D&D (2024) New stealth rules.

[Charlaquin]

I will say this about D&D2024:

I kinda like that you're allowed to do the Solid Snake "Hide behind a corner from people chasing you with guns and they forget you exist" thing. I think that's A-class game design.

No. I'm not joking.

Being able to duck down an alleyway and make a Stealth Check to yank yourself up out of view or dive into a pile of trash well enough to 'vanish' and have the people chasing you turn the corner and be unable to find you enables -so- many media tropes.

Particularly the "Sneak behind someone while they're looking the wrong way" mechanic.

Unless, of course, they take the "Search" action to actively try and find you.

I would make the following changes:

1) Make it a Stealth Check against the enemy's highest passive perception (for mixed groups)

2) Make the Search Check be against your passive stealth (barring 'share stealth' mechanics)

3) Nix the use of the word Invisible which gives people unreasonable expectations of quasi-magic stealth.

4) Create the "Hidden" condition. It's basically the exact same thing as Invisibility as written, but the Invisibility spell grants you the Hidden Status rather than Stealth granting you Invisibility is a -much- easier pill for most people to swallow.

5) The Invisibility spell and other similar spells instead allow you to maintain the Hidden condition even without cover or concealment. That's how the Invisibility spell "Breaks the Rules" of stealth. That's it. Problem solved.

6) You are able to move on your turn while remaining Hidden (if you have the Hidden condition) by making an active Stealth check against the highest Passive Perception of creatures in the area. But you lose the Hidden condition if you don't end your movement with cover or concealment.

That would be fine

 

[Maxperson]

‘Find you’ sounds a lot like an active thing, me stepping out of cover is not me being found. If they mean that why is it not a ‘can see’?

That and the guard probably isn't even an enemy until you stab him, so he doesn't qualify as someone who can find the hider in the first place.

 

[Pauln6]

So have they dispensed with moving silently altogether because it has no practical effect?

 

[TiQuinn]

Not if you have the invisible condition which = invisible.

Then you’re double secret invisible.

 

[Charlaquin]

So have they dispensed with moving silently altogether because it has no practical effect?

You have to be silent to maintain the invisible condition granted by the hide action. Nothing in the rule says you can’t move without losing the condition.

 

[KYRON45]

At some point everyone will notice that we’re arguing about how to play hide and seek right?

 

[Laurefindel]

At some point everyone will notice that we’re arguing about how to play hide and seek right?

« Not fair! The BBEG didn’t even count to 10! »

 

[TiQuinn]

I think the easiest way to explain the rule by example:

James Bond snuck invisibly into Blofeld’s secret volcano base.

Frodo snuck invisibly past the orcs.

James Bond could’ve been spotted by guards if he’d been dumb enough to walk right past the guards unless they were somehow distracted.

Frodo couldn’t have been spotted by the orcs but he could’ve been spotted by the Eye of Sauron because Sauron has truesight.

Invisible is doing double duty in these two situations.

 

[mellored]

Mostly for limiting communication, I think. You can't co-ordinate verbally with your team mates unless they're right next to you.

Sign language is in the game now.

Though being invisible would also prevent allies from seeing that.

So I guess you want telepathy.

 

[mellored]

Why does it matter? If they're not doing anything with the Invisible condition, they might as well not have it.

They could be doing plenty of things.
Posioning drinks.
Casting spells without verbal components.
Writing nasty letters about your mom on the walls.
Cutting the rope to a chandelier having over a banquet table.