A bizarre flanking question

[Ridley's Cohort]

Well the prey isnt going to be sitting on a revolving pedestal looking in all directions at all times, thats just ridiculous. Ask your DM which direction hes facing, start sneakin towards him, hope he fails his listen check, then shank away!

Ridiculous? Yes.

The rules? Yes.

Not all is lost. If the target is not actively and methodically looking around, then the DM should grant a -5 circumstance penalty for distraction to the Spot and Listen checks.

 

[apesamongus]

Even so, it's impossible to hide without at least some concealment, so how do you sneak up on your victim?

Take a -5 per 5' of non-covered area you move across (CAd)

 

[moritheil]

Even so, it's impossible to hide without at least some concealment, so how do you sneak up on your victim?

So, you're telling me you have continuous 360 degree vision at all times? Or that your character does?

 

[Infiniti2000]

So, you're telling me you have continuous 360 degree vision at all times? Or that your character does?

I'm not sure he's saying that at all. He's just pointing out that to Hide, you need to have concealment or cover (or some special ability). Without concealment or cover, you cannot Hide. If you don't Hide, you cannot sneak up on someone.

On the other hand, the person you are approaching might be unaware of your intent to attack. But, that's a different concept entirely.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Without concealment or cover, you cannot Hide. If you don't Hide, you cannot sneak up on someone.

But, technically, if my target is facing one way and I am sneaking up behind him, I do have concealment, because he can't see me. Much like how being blind or just closing your eyes makes everyone around you "invisible."

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Infiniti2000]

But, as PrinceZane pointed out, you are never 'facing' one way. So, that can't happen, technically or not.

 

[PrinceZane]

Mmmm I love a thread where things go back and forth for 100s of pages at a time. That's what attracts me to you guys... and gals... and.... others...

But anyway, I think I remember somewhere that you can make your move sil and hide check at the same time? I guess like walking behind a couch so that your not making any sounds, but also not raising above the back of the couch. I don't recall if its a special feat or skill though, or what the circumstance is.

But maybe by doing both at the same time you don't have to worry about him seeing you.

The only way I've seen the "sneak-up-on-you" work is with either spiderclimb or cheating with some darkness spell.

 

[RithTheAwakener]

I think I remember somewhere that you can make your move sil and hide check at the same time? I guess like walking behind a couch so that your not making any sounds, but also not raising above the back of the couch. I don't recall if its a special feat or skill though, or what the circumstance is.

But maybe by doing both at the same time you don't have to worry about him seeing you.

thats the way we do it, i think its a house rule tho

 

[Jack Simth]

What house rule to do both at once?

Action: Usually none. Normally, you make a Hide check as part of movement, so it doesn’t take a separate action. However, hiding immediately after a ranged attack (see Sniping, above) is a move action.

Action: None. A Move Silently check is included in your movement or other activity, so it is part of another action.

Both are non-actions under most circumstances. You move silently and hide - neither costs an action (other than the move) to make the opposed checks.

 

[Bauglir]

Take a -5 per 5' of non-covered area you move across (CAd)

Ooh, didn't know about that one. Cheers