Question about the combat mechanics i.e, attack/defend values

[hannibal_barca]

For example, lets say an archer has a skirmish defend value of 4 and an attack of 3. Now does this game take into account who is attacking and who is defending to allocate these values? In other words, if I am the army defending the attack, will my archers defend always with the 4 value and the attacking army with the 3 value, or are the attack and defend values not based on what army is attacking and is defending but are both calculated at the same time, that is a system different from what army attacks and what army is defending?

I ask because I'm playing as Emir of Granada and I am massing the light calvary retinue that has a big defense bonus. In other paradox games this would mean it would best to defend attacks as opposed to attacking, and also the defender military trait, does that also mean that leader should not attack and defend? Basically, does the combat system attack and defend values boil down to what stack has attacked and which one is defending, or are both sides constantly switching off between attack and defense?

 

[Namfuak]

There's a big thread about this I don't have time to find right now, but it boils down to this:

Each "step," each army attacks the other. A roll is made, and based on terrain, unit attack/defense values, formation, and I think leader skill, each army takes a certain amount of damage. Thus, your cavalry's base defense is the same regardless of whether they are the attacking or defending army, but the defending army always gets terrain bonuses (if any exist) and the attacking army always gets terrain disadvantages (if any exist).

 

[hannibal_barca]

Thanks for the response. One more question, is their a side that gets the first attack/shot and the other side must take the causalities and then attack the other side, or is it simultaneous?