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So I got two FOW forces for my gaming group (fingers crossed) but i figured if im going to bring a game to my group might as well know how to play. So heres what i got so far

French: 9 Somua 35, 4 Hotchkiss 35, 5 Panhard AMD, 1 Fusiliers Platoon, .

Germans: 8 Panzer III E, 4 Panzer II C, 1 Schutzen Platoon, 3 Sdkfz Half-Tracks. 1 Half tracks and the Panzer II's , 4 Pz III's , 4 Pz III's and 2 Sdkfz's

So i would like the play large games (maybe 2+ good hours of gaming) but also i happen to be a hardcore treadhead and would be adding more armour to the forces, but any advice on how to build the list using these models and what else i should pick up. Also got a sick little table in the works

Artillery! Get some artillery!

Seriously, artillery is a great addition to any force. It's main focus is pinning enemy infantry (which can be great for keeping them in place, or readying assaults) and laying down smoke.

Now, I'm not a EW player, but I will recommend Easy Army for list building. For $1, you can get all the EW lists. The cool thing is, this software is actually supported by Battlefront, so you a nice layout with pages that look like they're right out of the book.

http://www.easyarmy.com/

How many points are your forces?? I play Brits across all 3 genres so don't really know the units of the French and German forces. There are two important things in a FoW army: Numbers and Balance.

For numbers, by the time you reach 1500 points total you need to have *at least* 7 platoons in your force. Anything less than that can really hamper your abilities on the table top. Always remember that more platoons are better. 2 Units of, say, Panzer 38ts or Panzer IIs are more adaptable than a single PZIII or PZIV platoon for the same point costs. In smaller games, numbers are even more vital. If you only have 2 platoons and one gets wiped out you will not be able to control/contest multiple objectives.

For balance you want to make sure you use combined arms. Forces that focus on only a single type of unit, especially at higher levels, can be severely handicapped on the table. Tanks, guns and infantry all play a good role on the table. I do have an EW British Armoured Regiment that is 100% tanks, but I only play it against other tank forces because it really is not good at all dealing with dug in infantry. All those 2pdrs with no HE mean I will be trying to force dug in infantry with FP 6+ machine guns. Ick...

As long as you cover those bases you are good to go. As an example:

My current 1750 point British Divisional Cavalry Company has 11 platoons in it. They are broken up as:

2 Platoons of Vickers MkVIB tanks (3 tanks each)
4 Platoons of Scout carriers (3 carriers each)
2 Rifle Platoons (each with 3 squads)
1 HMG platoon (4 HMG stands)
1 2pdr ATG platoon (4 2pdr ATGs)
1 Artillery platoon (4 18/25pdr guns)
Sporadic Air Support

Add in the CinC in a Vickers MkVI B and a 2inC in a Vickers MkVIB supported by 2 more scout carriers and I have a force that can deal with pretty much anything that I need to face. There are enough solid, static platoons to hold my objectives quite effectively and enough light and speedy platoons to make life hard for my enemies. If the opponent has heavy vehicles that the light tanks and carriers can't hurt I just ignore them and circle around to hit other targets. Eventually those heavy vehicles will have to end up in range of my guns to claim objectives. The points in fighter support are often wasted because only 3 opponents in the league use any planes (Though I was happy that my air support was 4 for 4 stopping incoming in the last game I played facing enemy air power!).

This force is kind of unique because even at lower point levels it could excel. At 500 points while my opponents all had maybe 2 platoons I was able to have 5 on the table.

Skriker

I have never played EW but I will agree that combined arms is a must. That's one of the things that made the German Blitz so effective. While the French had some of the best tanks in the world at the outbreak of the war they didn't concentrate them in large numbers as the Germans did. Air power is to sporadic for my liking so I think artillary are points better spentand infantry to hold objectives and support armor is a must. FOW is a fairly simple and fun game to play and I think you'll enjoy it.

Artiliry is a must, most definitly. and you WILL need it if you are facing large amounts of infateri based forces, but cut back on if its only tanks you will face later as the FoW fever grips your group. I would also recomend air support, works wonders

We may move also into midwar as i have a huge mancrush on panzers.... but thanks for all the help n keep it coming

As an EW French player, I can guarantee you that you will lose a lot of games with that French Armoured list. The "One-Man Turret" rule is so restrictive it forces your armor to nearly always be a static defensive force, definitely the opposite of what armor should be.

To give it any sort of viability, as has been mentioned, you need to take some artillery and some infantry. Consider dropping the Hotchkiss altogether, focusing on Somuas and Panhard ACs for your armor. Change that Fusilier platoon to either a Motocyclists and/or motorized infantry (name escapes me ATM). Take some 75mms, at least one full battery, their Quick Fire rule is quite good.

Good luck.