Quoted:
As I was taught in a handgun course, you need jeopardy (think intent), ability, and opportunity to shoot in a non castle-doctrine scenario. My question concerns your opinions on intent. I.E what would you do. I really hate to be that guy that brings up stupid CCW scenarios, but in my course, they didn't touch on intent much, and I would like to hear for you folk what in your mind constitutes intent when no words are spoken.

Image 2+ shifty looking guys are walking roughly towards you, and they fan out to presumably surround you. Assuming they are reasonably close, you have ability and opportunity, but is fanning out in your direction enough for intent in your opinions? Is approaching after you tell the 2+ guys something like "I have nothing for you" enough for you to go hot?

I would probably have my hand on my gun, but beyond that, I don't know.

Quoted:
As I was taught in a handgun course, you need jeopardy (think intent), ability, and opportunity to shoot in a non castle-doctrine scenario. My question concerns your opinions on intent. I.E what would you do. I really hate to be that guy that brings up stupid CCW scenarios, but in my course, they didn't touch on intent much, and I would like to hear for you folk what in your mind constitutes intent when no words are spoken.

Image 2+ shifty looking guys are walking roughly towards you, and they fan out to presumably surround you. Assuming they are reasonably close, you have ability and opportunity, but is fanning out in your direction enough for intent in your opinions? Is approaching after you tell the 2+ guys something like "I have nothing for you" enough for you to go hot?

I would probably have my hand on my gun, but beyond that, I don't know.

Quoted:
I wasnt planning on shooting them upon fanning out, just gauging the room a bit.

your best option in this scenario is to create distance.  start walking backwards.  stare them in the eyes and yell STOP!  DO NOT CONTINUE TO WALK TOWARD ME!  not say something that literally has no meaning like "I have nothing for you" Maybe not a good phrase,  but I said "something like" because the situation dictates the phrase.if they were still coming at me at this point and I was that fearful of the 2 individuals, I would draw my weapon and hope that's all it takes to make them fuck off. This is what I would probably do, but wanted opinions  the shitty part of this scenario is that you as a civilian have no authority to 'order people to stop'....so if you do end up having to shoot, you pulled a gun on someone who had no weapon and hadn't threatened or laid a finger on you.  the prosecution can still argue that 'they attacked after you brandished your weapon'.

Quoted:
Depending on your state, even just putting your hand on your firearm in the holster is considered assault or brandishing, so you better be sure.

Here in AZ for example,

A. The defensive display of a firearm by a person against another is justified when and to the extent a reasonable person would believe that physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the use or attempted use of unlawful physical force or deadly physical force.
B. This section does not apply to a person who:
1. Intentionally provokes another person to use or attempt to use unlawful physical force.
2. Uses a firearm during the commission of a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or violent crime as defined in section 13-901.03.
C. This section does not require the defensive display of a firearm before the use of physical force or the threat of physical force by a person who is otherwise justified in the use or threatened use of physical force.
D. For the purposes of this section, "defensive display of a firearm" includes:
1. Verbally informing another person that the person possesses or has available a firearm.
2. Exposing or displaying a firearm in a manner that a reasonable person would understand was meant to protect the person against another's use or attempted use of unlawful physical force or deadly physical force.
3. Placing the person's hand on a firearm while the firearm is contained in a pocket, purse or other means of containment or transport.

And also, this:

B. The threat or use of physical force against another is not justified:
1. In response to verbal provocation alone;

So even if they are verbally harassing you, they employ the 'reasonable person' standard. That is, what would most people believe was happening in that situation? You can't be looking for a fight.

Quoted:
I would put money on it that anybody that really wanted to prosecute that would include placing your hand on it as intent to draw.

Quoted:
So I'm not small, have been described as imposing/intimidating in appearance by many people, I don't dress or groom like I'm on my way to an interview most days, I don't carry myself sheepishly, I don't often smile, and I tend to watch the people around me, the majority of my associates are very similar, I would hope you get a needle in your arm and every asset you have goes to my wife if you shoot me because me and a buddy split to get around you on a sidewalk as we've done many times for various reasons, none of which were mugging. If you said "I've got nothing for you" you may well get a rather hostile, "WTF are you talking about?" or something similar, I don't know you, I'm not interested in you, and chances are I don't expect or want you talking to me, it's not a threat it's my subtle way of letting you know to leave me alone. Could I be more tactful, yes, and I may well be depending on my day and the circumstances.

Outside or in public, castle doctrine or not, you're going to make your life much harder than it need be if you shoot or possibly even draw on someone and they are not armed, physically assaulting you, verbally threatening severe injury that a jury can reasonably believe you believed them capable of, or impeading your avenues of escape while putting you in fear of your well being, of course you have to be able to prove any of the above, and in the case of the latter two that's not likely to be easy. There is no clear answer to your question, hesitation may get you killed, but responding to an imagined threat should land you in jail, unfortunately if the threat is real but the evidence of it non-existent you may well end up there too.

Quoted:
I try to keep the Cooper Color Code in mind when outside my house.

Yes, being approached by people fanning out should send you from Yellow to Orange, but not to Red unless you see other signs.  Move to one side of the walkway so your flank is covered, and make eye contact with each individual.  This will send a clear signal that you are aware of them, and unafraid.  

The vast majority of human communication happens through body language, although you probably aren't consciously aware of it.  Do some research (I've got an entire Internet you can use :D ) on signs of aggression, look for signs of teamwork or other subtle communication between the different people.  And if you were properly in Yellow you should already know if someone was behind you or not.