I tried NTW recently, after STW2. It was solid but I didn't like the way I had to constantly fight spammed out huge meaningless stacks of soldiers. Getting across the rhineland or low countries against France is just ridiculous.
Really looking forward to Rome 2 where they say there's gonna be less battles, but they will be more significant, and capturing regions will be gradual, and not just about "headshotting" capital cities.