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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 5024485" data-attributes="member: 4937">You just abstract the grid and use some rules of thumb:#1: If the character can be approached from several sides by enemies, then he'll be flanked, encircled, or surrounded on round 1 depending on the number of enemies.#2: If the character can't be approached from several sides (all enemies approach from the same direction), then he'll be flanked, etc. on round 2 if sufficient enemies survive adjacent to him (they'll move to surround him).#3: A character prevents himself by being surrounded by standing adjacent to an ally, column, or other solid obstacle.#3: A character prevents himself from being surrounded or encircled by standing adjactent to two allies or a wall. #4: A character in a corner, doorway, or against a wall and adjacent to an ally, or with allies encircling or surrounding him can't be flanked at all.Although 1st editions flanking rules were a bit different than third edition (because 1e used facing), that was my basic approach to determining whether someone was flanked in 1st edition or when I've decided there is no reason for a grid in 3e.  Got almost all of it.  You missed 'Encircled'.Encircled:XAXADXXXAXXAADXXXAWhat you showed:XXAADEXXAIs encircled as well, but 'E' is an extra attacker who is unnecessary to complete the encirclement.  He however qualifies as encircling as well, because he's adjacent to an ally that is encircling, so all four characters recieve a +3 bonus to hit.  'D' can remedy this by killing the 'A' to the 'west', which will make it hard for the remaining three to complete the encirclment in the next round without drawing AoOs.  The As would be more dangerous in the following configuration.XEAADXXXARegardless of which A the D kills in this situation, they can encircle him again on the next round with 5' steps.  If you are abstracting this without the grid, you just assume that the As have taken up the best possible configuration.And of course in either situation, if D fails to kill a A, he'll be surrounded on his next turn.</blockquote>

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