PG-HQ Forums

In a jungle assault, the defender gets First Fire (12.43; Terrain Chart). In this case does the defender (Unit D), which is being assaulted by Unit A, now become an attacker for purposes of column shifts on the Assault Chart? The two areas that are potentially impacted are:

•  +1 for all units of the attacking side having higher morale than all defending units. When Unit D takes its First Fire, would it get this column shift as an "attacker"?
  
•  -1 against defending units occupying.... jungle. Would Unit A get this benefit when Unit D takes its First Fire?
  

With First Fire, are the roles reversed for that initial attack by the defender?

Unit A and Unit D are in a Jungle hex.

1. Unit D has first fire and suffers no terrain column modifier (see 12.41). It cannot receive the morale bonus because it is not the attacker.
2. Unit A, assuming it was not eliminated or demoralized, then attacks but suffers a -1 column modifier because Unit D is in a jungle and it gets a +1 column modifier if its morale is higher than Unit D.

The assaulting units are the "attacker"; their opponents are the "defender."  (see 12.11). Unit A activated to assault and is thus the attacker, regardless who gets to fire first.