D&D 5E Halfling rogue sniping from the the second rank

[mach1.9pants]

If it is one enemy yes, but he can only have the ally in between him and one enemy. He can't be behind for two enemies (apart from the 5' doorway or corridor situation), so to me, fine.

 

[Thaumaturge]

There's certainly some DM fiat involved, but I would say if you're in a significantly different spot on the battlefield than before, and have stayed unseen getting there, hiding wouldn't be a problem.

That's the difference between 5e and earlier editions. It's not condition a), then b), then c), then d), then e), then f), okay, now your hidden. It's here's some simple rules, now use some common sense to extrapolate.

I bolded the part I'm trying to get at with my example. I think different DMs are using different definitions of "significantly different".

Is "significant" a whole move away? 2? 10'?

Thaumaturge.

 

[ExploderWizard]

But if you go this route, when is he tracked down? It would have to be never, or at least not as long as he has an ally near him. Every round he attacks and the enemies can see him only until he mysteriously disappears again until he attacks next round.

Exactly. As far as I'm concerned hiding isn't possible under direct observation, be it behind an ally or an inanimate object. Allowing hiding under direct observation makes it superior to invisibility which is a level 2 spell. Once revealed a hiding creature must get out of sight to try and hide again.

How long that takes depends on the terrain and the positions of enemies.

 

[Agamon]

I bolded the part I'm trying to get at with my example. I think different DMs are using different definitions of "significantly different".

Is "significant" a whole move away? 2? 10'?

Right, that's why it's DM fiat. If someone wants to treat it as "meld with nearby ally" then that's their option, I suppose.

 

[transtemporal]

I think that use of Naturally Stealthy is completely justified by the RAW. However, its a contested stealth vs passive perception and I'd be tempted to give the monster advantage (+5 to the roll as described BR60), unless the battle was particularly smoky or chaotic or there was a lot of other cover around. Naturally Stealthy does give you the ability to hide by using an ally as cover but it doesn't prevent the monster from using its common sense.

 

[mach1.9pants]

If you don't allow the halfling to do it whenever he can, that means it only works when he is basically following the meat shield around all the time, a one shot go at the start of combat as long as it starts with him behind his ally and in between a target. I like the idea of being a PC literally tagging behind the fighter, but often the Rogues get sent ahead to scout

 

[Agamon]

If you don't allow the halfling to do it whenever he can, that means it only works when he is basically following the meat shield around all the time, a one shot go at the start of combat as long as it starts with him behind his ally and in between a target. I like the idea of being a PC literally tagging behind the fighter, but often the Rogues get sent ahead to scout

Yeah, if the rogues are discovered before they have a chance to recon with the party, then running and hiding is what they should be doing anyway.

And a smart halfling would stick by his big buddy and get advantage and sneak attack to start every combat (well, every combat he doesn't roll very low or encounter an enemy with a ridiculous perception). Sounds like a great ability to me. No one else can do that.

 

[Uder]

Up until the last two versions of D&D thieves generally didn't get more than one stealth attack per fight. Then they twisted the word "Sneak" so hard I'm surprised it didn't snap. Don't know about 4, but in 3 you could be be under the effect of Faerie Fire, covered in skunk juice, and shouting "SNEAK ATTACK!" while flanking and BtB you still got your bonus damage.

I'm fine with the rogue both actually and metaphorically standing in the fighter's shadow when it comes to combat.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I hope this is something WoTC clarifies soon, and I hope it isn't every turn... Getting advantage every turn would just be silly over powered... Advantage means higher chance to crit, and with how criticals work now, the Rogues Sneak Attack damage is doubled as well. At first level with a Short Bow, that is 2d6 weapon damage and 2d6 Sneak Attack. by L20, that would be 20d6 on a crit for just Sneak Attack damage... That is insane...

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

Something just occurred to me. A Halfling with Advantage. How does Lucky work? Does he get to reroll both dice or just one?

If he rolled Double 1s, could he reroll them both?