Confusion over choosing an option vs. declaring it

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by kjamma4

Is it RAW to actually declare your option out loud? If not, is this something everyone does anyway? I know you can change your option but is there any need to verbally declare in the first place?

No, there is no need to declare an option before you actually do it.

The Options list and the ritual of announcing your intended action before you actually need to is there to help people learn the concept that options have some limits related to how far you move.

Even though RAW mentions declaring an action at the start of a turn, IT IS NOT NECESSARY AND IN PRACTICE WE (AND ALL OF THE PUBLISHED DESCRIPTIONS OF PLAY) NEVER DID IT EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS LOCKING A FIGURE INTO ONE OPTION (e.g. moving over 1/2 MA), because until you do actually use an option, you can always change your option later at any point, so it doesn't matter if you declare it or not (but it can be helpful to do so to communicate to your comrades, and help you and the GM remember what is probably going to happen, etc).

Originally Posted by kjamma4

In my mind, it seems like you should be able to move your figure based upon adjDX (and your engaged/disengaged/HTH status) and then depending upon the length of your move and other facts, be able to execute in adjDX order your "attack"

Yes (except your first "adjDX" I think you meant to write "MA").

You can also commit to an action before your adjDX, if it is Defending or Dodging in response to an enemy attack.