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<blockquote data-quote="two" data-source="post: 1406388" data-attributes="member: 9002">Can't have it both waysThe rules don't assume anything; you are assuming something.&nbsp; You are saying the rules state &quot;you are always trying to attack any foe who might come within reach; that is why you threaten an area&quot;.&nbsp; Which is bunk.&nbsp; You threaten an area you can make a melee attack into. Done.&nbsp; More than that is opinion.You can threaten an area and do lots of stuff instead of attacking a foe, for example, loading up a heavy crossbow or taking a scroll out of a backpack and reading it.&nbsp; Unless you posit these can be done while at the same time dancing around poking at everyone you threaten (8 or more squares)?&nbsp; That's a lot of hopping.&nbsp; Hope the scroll ain't dropped.This sort of thing is simply not in the rules. A rogue that is &quot;bluffing&quot; being paralyzed (standing still, perhaps acting like he was &quot;held personed&quot;) still threatens, despite not trying to attack foes that come into reach.&nbsp; Indeed, still threatens when absolutely still.&nbsp; Imagine an Eskimo over a seal hole.&nbsp; Does the eskimo &quot;threaten&quot; the hole?&nbsp; Yup.&nbsp; He is busy doing a &quot;dance of death&quot; with seals that come up?&nbsp; Probably not; it's much more effective to remain absolutely still and then BOOM strike.A wizard with a dagger in one hand, casting a summon monster III (full round casting time) still threatens with the dagger, despite not attacking any ememies in range (and possibly losing the ongoing spell).&nbsp; The Wizard could CHOOSE to make an AOO and lose the spell, but is not required to do so.Neither of these quite valid possibilities involve &quot;looking and probing&quot; for the enemy, in your words.Listen, if D&amp;D is abstract, as you say, (and it is) it needs to encompass all the possibilities supported by the rule; your conception of &quot;threatening&quot; as actively &quot;probing, looking,&quot; whatever actually is quite limiting.&nbsp; D&amp;D as stated supports a broader category of interpretations.&nbsp; The include &quot;probing looking&quot; etc. but also the PC that simply stand there waiting for an opening.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="two, post: 1406388, member: 9002"] [b]Can't have it both ways[/b] The rules don't assume anything; you are assuming something. You are saying the rules state "you are always trying to attack any foe who might come within reach; that is why you threaten an area". Which is bunk. You threaten an area you can make a melee attack into. Done. More than that is opinion. You can threaten an area and do lots of stuff instead of attacking a foe, for example, loading up a heavy crossbow or taking a scroll out of a backpack and reading it. Unless you posit these can be done while at the same time dancing around poking at everyone you threaten (8 or more squares)? That's a lot of hopping. Hope the scroll ain't dropped. This sort of thing is simply not in the rules. A rogue that is "bluffing" being paralyzed (standing still, perhaps acting like he was "held personed") still threatens, despite not trying to attack foes that come into reach. Indeed, still threatens when absolutely still. Imagine an Eskimo over a seal hole. Does the eskimo "threaten" the hole? Yup. He is busy doing a "dance of death" with seals that come up? Probably not; it's much more effective to remain absolutely still and then BOOM strike. A wizard with a dagger in one hand, casting a summon monster III (full round casting time) still threatens with the dagger, despite not attacking any ememies in range (and possibly losing the ongoing spell). The Wizard could CHOOSE to make an AOO and lose the spell, but is not required to do so. Neither of these quite valid possibilities involve "looking and probing" for the enemy, in your words. Listen, if D&D is abstract, as you say, (and it is) it needs to encompass all the possibilities supported by the rule; your conception of "threatening" as actively "probing, looking," whatever actually is quite limiting. D&D as stated supports a broader category of interpretations. The include "probing looking" etc. but also the PC that simply stand there waiting for an opening. [/QUOTE]

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