From here: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1631857/ability-resolution-order-during-attacks

1.Declare Target
* Mission/Core Rules
- Bodyguard cc (really here?)

Earlier this week I realized that I have become lax in doing things with the timing in Imperial Assault. So, I've started going back over things trying to get things right. And I came across this- and it brought up memories of thread / conversation about Element of Surprise and Bodyguard. The idea was that if you used Bodyguard to change the target, that the new target would get their defense die because Element of Surprise removed it from the original target.

But, looking at this list, it appears that Bodyguard is played before anything else?.... I am guessing it is considered a mission or core rule because it affects the declaration of the target? Which would go before effects on the target (ie- relentless)... Just want to make sure I am understanding this correctly.

The list is not quite authorative - and Bodyguard is one of the couple that gave me trouble.

When comparing to the mission rules of some campaign missions where the target of an attack can be reassigned, it would make sense that Bodyguard would be with the mission rule timing although it is a defender ability. That's not rules as written though as far as ability timing goes, thus the question mark.

I think the alternatives are:

0. By RAW.

1. Bodyguard must be played before attacker abilities, because it changes the target figure. Element of Surprise would be available (if applicable).

2. The attack so far is rewinded, and if the figure who played Bodyguard is a valid target, no other figure can be targeted. Element of Surprise would be available (if applicable).

3. When the defender plays Bodyguard, the current Declare Target processing would restart with the new target, so all abilities that trigger when declaring target would be available in the actual attack. For example, Focused would add the green die to the attack (focused is only discarded after an attack has been resolved). Element of Surprise would be spent. (for example Relentless could be resolved twice.)

4. Alternatively, abilities triggered so far will still apply to the attack and the new target. There can be only one target figure for an attack, so when you switch targets, Element of Surprise would apply to the new target, if applicable. This is practically the same as 1.

I can put into my list of things to ponder with Clipper and Todd.

I hear Bodyguard has been ruled to be handled by RAW (the defender timing), so Element of Surprise (and One in a Million) would be negated and strain from Relentless stay on the original target. A lot of the other abilities have to do with attack result pool, so they are not bothered by the change of the defender.

Wild Attack would probably welcome Bodyguard being played.

Thanks!