Contradiction in the rules?

[Falenthal]

The problem, as I see it, lies within this sentence from your third quote:

A character is engaged when paired in close combat with at least one opponent. A combatant remains engaged until he defeats all opposition.

It would seem that a heroe in Rearward Stance is not considered engaged.

I alway play it so that anyone in a Combat Stance (even Rearward) is considered engaged. That way, everything else seems fine. In your example, one of the fighters in a melee stance would choose the third orc his second objective and the wounded character could go into Rearward.

But I agree: As is, there's a need for some clarification.
Otherwise, the use of the disengage action (Athletics vs TN10+Attribute Level) seems fine.

[DavetheLost]

Until this discussion made me aware of teh change in the revised rulebook I had always assumed that a character fighting in rearward stance still counted as being engaged in the combat.

If you are a participating combatant, ie in a combat stance, you are engaged; otherwise you are a non-combatant. Non-combatants do not get to shoot arrows or otherwise participate in combat.

This is just the way I have played it, I could be wrong.

[Otaku-sempai]

A player in Rearward Stance is engaged in combat; however, he is NOT in close-combat. That is the difference. Such a character has more freedom of movement then those engaged in close-combat, and more options.

[Falenthal]

A player in Rearward Stance is engaged in combat; however, he is NOT in close-combat. That is the difference. Such a character has more freedom of movement then those engaged in close-combat, and more options.

That's what some of us consider, but the third quote of the OP states otherwise:

A character is engaged when paired in close combat with at least one opponent.

[Otaku-sempai]

Okay, if we are starting with three heroes in close combat with three Orcs then the third rule modifies the previous ones. One companion can switch to Rearward Stance, but only after he/she defeats any opponents directly engaged with him/her.

My question is, since there are only three Orcs, why bother switching to Rearward Stance? Especially if you have alread defeated one of the opponents. You've already got them outnumbered.

[Majestic]

Okay, if we are starting with three heroes in close combat with three Orcs then the third rule modifies the previous ones. One companion can switch to Rearward Stance, but only after he/she defeats any opponents directly engaged with him/her.

My question is, since there are only three Orcs, why bother switching to Rearward Stance? Especially if you have alread defeated one of the opponents. You've already got them outnumbered.

I think the example given earlier, of a Wounded companion (the OP said "close to death") wanting to get to a place of greater safety, gives a reason why someone might want to drop out of close combat and into Rearward, if they're able to.

[doctheweasel]

A player in Rearward Stance is engaged in combat

It explicitly says otherwise.

(heroes in Rearward cannot be engaged).

[Andrew]

It wasn't our intention to 'lock' players in a close combat stance and prevent them from moving to Rearward when engaged.

That is what the rules currently imply, however, so I'll clarify further, soon.

[Otaku-sempai]

A player in Rearward Stance is engaged in combat

It explicitly says otherwise.

(heroes in Rearward cannot be engaged).

Okay, doc, but I am counting ranged attacks as a different type of engagement from close combat/melee. There is still an exchange of hostilities taking place, but the ranged combatant is not engaged in the same sense. I never meant to imply otherwise. Andrew seems to have clarified the issue somewhat and it looks like further explanation will be forthcoming.

[Indur Dawndeath]

It wasn't our intention to 'lock' players in a close combat stance and prevent them from moving to Rearward when engaged.

That is what the rules currently imply, however, so I'll clarify further, soon.

Thank you for looking into this. A clarification will be much appreciated

Cheers