D&D 5E DM Help! My rogue always spams Hide as a bonus action, and i cant target him!

[Flamestrike]

The difference is being hidden with hard cover (like a pillar) and being hidden with heavy concealment (e.g. Darkness). Sulked doesn't help with popping out either since you have to leave hiding to attack.

The basic question is does popping out count as revealing yourself. If you say no then you would have to allow someone hidden behind a pillar or wall you pop out, not attack, and stay hidden.

Yes I have no problem with a hidden creature behind pillar, tree or around a corner or similar obstacle observing someone in the room and remaining hidden.

The advantage you gain on the attack from being hidden is the sudden attack from a person you didn't know was there or from a direction you didn't expect.

If you broke your cover and just stood there like a grinning idiot for several seconds I would expect the enemy creatures to see you and for you to lose the benefits of attacking from hiding.

Google sage advice if you don't believe me.

 

[Flamestrike]

If I am hiding behind a crate and you are walking right towards the crate can I pop out and make an attack with advantage? What if I pop out and not attack, am I still hidden?

No, if you stand there like a grinning idiot staring at me for a few seconds, you lose the advantage of being hidden.

 

[fjw70]

No, if you stand there like a grinning idiot staring at me for a few seconds, you lose the advantage of being hidden.

So if the popping out is leaving the hidden position then what rule allows you to attack with advantage after revealing yourself?

 

[iserith]

But they do speak to author's intent. The fact that they are optional rules doesn't change the fact that they are in the PHB, and are presumably consistent with the core rules. Otherwise, how could you use them in a game? The skulker seems perfectly fine as far as editing goes, and this wasn't mentioned in the errata.

Eh, I just think there are stronger arguments for an interpretation of the basic rules than to reference a feat.

 

[Flamestrike]

So if the popping out is leaving the hidden position then what rule allows you to attack with advantage after revealing yourself?

I have already said not going to discuss this with you. You're wrong. Go read Sage advice; it's dealt with in several tweets.

 

[iserith]

Sage Advice seems to have some mixed messages on the topic of "popping out."

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2014/09/01/emerging-rogue/

http://www.sageadvice.eu/2014/08/29/rogue-hidden-behind-tree/

For what it's worth, my own take is that popping out ends hidden and thus grants no advantage. It really takes something heavily obscured to get the benefit of advantage. Cover is just not going to get it done since you have to pop out to attack and thus risk being seen. I don't feel this ruling reduces the rogue's efficacy, except as compared to a rogue at a table whose DM rules you get advantage after popping out.

 

[fjw70]

I have already said not going to discuss this with you. You're wrong. Go read Sage advice; it's dealt with in several tweets.

I don't see anything that supports your point. They either say it's situational or no advantage. If the rules are clear you should be able to cite the rules that allow it.

 

[Mort]

If I am hiding behind a crate and you are walking right towards the crate can I pop out and make an attack with advantage?

If the opponent fails their perception check vs. your hide check, then yes you pop out and attack with advantage. I don't think you and Flamestrike are that far apart here.

What if I pop out and not attack, am I still hidden?

Of course not? the question mark is for, how is this even an issue? Even with the skulker feat, since you did not attack, the feat is not triggered - you "popped out" so are, therefore, not hidden.

 

[fjw70]

If the opponent fails their perception check vs. your hide check, then yes you pop out and attack with advantage. I don't think you and Flamestrike are that far apart here.



Of course not? the question mark is for, how is this even an issue? Even with the skulker feat, since you did not attack, the feat is not triggered - you "popped out" so are, therefore, not hidden.

The reason I ask about popping out and not attacking is that if the pop out is revealing yourself then which rule allows you to attack with advantage after you reveal yourself.

 

[iserith]

If the opponent fails their perception check vs. your hide check, then yes you pop out and attack with advantage. I don't think you and Flamestrike are that far apart here.

That's how I'd do it in D&D 4e. In D&D 5e, I'm not so sure about that since so far as I can tell you're not hidden if you can be seen. At my table, the expectation is that being able to attack with advantage due to being hidden is very situational and probably due to darkness or invisibility, stuff like that. Stealthy characters tend to gain more out of their abilities by surprising enemies. Only every now and then do we see the rogues try to use their bonus action to Hide in order to gain advantage on an attack roll.