Assualt unit shooting in fire phase.

[pugsville]

Rules Page 48.
"A unit is still allowed to fire if it attempted to assault an enemy unit in the assault phase but failed to contact due to enemy fire"


Does this mean
(a) Only assaulting units stopped by defensive fire are eligible to shoot?

or

(b)
All units that assaulted which did not end in contact with the enemy can fire in the fire phase ? (in which case failed to contact due to enemy fire is misleading as they enemy evading or routing due to fail of CT when wavering are other reasons the assault may fail to contact

[deadtorius]

Looks like B, only units stopped by enemy fire can shoot during the shooting phase.

Only thing I can think of is this was overlooked by the designers or, in the case of an wavering enemy that broke, your troops are too busy taking care of the prisoners that were still there after their parent unit fled. Kind of like why a cavalry unit that destroys a broken infantry unit does not pursue but stays put.

[hazelbark]

Don't have rules but check the bit about if your target evaded. I recall something about one of both sides of the charge evade can't fire.

[Blathergut]

The confusion is that the rules on page 48 state:

A. A unit may fire if:
-enemy target in range
-must not have changed formation or retired as a reaction to an assault earlier this move

Which would make you think chargers could fire then in the fire phase.

But:

B. In the bit just below that:

"A unit is still allowed to fire if it attempted to assault an enemy during the Assault Phase but failed to contact due to enemy fire."

Which can be interpreted two ways:

1. Only assaulting units halted by defensive fire can shoot in the Fire Phase.

or

2. This is just clarifying that halted units can indeed fire as well as anybody else as per the bits above.

I would allow anyone to shoot. Why would a unit partially charging and halted from fire be able to shoot but something charging its full and not contacting not be able to shoot. But an argument could always be made.

[pugsville]

Chargers stopped by shooting have not moved a full move.

Why should chargers get approach new enemy and get to fire first? (as opposed to moving?)

Charges stopped by fire are engaging in a fire fight with defenders who have already shot. Period accounts charges degenerating into firefights without contact are extremely common.

Chargers who do not contact dues to enemy evading or routing, approaching new enemy who have not shot.