diff --git a/events.hpp b/events.hpp
index 38f0d5e..880c549 100644
--- a/events.hpp
+++ b/events.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 namespace Events {
   enum GUI {
-    START, COMBAT, LOOT, DEATH, STAIRS_UP, STAIRS_DOWN, TRAP
+    START, COMBAT, LOOT, DEATH, STAIRS_UP, STAIRS_DOWN, TRAP,
+    COMBAT_START
   };
 
   struct Combat {
diff --git a/gui.cpp b/gui.cpp
index ba184ca..9667ebc 100644
--- a/gui.cpp
+++ b/gui.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #include "systems.hpp"
 #include "events.hpp"
 
-
 namespace gui {
   using namespace components;
 
@@ -39,6 +38,8 @@ namespace gui {
       FSM_STATE(State, MAPPING, ev);
       FSM_STATE(State, ROTATING, ev);
       FSM_STATE(State, IDLE, ev);
+      FSM_STATE(State, IN_COMBAT, ev);
+      FSM_STATE(State, COMBAT_ROTATE, ev);
       FSM_STATE(State, END, ev);
     }
   }
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ namespace gui {
         }
         break;
       default:
-        state(State::IDLE);
+        dbc::log(fmt::format("In ATTACKING state, unhandled event {}", (int)ev));
     }
   }
 
@@ -111,6 +112,12 @@ namespace gui {
     }
   }
 
+  void FSM::COMBAT_ROTATE(Event ) {
+    if($camera.play_rotate($rayview)) {
+      state(State::IN_COMBAT);
+    }
+  }
+
   void FSM::IDLE(Event ev) {
     using enum Event;
 
@@ -145,9 +152,10 @@ namespace gui {
         state(State::MAPPING);
         break;
       case ATTACK:
-        $status_view.log("You attack!");
-        $rotation = -30.0f;
-        state(State::ATTACKING);
+        fmt::println("ATTACK IGNORED");
+        break;
+      case START_COMBAT:
+        state(State::IN_COMBAT);
         break;
       case CLOSE:
         dbc::log("Nothing to close.");
@@ -157,6 +165,28 @@ namespace gui {
     }
   }
 
+  void FSM::IN_COMBAT(Event ev) {
+    using enum Event;
+
+    switch(ev) {
+      case ATTACK:
+        $status_view.log("You attack!");
+        $rotation = -30.0f;
+        state(State::ATTACKING);
+        break;
+      case ROTATE_LEFT:
+        $camera.plan_rotate($rayview, 1);
+        state(State::COMBAT_ROTATE);
+        break;
+      case ROTATE_RIGHT:
+        $camera.plan_rotate($rayview, -1);
+        state(State::COMBAT_ROTATE);
+        break;
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
   void FSM::try_move(int dir, bool strafe) {
     using enum State;
     // prevent moving into occupied space
@@ -333,7 +363,6 @@ namespace gui {
     System::motion($level);
     System::lighting($level);
     System::death($level);
-    handle_world_events();
   }
 
   bool FSM::active() {
@@ -366,6 +395,9 @@ namespace gui {
             }
           }
           break;
+        case eGUI::COMBAT_START: {
+            event(Event::START_COMBAT);
+          } break;
         case eGUI::LOOT: {
             // auto &item = std::any_cast<InventoryItem&>(data);
             // $status_view.log(fmt::format("You picked up a {}.",
diff --git a/gui.hpp b/gui.hpp
index 58d0ade..bc9d686 100644
--- a/gui.hpp
+++ b/gui.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ namespace gui {
   enum class State {
     START,
     MOVING,
+    IN_COMBAT,
+    COMBAT_ROTATE,
     ATTACKING,
     MAPPING,
     ROTATING,
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ namespace gui {
     ROTATE_LEFT,
     ROTATE_RIGHT,
     ATTACK,
+    START_COMBAT,
     QUIT
   };
 
@@ -67,6 +70,8 @@ namespace gui {
       void MAPPING(Event);
       void ROTATING(Event );
       void IDLE(Event ev);
+      void IN_COMBAT(Event ev);
+      void COMBAT_ROTATE(Event ev);
       void END(Event ev);
 
       void try_move(int dir, bool strafe);
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 3416bca..cf80bb6 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -8,14 +8,16 @@ int main() {
     main.render();
 
     // ZED: need to sort out how to deal with this in the FSM
-    if(main.in_state(gui::State::IDLE)) {
-      main.keyboard();
-    } else if(main.in_state(gui::State::MAPPING)) {
+    if(main.in_state(gui::State::IDLE)
+        || main.in_state(gui::State::MAPPING)
+        || main.in_state(gui::State::IN_COMBAT))
+    {
       main.keyboard();
     } else{
       main.event(gui::Event::TICK);
     }
 
+    main.handle_world_events();
     main.mouse();
   }
 
diff --git a/systems.cpp b/systems.cpp
index d4280e2..d178e52 100644
--- a/systems.cpp
+++ b/systems.cpp
@@ -144,14 +144,7 @@ void System::collision(GameLevel &level) {
   if(found) {
     for(auto entity : nearby) {
       if(world.has<Combat>(entity)) {
-        auto& enemy_combat = world.get<Combat>(entity);
-
-        Events::Combat result {
-          player_combat.attack(enemy_combat),
-          enemy_combat.attack(player_combat)
-        };
-
-        world.send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::COMBAT, entity, result);
+        world.send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::COMBAT_START, entity, entity);
       } else if(world.has<InventoryItem>(entity)) {
         auto item = world.get<InventoryItem>(entity);
         auto& item_pos = world.get<Position>(entity);