point to consider:

A number of user created mods have been brought out for the SB games.  and one of them, "Red Star Over Europe" requires Vietnam as the base game. This is a NATO Warsaw Pact conflict set in 1980's Europe. Its an excellent game in its own right, so if you decided to get Vietnam you could also run RSOE and you would then have two SB titles. All can be played on the SB ladder at the Blitz.

1. Red Star over Europe:  a 3rd world war 1980's mod, Nato V Soviet Union (modded from Vietnam)
   
2. Africa at War: based on some of the post WW2 African conflicts (modded from Pacific War)
   
3. Arab Israeli  (modded from Soviet Afghan war)
   
4. The Long War, The more recent Afghanistan conflict (modded Soviet Afghan War)
   
5. The World at War- covering a number of conflicts including Chechnya, not sure what the base game is for that..might be Pacific, but not confident about that. [EDIT: Just checked, Pacific War is required for World at War]
   

These mods can be difficult to find but I am sure I can point you (or anyone else) in the right direction for them if you are interested.

[Compass Rose]

Years ago, Task Four Echo 4 was the "one-stop-shop" for all things SB; news, art mods, 3rd party scenarios, how-to articles, etc.

https://tfe4.wordpress.com/

Unfortunately, the website has not been maintained like it use to be, the last few years, and some images and links no longer exist or do not work.

I would suggest you check out the website and see what is out there for the different titles.


For example TOD and Vietnam both have one page of 3rd party scenarios and one page of 3rd party art mods.

https://tfe4.wordpress.com/graphics-and-...r-of-duty/

https://tfe4.wordpress.com/graphics-and-...s/vietnam/

https://tfe4.wordpress.com/sb-game-resou...r-of-duty/

https://tfe4.wordpress.com/sb-game-resources/vietnam2/


Also, a handy little tool to greatly help you control and use all third-party stuff is the program JSGME.

This tool helps you activate and deactivate mods with one click.

You can find more info about JSGME here:


https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...?tid=65299

[WargameGeneral]

Thanks for all the useful links and information, guys.

I will check those resources and then make a decision with which title to start...

[WargameGeneral]

So I finally ended up with Tour of Duty. Great title...

The game uses the "topdown mod" for the units by default, which is a great, visual improvement.

For PzC, I really like the map art of Jison:

http://mapmod.se/

Are there any comparable map mods available for SQ that reach Jison's quality standards?

[Compass Rose]

So I finally ended up with Tour of Duty. Great title...

The game uses the "topdown mod" for the units by default, which is a great, visual improvement.

For PzC, I really like the map art of Jison:

http://mapmod.se/

Are there any comparable map mods available for SQ that reach Jison's quality standards?

Glad to hear you were finally able to decide on a title.

Before you know it, you will be addicted like the rest of us, and you will have to get several more titles!


Jison is a master.  I can easily spent all day on his website, looking at his work, as he has it setup really nice.

Unfortunately, Jison doesn't do SB work, just PzC (Panzer Campaigns), MC (Modern Campaigns), and FWWC (First World War Campaigns).