D&D 5E Can someone hide from multiple enemies?

[Greenstone.Walker]

By the rules, until Enemy A either sees the hidden creature directly or succeeds on a perception check to determine the creature is definitely still there, it is still hidden.

Citation required.

 

[SuperTD]

Citation required.

Having double checked the rulebook it's not quite as clear cut as I thought, but I stand by my ruling.

PHB page 177, Hiding sidebar - "When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check's total is contested by the Wisdom (Perception) check of any creature that actively searches for signs of your presence."

So, to be fair the DM has flexibility in how they read "you are discovered". I consider that to mean the creature actually sees you, but you could rule it as being told where a hidden character is if you felt that was fair. I think that severely depowers stealth as it means you're almost always going against the highest Passive Perception in the room, and will either be hidden from everyone or seen by everyone if someone can just yell and point to reveal you.

 

[GMMichael]

Lightfoot halflings have the special ability

A creature one size larger than you won't do much obscuring if it's fighting.

". . . of any creature that actively searches for signs of your presence."

. . . you're almost always going against the highest Passive Perception in the room. . .

There's a little disconnect here.

And yes, once one enemy finds you, he's either smart and tells the other enemies, or he's simple and just attacks. At which point, the other enemies notice that he's attacking something they haven't noticed. Also, stealth works much better when you don't go into a room full of enemies.