Thanks Landlubber,
I guess my question is where do I start with RoF? I have the Naval Battle Group three Voltaires (because I liked the models). Do you have any recommendations for what else I can get in order to get a feel for how the faction plays? Hopefully in a way that is forgiving for beginners, but it seems like the RoF is a bit of a "feast or famine" faction.
I don't have the Naval Battle Group, so I can't speak to how those models perform--with the exception of the Couronne, which is a great ship.
Recommend you pick up a squadron of Toulon-class armored cruisers, they pack a serious punch. The Charlemagne-class dreadnought is also an awesome ship.
Two things to keep in mind for the French:
1. Don't forget to take advantage of your Retardant Armor and the Cloud Generators. Retardant Armor will save your skin in some cases, and that in conjunction with the Cloud Generator is a pretty powerful combination.
2. Many French ships have heat lances/heat lancettes. These weapons have several extra rules/effects based on their weapon type. I don't have the rules in front of me, but I recommend you look them up--they're in the Weapons and Munitions section.
Don't forget to post pictures of your ships!