Simple Flanking Question

[Bearbarian]

I'm struggling to find a simple flanking ruling. Lots of stuff on large creatures, reach weapons etc. I've read the rules but I'm still a little unclear.

If I've got a 3x3 grid with a medium sized creature in the middle square (square 5)

Assuming all medium sized creatures what Squares flank with:

Square 1
-or-
Square 2

Sample Grid

I've got two GM's giving different answers so can anyone help clarify?

[Maezer]

Square 1 flanks with square 9.
Square 2 flanks with square 8.

[Bearbarian]

Maezer wrote:

Square 1 flanks with square 9.

Square 2 flanks with square 8.

That is what I've always thought. Some folks are claiming 1 would also flank with 8.

[Nefreet]

Nope. Just:

1 & 9
2 & 8
3 & 7
4 & 6

[Johnny_Devo]

In simple terms, the rule for flanking is that if two creatures threaten another creature, draw a line between the centers of the creatures. if that line passes through opposite sides of the threatened creature, then it's a flank.

Here's a poorly drawn example I whipped up with MS paint. Red is the flanked creature, green is creatures hostile to said flanked creature, blue lines are flanks, and orange lines are not flanks.

Any questions from that?

[Bearbarian]

Johnny_Devo wrote:

In simple terms, the rule for flanking is that if two creatures threaten another creature, draw a line between the centers of the creatures. if that line passes through opposite sides of the threatened creature, then it's a flank.

Here's a poorly drawn example I whipped up with MS paint. Red is the flanked creature, green is creatures hostile to said flanked creature, blue lines are flanks, and orange lines are not flanks.

Any questions from that?

I've seen the diagrams for large creatures. The argument comes from medium creatures.

[Johnny_Devo]

well, I drew the diagram for a large creature because that's where more questions pop up, but the principle is exactly the same. Draw a line between the centers of space 1 and 8. does that line pass through opposite sides of 5?

[Gisher]

Bearbarian wrote:

Maezer wrote:

Square 1 flanks with square 9.

Square 2 flanks with square 8.

That is what I've always thought. Some folks are claiming 1 would also flank with 8.

What argument did they present for that? I'm thinking that they may be confusing rules for flanking with the rules for cover.