[ASLML] Bounding First Fire

[Bruce Bakken]

Hello, everyone.

I pose these for the consideration of the ASLML before I ask Perry, in case 
there is something I am overlooking.  Yeah, like THAT ever happens... ;-)

We already know that a vehicle "may... fire... in its MPh; this is termed 
Bounding First Fire."  [D3.3]  We also know that: "A vehicle wishing to fire 
at the start of its MPh prior to entry of a new hex ... may do so..."   
[C5.33]

The only thing we know for sure about the relationship of Bounding First 
Fire to MP expended by the ATTACKER is that "a vehicular weapon using 
Bounding First Fire (D3.3) must expend at least one MP between its shots 
..." [C2.24]

On a slightly related topic, for Defensive First Fire (and disregarding the 
possibility of a Gun Duel for a moment), C6.17 says, "... all MF/MP thusly 
expended by the target in that Location ... may be applied in increments to 
a series of shots at it."   So if an ATTACKER enters a hex at 5 MP, we know 
that the DEFENDER may Defensive First Fire commencing with the 1st MP 
increment expended in that hex.

Does the same principle apply to Bounding First Fire?  In other words, if 
the ATTACKER enters a hex at 5 MP, may it:

a) announce a Bounding First Fire shot after the 1st MP increment?  Then 
again (if allowed) after the 2nd MP increment, and so on; or,

b) must it wait until all MP are expended for entering the Location before 
it may declare Bounding First Fire.

If a), then how is that backed up?  C6.17 is very explicit about how Case 
J1/J2 may be avoided if the ATTACKER expends >3 MP to enter a hex.  The 
corollary of Case J1/J2 for Bounding First Fire is Case C1/C2.  (C5.31-.32)  
Certainly the implication for Case C1/C2 is that Bounding First Fire may be 
used incrementally, but since it is not stated explicitly, can that 
conclusion be extrapolated?

If b), then all references to Gun Duel in C6.17 are irrelevant and should be 
removed, since only the ATTACKER could declare a Gun Duel in that situation, 
and the ATTACKER it will have automatically minimized Case J1/J2 as much as 
possible.

I tend to believe the answer is a), but I would like some other opinions.

Regards,
Bruce Bakken

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