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Message: <blockquote data-quote="bento" data-source="post: 2731595" data-attributes="member: 36597">I'm DMing a mass-combat situation and one of the players, a 2nd level Samurai, became surrounded by a band of 7 goblins during melee combat.  He's already made it through one round of being flanked but won't survive another.  The game ended before we could start another round so we're both trying to figure out his possible actions.Reading in the SRD 3.5 and PHB it says that if he stays he can either fight defensively as a standard action or a full action (which gives him -4 on attacks and +2 AC) , or he can claim total defense (+4 to AC but no attack for 1 round). Question 1: Why is there no difference between the bonuses and penalties when "fighting defensively" as a standard action and a full action?  If he looks at his option to withdraw, the rules aren't clear to me:Withdrawing from melee combat is a full-round action. When you withdraw, you can move up to double your speed. The square you start out in is not considered threatened by any opponent you can see, and therefore visible enemies do not get attacks of opportunity against you when you move from that square. (Invisible enemies still get attacks of opportunity against you, and you can’t withdraw from combat if you’re blinded.) You can’t take a 5-foot step during the same round in which you withdraw. If, during the process of withdrawing, you move out of a threatened square (other than the one you started in), enemies get attacks of opportunity as normal.Question 2: The square this player starts out in IS threatened isn't it?  The third sentance begs the question - when would someone withdraw from combat when they aren't already engaged in melee combat?Does this mean he cannot withdraw if he's surrounded?  The rule isn't clear about this.  If I had never read this rule I would allow him to step out of the circle but he would have to take AoO from every threatening square until he's out of reach from every combatant.  He can fight defensively while he does this.  Is this his best option?Thanks!</blockquote>

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