Often a character finds that being engaged in combat no longer seems to be a such a good idea — in such instances (usually in an effort to avoid imminent death) the player has several options.
The 5-Foot Step
The 5-foot step allows a character to move back one square (while still getting an attack in). In some combat situations, the opponent may choose not to follow and if this is the case the character is effectively disengaged.
Withdraw
(Also known as “tactical withdrawal” or “tactical disengage”)
Withdrawing from melee combat is a full-round action. Since you are actively defending when you withdraw, you can only move at up to your normal 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.
You may not withdraw using a form of movement for which you don’t have a listed speed.
Restricted Withdraw: If you are limited to taking only a standard action each round you can withdraw as a standard action. In this case, you may move up to one-half your speed.
Run Away!
Sometimes getting out of combat as fast as possible is the wisest thing to do — but turning and bolting does have one significant disadvantage.
Running is a full-round action. (you do not also get a 5-foot step.) When you run, you can move up to four times your speed in a straight line (or three times your speed if you’re in heavy armor).
Turning and running from combat will expose you to an Attack of Opportunity. Furthermore, you lose any Dexterity bonus to AC.
You can run for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution score, but after that you must make a DC 10 Constitution check to continue running. You must check again each round in which you continue to run, and the DC of this check increases by 1 for each check you have made. When you fail this check, you must stop running. A character who has run to his limit must rest for 1 minute (10 rounds) before running again. During a rest period, a character can move no faster than a normal move action.
You can’t run across difficult terrain or if you can’t see where you’re going.
It’s worth noting that just because you run away, there is always the possibility that your opponent(s) will decide to run after you (but as a full run is a full-round action they may not be able to attack at the same time).
Quoting Monty Python While Disengaging
In addition to the classic “Run Away!” (King Arthur) quote, the urge on the part of players to recite lines from “Brave Sir Robin” while disengaging — or, more often, to taunt other players when their characters are disengaging — is understandably irresistible.
The Referee requests that players attempt to avoid unfortunate distracting misquotations when so doing. To this purpose, the full lyrics are provided below, for reference.
Bravely bold Sir Robin
Rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die,
Oh brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid
To be killed in nasty ways.
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin.
He was not in the least bit scared
To be mashed into a pulp.
Or to have his eyes gouged out,
And his elbows broken.
To have his kneecaps split
And his body burned away,
And his limbs all hacked and mangled
Brave Sir Robin.
His head smashed in
And his heart cut out
And his liver removed
And his bowls unplugged
And his nostrils raped
And his bottom burnt off
And his penis …
(“That’s, that’s enough music for now lads, there’s dirty work afoot.”)
Brave Sir Robin ran away.
(“No!”)
Bravely ran away away.
(“I didn’t!”)
When danger reared it’s ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
(“I never!”)
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
(“You’re lying!”)
Swiftly taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat.
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin!