> > Something makes me feel that I might be totally wrong. Thinking about it this way has helped me with my running-from-combat problem, but can someone confirm if what I've said is accurate? Thanks.
>
> You're about half right. When you hit 'run', you actually do physically *move* in the map, specifically by backing up one square. However, you are also correct that the "bully" is still one square just ahead of you, and to avoid them you need to turn around and continue moving away.

Oh, I had been thinking that encountering a party meant that you and the party were in adjacent squares. Thanks for the clarification. (Also, a spell cast in my game between the time I wrote my last post and read yours really *coughcough* illuminated the issue.)