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Are the French lame to play?

 
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Are the French lame to play? - 4/8/2002 6:42:48 PM   
campekenobi

 

Posts: 93
Joined: 1/10/2002
From: Maryland
Status: offline 		I by no means to insult or discredit anyone here, I'm merely talking about game play; I usually play as US, German, or Soviet, and I've chosen French for the 1st time, and here's how it has been:

The troops / tanks almost never fire back regardless of supression / range. They're like sitting ducks! I can rally them & it works but they seem to retreat easily, and their fire POWER seems low (like the Legionnaires don't cut it like the US Engineers).

Am I a fool for not knowing how to play this group right, or has anyone had a similar experience?
Post #: 1
- 4/8/2002 7:21:11 PM   
dox44

 

Posts: 668
Joined: 5/7/2000
From: the woodlands, texas
Status: offline 		my experience too...they need a lot of TLC.

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 2
French - 4/8/2002 7:36:43 PM   
mogami


Posts: 12789
Joined: 8/23/2000
From: You can't get here from there
Status: offline 		I had an online battle with Goblin the other night.
my 2.2k French versus 5.2k German May 1940 (german assault)
I used regular French Inf (3 companies) and a platoon of S-35's
The infantry that did not have his 150mm arty pounding on them the entire battle managed to put up a fight. However I did not deploy too wisely it seems since 2 companies were under constant bombardment from first to last and I found it impossible to ever get them to rally (the ones that did were back suppressed as soon as the arty fired again. ) The Soumas had no luck at all even against Pz-I and Pz-II. I called for reinforcments and received 2 more platoons of S-35 and 1 platoon of AMC-33 AC these too were wiped out within 3 turns (running into FJ's hiding in the woods did not help) German Spec Ops squads accounted for at least 4 S-35's. I just kept singing 'Camptown Races' watching his tanks chase my fleeing infantry across the map. I had 47mm AT guns but the crews ran away from the shelling. Infantry that does not have a friendly AT weapon near by panic when enemy AFV's approach. This is what occured and the suppressed infantry all skeedadled (they would run one direction get shot at turn around and run back, get shot at again, like ducks in a shooting gallery.) It was a lot of fun. I am trying to arrange another battle only with larger forces. (4k French versus 7k German) As I really had too few troops to cover the front and thus had almost no reserve.

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I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 3
Re: Are the French lame to play? - 4/8/2002 8:23:38 PM   
wulfir


Posts: 3091
Joined: 9/11/2001
From: Sweden
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by campekenobi
[B]Am I a fool for not knowing how to play this group right, or has anyone had a similar experience? [/B][/QUOTE]

I tried fighting a campaign against the AI using a small French core force, basically one reinforced infantry company back in version 5. something. I got overrun by the evil Boche on the first battle. A result of sloppy deployment and nonchalant attitude on my own part…

:o

_____________________________

Semper in Primis

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 4
- 4/8/2002 9:22:38 PM   
tracer


Posts: 1865
Joined: 11/22/2000
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL USA
Status: offline 		I'm playing a PBEM as the Belgians (meeting engagement, 3800 pts, 5/40) and am holding my own so far. Their fire control, experience and rally % are lower than the Germans they're facing, so you need to make some adjustments: use smoke/cover while advancing; advance slowly; buy extra recon units to aid in spotting; overwatch! Smoke/cover should be used to shield your force from long ranged shots...the GE fire control gives them a big edge here so try to shorten the LOS's. Even with the added recon, the more experienced GE are hard to spot...plan on losing alot of scout teams/snipers so buy accordingly. Make sure your advancing units have multiple units providing overwatch: if a GE unit opens up on one of your leading squads/vehicles, having 2-3 overwatch units returning op-fire will help even the odds.

I can't offer any help with the arty: its beating the crap out of my guys too :D Only solution there is to put some arty limits on the table during pre-battle negotiations (one battery/batallion of offboard; nothing above 105mm; lower arty effectiveness in preferences).

_____________________________

Jim NSB

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 5
Re: French - 4/8/2002 9:31:06 PM   
tracer


Posts: 1865
Joined: 11/22/2000
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mogami
[B] I just kept singing 'Camptown Races' watching his tanks chase my fleeing infantry across the map. [/B][/QUOTE]

LOL
You're getting Doo-Dah'ed to death :D

_____________________________

Jim NSB

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 6
Doo Dahs - 4/8/2002 9:34:34 PM   
mogami


Posts: 12789
Joined: 8/23/2000
From: You can't get here from there
Status: offline 		Hi, Yes there were a few Doo Dahs but mostly i was stuck repeating
" Going to run all day, going to run all night" over and over

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I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 7
- 4/8/2002 9:54:06 PM   
El_Peco

 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/25/2001
From: Milan, Italy
Status: offline 		I'm playing a campaign by pbem with germans and in the current battle my opponent leads the french.
He told me that had some problem with these troops, about experience and leaders' ratings.

Regards.

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 8
- 4/8/2002 10:10:19 PM   
Mojo

 

Posts: 915
Joined: 2/6/2002
From: Portland, Oregon USA
Status: offline 		If I'm playing French and decide that I need some real armor and buy US tanks do I US Army crews or French crews? Reason I ask is that I just played a game with FFL troops supported by Shermans and by geting real lucky with my initial deployment broke the German armor early (it was nip and tuck for about three turns) and the rest was history. (Well........kinda);) :D

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 9
Crews - 4/8/2002 10:21:49 PM   
mogami


Posts: 12789
Joined: 8/23/2000
From: You can't get here from there
Status: offline 		If you buy Shermans from the French unit menu they have French crews if you use the US unit menu you get US crews.

_____________________________






I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 10
Re: Crews - 4/8/2002 10:29:33 PM   
Mojo

 

Posts: 915
Joined: 2/6/2002
From: Portland, Oregon USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mogami
[B]If you buy Shermans from the French unit menu they have French crews if you use the US unit menu you get US crews. [/B][/QUOTE]

:( Then I had USA crews because the French menu only had M3A1's and 3s and I woulda got moidered:D

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 11
- 4/8/2002 10:30:43 PM   
tracer


Posts: 1865
Joined: 11/22/2000
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mojo
[B]If I'm playing French and decide that I need some real armor and buy US tanks do I US Army crews or French crews? [/B][/QUOTE]

Buying from another country's OOB? If this was against a human opponent I think (IMHO)that its something that needs to be mentioned/discussed [I]before[/I] the battle starts. Agreement would have to be reached on things like which countries you can buy from and what percentage of your total buy-points you can spend on them.

Before I purchase for a PBEM I take a look at my opponent's country in the encyclopedia to see what I'll be facing; this gives me an idea of the units I'll need to counter them. Having advanced knowledge of which countries to check seems fair.

_____________________________

Jim NSB

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 12
- 4/8/2002 10:40:02 PM   
Mojo

 

Posts: 915
Joined: 2/6/2002
From: Portland, Oregon USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by tracer
[B]

Buying from another country's OOB? If this was against a human opponent I think (IMHO)that its something that needs to be mentioned/discussed [I]before[/I] the battle starts. Agreement would have to be reached on things like which countries you can buy from and what percentage of your total buy-points you can spend on them.

Before I purchase for a PBEM I take a look at my opponent's country in the encyclopedia to see what I'll be facing; this gives me an idea of the units I'll need to counter them. Having advanced knowledge of which countries to check seems fair. [/B][/QUOTE]

Well, allied equipment at least somewhat consistant with the battlefield and timeframe was fair game. No T34s.:mad:

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 13
- 4/9/2002 12:51:27 AM   
Goblin


Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline 		Mogami [I]volunteered[/I] to be the French with only 2.2k. It was my fault on map size, as I choose a medium map w/o thinking. I concentrated almost my whole force (probably 4k out of 5.2k) on one section of the line. If I had put the map at the correct size (small) for his points, he would have given as good as he got! He is no slouch!;)

I'm not veering off subject. He gave me a choice on Ger/Fra, and I took German! That answers that.

I will say this. The French infantry are pretty well equipped for early on. German infantry has a rifle, LMG, and hand grenades. French Legionnaires or Votiguers have a rifle, LMG, rifle grenade, and hand grenades. The French problem, accurately portrayed, is their leadership, experience and morale ratings. I believe the leadership hurts them the most, because under fire they are all but impossible to rally!

Goblin

_____________________________

http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/index.php

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 14
- 4/9/2002 1:11:11 AM   
Belisarius


Posts: 4041
Joined: 5/26/2001
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status: offline 		All I'm saying is that if [I]I[/I] played a 2.2K French force against a 5.2K German, on a medium map, I'd pretty much expect to get my a$$ whooped, defense or no defense :D :D :D

_____________________________


Got StuG?

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 15
- 4/10/2002 10:57:39 PM   
Paul Vebber


Posts: 11430
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Portsmouth RI
Status: offline 		Like the Poles, its tought to account for operational and strategic level incompetance at teh Tactical level...They often fought gallantly, but too many battles were already lost at the operational level...

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 16
- 4/11/2002 4:00:24 AM   
Fallschirmjager


Posts: 6793
Joined: 3/18/2002
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Status: offline 		Read a history book and youll see why the French army wasnt worth a ****.

This will offend someone but I only speak the truth.

_____________________________


(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 17
- 4/11/2002 3:40:37 PM   
antarctic

 

Posts: 132
Joined: 5/24/2001
From: Australia
Status: offline 		Well, historically, the French didn't put up much of a fight. However, in one of the earlier SP:WAW scenarios (Carre d'As) your 2 platoons of Cahr 1B-bis tanks really kick the Germans clear off the map.
Just move them forward as fast as possible in the first few turns, and watch the Germans get smoked.

Just my 2 Australian cents (1 cent US).

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 18
Gamelin - 4/11/2002 4:20:14 PM   
mogami


Posts: 12789
Joined: 8/23/2000
From: You can't get here from there
Status: offline 		I have no problem using French troops/equpment I think the problem in 1940 was Gamelin not the army. Things could have been a lot better but he seems to have fosselized in concept.
In SPWaW if you do it right you can win. In my last battle unlike my normal practice i deployed on obvious defensive ground and thus fell prey to heavy un spotted arty fire. My normal practice is to avoid any such set up and wait for the enemy to advance after plotting that fire. In C2 battles they often have a hard time reassigning their arty. I had 3 btrys that waiited to fire and did a good job. 2/3s of my troops however were running from the first arty and never helped. No force can last when the front crumbles before contact. I don't blame my troops I knew better.

_____________________________






I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!

(in reply to campekenobi)
Post #: 19
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