I can change it, no problem. I envisioned this as the 1870 french army, a very, very good rifle in the form of the Chassepot rifle, easily outclassing every other rifle, but at the cost of having some inherant weaknesses in other parts of its army. France's failure were not technological, far from it, it was their doctrine. But I can downgrade as needed.

As for Indochina, unless Dai Nam went full scale industrialization (In which case I hardly see how the dutch or anyone really could have Asian colonies by that logic), I'd think there would still be a french presence there involving some vietnam like conflict, but while a whole lot of genocide and even more attrocities. After all, my france sees itself as a ridiculously egocentric nation that thinks its the best in the entire whole wide world, to be expelled by the natives in a colony would really complex them.

May I post?

EDIT: Also, any stance on the RP regarding chemical weapons?