Difficult/Defensive Terrain - Synonymous?

[kippryon]

Are the terms Difficult/Defensive Terrain - Synonymous?

Throw in the term Defensive Fire and some newbies get confused...

Especially the AAM Advanced Rules, pages 23 & 25 - concerning Defensive Fire, Cover Rolls, and the effects (Negated or Limited to Disruption).

No complaints, just an observation.

*** And now for something completely different ***
Mortars & Indirect Fire
Any hints yet?

We use:
Commanders have new Special Ability 'Spotting' which can be used instead of an attack (or movement). Range = unlimited. LOS rules apply. Only 1 'spotting' attack per Commander per Assault phase.

Mortar units have new Special Ability 'Indirect Fire' which is -2 per Attack Die. Range & all other abilities unchanged.

Still debating on whether a 'spotting' attack can be negated by a defensive 'cover roll'...

[Y2UAsk]

There doesn't seem to be any question in there, but I'll clarify that defensive and difficult terrain are not the same thing.

The only mention I find in the rulebook of "difficult terrain" is on page 13, in the statement
A unit can move a number of hexes equal to its speed .... If it moves through difficult terrain, however, it can't move that far.
In this context, "difficult terrain" refers to anything that impedes movement, which would be hills, forest, marsh, pond, and stream. These things impede movement in different ways. "Difficult terrain" isn't really a classification that's used technically within the rules, it's more a term of convenience.

Defensive terrain is anything that allows a target unit to make a cover roll. This is a unified mechanic, and the term is used technically throughout the rules.

So, to summarize --

Hills -- defensive and difficult
Forest -- defensive and difficult
Marsh -- defensive (soldiers only) and difficult
Town -- defensive
Pond -- difficult
Stream -- difficult

Steve