If you are playing 1870 French don't worry ! I have only ever won one game - the Prussians almost inevitably carry the field ! French troops are more or less the equal of the Prussian but the Prussian artillery and extra initiative points (DAV v D4) are the real problems. Helpful Hints when Playing French 1. Try to deploy your infantry in line and get them into a position where the Prussian artiillery must unlimber within 12" in order to shoot at them (reverse slopes are good for this). If the French infantry can get the Prussian guns within 12" then the Chassepot fire can be very effective. 2. Deploy in depth - the Prussians have the potential to outflank you (using their DAV initiative points). A defense in depth will allow you to counter attack. 3. Keep senior commanders close to the front lines where their initiative points can be used most effectively. 4. Put French elite troops such as Zouaves at the crucial points or else keep them in reserve. 5. Use your hidden movement markers to confuse the enemy. In a campaign game it was possible to convince one Prussian player that a marker was a dummy, when in fact it comprised the French reserve artillery (about 6-8 batteries). His cavalry got a nasty surprise! Back to Frontline Vol. 2 Iss. 3 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Rolfe Hedges This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com