Melee: No way out?

[Kordeth]

Was to show a Hydra (large, represnted by 4 Hs, and G was the character, Before move, and after move.

Does it make more sense?

I see. In that case, the answer is vague--I'd rule that threatening reach causes any square a monster can reach to be considered "adjacent" and therefore able to be left safely by shifting.

 

[coldpheasant]

same move action on a double move

To double move you have to take the same move action twice in a row. -PHB 284

According to this rule it would appear that it is not legal to shift and then trade your standard for a walk or a run. You could shift and trade your standard for another shift. You could shift and use your standard action for a charge. You could also double run or double walk, but you would provoke an attack of opportunity.

However, further study reveals a bit of confusion:

On your turn you can move twice if you take a move action instead of a standard action. If you take the same move action twice in a row, you're taking a double move. -PHB 284

That "if" seems to imply that taking two move actions is not necessarily a double move. It would follow that a shift and then a run action IS allowed, but is not called a "double move" anymore.

The difference is kind of minute. A double move is set apart by the fact that the two actions are resolved as one action, allowing you to end the first action in an ally's square or the last square of your first move to enter difficult terrain because you are not technically stopping there.

If I interpreted this rule incorrectly, let me know.

 

[Kordeth]

To double move you have to take the same move action twice in a row. -PHB 284

According to this rule it would appear that it is not legal to shift and then trade your standard for a walk or a run. You could shift and trade your standard for another shift. You could shift and use your standard action for a charge. You could also double run or double walk, but you would provoke an attack of opportunity.

However, further study reveals a bit of confusion:

On your turn you can move twice if you take a move action instead of a standard action. If you take the same move action twice in a row, you're taking a double move. -PHB 284

That "if" seems to imply that taking two move actions is not necessarily a double move. It would follow that a shift and then a run action IS allowed, but is not called a "double move" anymore.

The difference is kind of minute. A double move is set apart by the fact that the two actions are resolved as one action, allowing you to end the first action in an ally's square or the last square of your first move to enter difficult terrain because you are not technically stopping there.

If I interpreted this rule incorrectly, let me know.

You're correct. A double move is a special kind of moveent with extra rules which does not prohibit a character from taking two moves of different types. It's perfectly legal to shift then move away, or run up to a low tunnel, drop prone, and then crawl through the tunnel, for example.