My copy finally showed in the mail yesterday and I spent
part of last night going over my book getting familiar with it and looking at
what has changed from the PDF and compared it to what I heard online and on the
BAR for inside scoops.
The final result is mixed with both excitement at some good
changes and some negative things that I really dislike. First I will go into an
overview and discuss things as we go…for this post I am just going to focus on France, then to
the Partisan list then on to the rest of the book…
Special Rules:
Communication Breakdown: In a nutshell, if the first dice
drawn is yours. Your opponent can ask you to redraw a new one after putting
that one back. Not a huge negative factor and is flavorful.
Forward Artillery Doctrine: This is a nice option if you ask
me; you get one free inexperienced or regular artillery or anti-tank gun. The
only limit is you can’t take a heavy artillery option. Plus this does not count
against your unit choices from the reinforced platoon list.
Hurriedly Conscripted Reserves: Take 3 or more inexperienced
units and get another unit of the least cost free (with the same gear). At
first I thought this was crap, now in retrospect I think this could really have
some options.
New Weapon: VB Launcher was introduced in this book and
several armies can opt to take it. Simply, it is a light mortar that can be
taken as an option for a squad at the same price as an LMG, the range is jut
6-18”, it is HE(d2) and indirect. I see some prospects here.
Infantry:
Headquarters Units:
Officer: Nothing special, just like other lists.
Medic: Allows for Regular and Veteran only. Nothing else to
write home to mom about.
Forward Observer: Same as any other army.
Infantry Squads and Teams:
Regular Infantry: Nothing different from the PDF except the
VB launcher and you do get the option for the 12th guy with a pistol
for a few less points.
Inexperienced Infantry: Same as Regular in options but no
SMG option.
Dragons Portes (Mech Infantry): Nothing special but a
smaller unit size of 10 with the option of 2 lmgs and a VB launcher as well and
are Regular infantry.
Groupe Franc/SES/GIA: Veterans, 2 LMG options with a VB
launcher option, 3 SMGs as before. They also give skies to the Chasseurs D’Alpines
for free.
NOTE: This part I am unhappy about in two parts. Alpine
Chaussers get jack. These were mountain and snow specialists, thanks guys for
the free skies. The Belgium
list gets for their Chaussers an option for Tough fighters. No bonus to
outflank? Nothing. Second I am going to defend the GIA or rather the Groupe
Franc, they put in the book they are “heavily armed RAIDERS used to INFILTRATE
enemy positions and undertake deep RECONNAISSANCE missions. What the flip? You
give them NOTHING really? Very disappointed here.
Foreign Legion Vets: Still have Stubborn and gains a VB
launcher. Nothing new.
Senegalese Tirailleurs Infantry: Small up charge Regular
unit with Tough fighters, otherwise standard regular French Infantry.
Moroccan Goumiers: Veteran Senegalese, small up charge with
Tough Fighters. LMG only and 11 man unit size.
Calvary: Can be up to 13
men! Same price as a SS Calvary unit in price with horse for Veteran but also
can be Regular also.
Note: It does not say CALVARY
for the list and there is debate online if this. It is the same cost and well,
it is pretty dumb to just have them be living bicycles for the French (and
other armies).
Motorbike Section: 13 man squad again that can be on motorcycles
and sidecars. LMGs only. Sad nobody makes them!
Machine Gun Team: Standard as other books
Anti-Tank Rifle Team: Standard as other books.
Sniper Team: Same as before
Light Mortar Team: Yes, still 3 men. A little more expensive
than other armies due to the bonus man.
Medium Mortar Team: No changes.
Artillery and Field Guns:
Light/Medium/Heavy Artillery: No change from other armies.
Anti Tank Guns: Both Light and Medium options and the same cost
as other armies.
Anti-Aircraft: A single light automatic cannon as other
armies in cost.
Tanks:
Renault FT: MAJOR (almost
50% point drop) compared to the PDF. Think of it as a cheaper MMG on
tracks.
CHAR D1: About 1/3 of the points dropped off and lost the 9+
frontal armor perk in the PDF.
CHAR D2: Cheaper than the D1, also no major difference but
takes extra pin markers if hit due to Unreliable.
RENAULT R35, R39 and R40: Light Tank now, points dropped a
great deal from the PDF.
HOTCHKISS H35, H38 and H39: Not a bad new tank if you can
stand dealing with the single turret rule and willing to upgrade the gun to a
light ATG.
FCM 36: New tank, but really sucks, cheap but has no option
to upgrade the ATG.
AMC 35: New Tank, to me will be a standard tank for the
French, I know of only one company that makes a resin model of it. No single
man turret rule or slow on this guy. Still a light ATG though.
Somua 35: Massive drop in points, but also now a light tank,
no medium ATG but they did get rid of the Vulnerable spot rule and gained the
9+ front armor rule. Still has the one-man turret rule.
CHAR B1: Small points increase from PDF, lost the medium ATG
for a light version.
CHAR 2C: Small point drop from PDF, otherwise no change.
Tank Destroyers:
There are three trucks with guns mounted on the back, just
saving time typing on this. Two are light and one has a medium ATG.
Armored Cars and RECCE Vehicles:
AMC SCHNEIDER P16 Half-Track: Points went down from the PDF
but also lost the light ATG for the low powered version with no upgrade
options. They also pulled the dual directional steering rule.
NOTE: I am a little annoyed not as much by the ATG change
but the steering rule as it clearly states there are two drivers, front and
back!
AMR33 and AMR35: I was happy to see this addition, a
tankette for the French in essence.
NOTE: I am VERY disappointed that someone feels asleep here
and did not cover the other variants like the ZT1 and ZT3. I really like the
ZT3 and was about to buy one as I really liked the look of the vehicle and it
had a 25mm gun (light ATG). Maybe Warlord can PDF this as an add on PDF.
Here is more about the ARM series of tanks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMR_35
ZT3 made by Army Group North Miniatures
AMD PANHARD 178: You’re typical light ATG on wheels with
Recce.
LAFFLY S15TOE: Armored car with Recce and MMG…
AMD LAFFLY 80AM: HMG and MMG armored car with Reece. Almost
missed the fact it has a HMG.
AMD LAFFLY 50AM: Recce vehicle with a low vel ATG….nothing
special.
AMD PANHARD 165/175: Overseas version, Recce with low vel
ATG only….no upgrades.
Transports and Tows:
11 vehicles, nothing special and includes a ton of tractors,
some armored options including the UNIC. Nothing special to note but they did
cover finally a vehicle that can haul a heavy howitzer!
Overall: The French list gets about a 3/5 review. It would
have be stellar if they would have included the ZT tanks, forgot dual directional
steering on the P16 and I was really disappointed by the treatment of the
Alpine Chaussers and Groupe Franc lack of rules as well as the lack of making
it clear if Calvary is well just that in the rules. I assume they are until
they say otherwise in a FAQ. I can deal with the light ATG being moved around
on a few tanks with no medium option being a bit of a disappointment as well.
