[richard zamudio]

Mea culpa. Having never actually read the Geneva Convention, I was following the terminology in the Bolt Action rulebook. Perhaps the writers of the rules should have used more technically correct wording.

[richard zamudio]

Thanks to all who responded so quickly!

[richard zamudio]

Without looking at the points, the Japanese lone sniper is probably cheaper either as a sniper or Lmg gunner. I am sure someone will provide the correct points!

[richard zamudio]

For most of the conflict, the helmets were US style. However, many troops wore a headgear that was similar to to an Australian bush hat but with smaller brims. One side was often up and after awhile the hat had somewhat of an irregular shape. Since the continental French did not serve in Indochina (except for the Foreign Legion), much of the fighting was done with colonial units (Algerians, Morrocans, Tunisians,  European colonials, and various Asian forces- Laotian, Cambodian, or Vietnamese) Since the Wargames Atlantic figures come with Adrian helmets, they would do only as some type of milita or othr such second line troops. There are a number of videos on line about French operation in Indochina, very interesting- though mostly in French!

[richard zamudio]

Whatever the French were called, they returned to take over control in Indochina. Since the conflict in Indochina lasted until 1955, the description “Free French” would not be that historically correct. As far as gaming is concerned, use whatever is available.

[richard zamudio]

Since the French in Indochina used a large amount of American equipment in Indochina, it would not be that strange to use the US troops that War Lord makes. There is also an excellent range of French paratroopers (and Viet Minh) for Indochina (Empress Miniatures), but as they are from England the postage can be a bit pricey. As far as making a list, I suggest getting the Korean War campaign book. A French battalion served in Korea and I dare say they used mostly US equipment. The French had their own submachine guns and other small arms, but that would be a very minute detail. Use the lists from the Korea book and call the figures French. Don’t get too bent around the axle as far as prototypical accuracy is concerned, it is after all only a game. Go for it!

[richard zamudio]

A rather short answer is that there is no rulebook based on the Epic range at the moment. There is talk of a rulebook Epic specific but that has yet to be published. Though Black Powder is a set of rules designed for 28mm, you can use it with the Epic range incorporating several changes. There is no real consensus as for the best ways of converting the Black Powder Rules to the the Epic range. You will hear of using cm instead of inches or perhaps cutting range/movement in half. But there are still issues involving number of figures per base or unit organization. I personally use old school 15mm figures and have spent many hour trying to figure out how many figures per base, etc. Yes you can certainly use the Black Powder rules as they exist, but be aware that you will be using figures (Epic) of another scale.

[richard zamudio]

Not that I am expert on Bolt Action, quite the contrary! However, I see nothing wrong with you doing Bolt Action in 1/72. As the figure/vehicles are smaller, you may want to fiddle with the ranges/movement speeds. My thought would be to play on a 4/6 table and keep the range/speed the same. It would give the range/speed  a  more “realistic” feel. Go for it!

[richard zamudio]

All of the responses were very useful, however I was thinking along the lines of making the guerrillas a very abstract force, not to be burdened with stats and such. The irregular forces are seen as more of nuisance than anything else. Since I am currently using 15mm figures with fairly large forces, the guerrillas would probably not even be on the battlefield! But I do want to use them as a “problem” for the opposition forces. How to do that accurately  is my current dilemma!

[richard zamudio]

Thanks for the prompt and helpful response!

[richard zamudio]

Not a bad idea! As hardly anyone around here plays the French (for a variety of reasons),this could come as a rather unpleasant surprise!

[richard zamudio]

And the important thing to remember is that, at the moment, this is all that we have to work with! Just hoping that there might be a book about the 1809 or 1813-1814 campaigns! One can only hope!

[richard zamudio]

Well, in my own defense, I prefer game systems with points! I have always felt that games without a point system to be lacking completion. I really enjoy painting and using  obscure and sometimes rag tag units (Spanish guerrillas or Austrian Landwehr). Without a comprehensive point system, it is often quite difficult to use such units in games. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate  what is available in COE and the Albion Triumphant volumes! I just want more. It is like buying a pie with one or two slices missing, you kind of have that nagging feeling you didn’t get all that you paid for.

[richard zamudio]

Thanks, gentlemen, for all the prompt replies. Makes me wonder why such costly books have the errors/omissions that they have!

[richard zamudio]

This may seem an obtuse question, but where does it say that bamboo spearmen cannot attack tanks?My opponent is a stickler for rules and he will certainly need to be proven otherwise! Aside from this, all of the suggestions have been very helpful.

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