You say your a student of history, as do most people who play TW games. I'm curious as to what type of game or players you are looking for, and what type of player you are?
Although NTW3 has done a wonderful job to limit the " arcade style " play through penalties to units, it does not stop your average NTW3 player from playing this mod as a normal " run n gun/ mad dash melee rush, " just like every other type of TW game. I mean, we all know troops did not run the entire length's of the battlefields, or cavalry run THROUGH friendly units, but yet that is exactly what you will find in a NTW3 mp game, except for a few.
Your best place to find a mp game is to go to the Lordz Teamspeak.
http://www.thelordz.org/forum/viewto...?f=138&t=12136
From there you can have your pick of arcade style players.
If your looking for an alternative, something just a little bit more realistic, I suggest you contact my guy Lepic.
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/RightsofMan
We have a VERY SMALL group of players that play the Historical Battles/Scenario Battles portion of NTW3 in a little more historical fashion. Average battle can last up to 3 hours.
Good luck, I hope you find whatever it is you are looking for. Enjoy the mod, it is awesome.