Can't get my head around the Hide skill

[Mistwell]

Well, the designers at WotC are the ones who decided to call it flat-footedness rather than using the invisibility condition. I'd prefer to say that you lost your Dex bonus because you didn't see the attack coming rather than using the term flat-footed, but there you are...
It all comes from not having a condition defined for "hidden" laying out exactly what it means. That is what they should have done.

I am not arguing that you would not treat your opponent as flat-footed if you did this. I am arguing that you would have a penalty to your hide check if your opponent knew you were in that closet.

 

[Splurch]

My take is for example : my character sees some guards down the hallway and wants to sneak by them. He starts with a hide and move silently check and attempts to sneak by. The guards would get a listen check and a spot check to see if they see him. (opposed rolls). Then there are positive modifiers for this such as shadows, and obsticles and negative ones such as bright light or size of room, or you an even give the guards a bonus do to the fact they are on alert.

Well thats they way my friends and I run it anyways.

 

[mikebr99]

My take is for example : my character sees some guards down the hallway and wants to sneak by them. He starts with a hide and move silently check and attempts to sneak by. The guards would get a listen check and a spot check to see if they see him. (opposed rolls). Then there are positive modifiers for this such as shadows, and obsticles and negative ones such as bright light or size of room, or you an even give the guards a bonus do to the fact they are on alert.

Well thats they way my friends and I run it anyways.

This can work, assuming you have cover/concealment between you and the guards... the entire length of the distance you want to travel, or suficient ranks in Hide to go certain distances between the cover/concealment spots. Hide and move silently checks need to be made every round... with whatever modifiers apply.

Mike

 

[Mistwell]

This can work, assuming you have cover/concealment between you and the guards... the entire length of the distance you want to travel, or suficient ranks in Hide to go certain distances between the cover/concealment spots. Hide and move silently checks need to be made every round... with whatever modifiers apply.

Mike

Where do you get the "every round" part from? Seems to me once you hide, that is your check. Much like once you disguise, that is your check.

 

[mikebr99]

Where do you get the "every round" part from? Seems to me once you hide, that is your check. Much like once you disguise, that is your check.

If you (Rogue) start an encounter by noticing some guards "down the hallway" and you want to sneak on by them to another point. Every round you move... or try to do anything combined with hiding (and MS) you need to re-roll the checks.

The Hide skill points out how much movement it can be combined with.. and the penalties to the check. Next round, when you choose to move some more you need to do another hide check.

You can move up to one-half your normal speed and hide at no penalty. When moving at a speed greater than one-half but less than your normal speed, you take a –5 penalty. It’s practically impossible (–20 penalty) to hide while attacking, running or charging.

Mike

 

[Mistwell]

If you (Rogue) start an encounter by noticing some guards "down the hallway" and you want to sneak on by them to another point. Every round you move... or try to do anything combined with hiding (and MS) you need to re-roll the checks.

The Hide skill points out how much movement it can be combined with.. and the penalties to the check. Next round, when you choose to move some more you need to do another hide check.



Mike

I don't read what you cited as saying you need to attempt more hide checks, just what the check's penalty would be. I can see that as one reasonable intepretation, but I am not sure it's the best one. Anyone else have an opinion on this aspect?

 

[frankthedm]

Where do you get the "every round" part from? Seems to me once you hide, that is your check. Much like once you disguise, that is your check.

A disguise is a fairly static thing and the use one check and keep it is called out by the skill. One's position while hiding can shift greatly. I could see not re rolling the hide check if the hider is staying in place but as position and lighting change so should the roll, IMO.

 

[Mistwell]

A disguise is a fairly static thing and the use one check and keep it is called out by the skill. One's position while hiding can shift greatly. I could see not re rolling the hide check if the hider is staying in place but as position and lighting change so should the roll, IMO.

I agree, that's a way to do it that will work, and makes sense. Just not sure if it's RAW or not. I was curious if there is something to back this up one way or the other in the rules, or FAQ.

 

[frankthedm]

I agree, that's a way to do it that will work, and makes sense. Just not sure if it's RAW or not. I was curious if there is something to back this up one way or the other in the rules, or FAQ.

Text wise, the rolls are opposed and might even get re-rolled in case of a tie, but that's all I got.

 

[Splurch]

The more than one roll thing is something else I use, if the rogue passes the opposed roll closely i will make him roll after each round of movement but if its like 40 to 10 and he wins I will only make them roll again right near the guards