Do Allies Grant Cover for Stealth?

[peterparker18974]

I have seen several people talk about how their rogue gains cover from ducking behind an ally, and then attempts to make a stealthy ranged attack, gaining combat advantage if the opposed check succeeds.

p. 180 PH

"Cover or Concealment: Unless a creature is distracted,
you must have cover against or concealment
from the creature to make a Stealth check."

p. 280 PH

"Creatures and Cover: When you make a ranged
attack against an enemy and other enemies are
in the way, your target has cover. Your allies never
grant cover to your enemies, and neither allies nor
enemies give cover against melee, close, or area
attacks."

This also tells me that you only have cover when the enemy is making a ranged attack against you.


The rules state that allies grant cover for ranged attacks, and since the enemy is not making a ranged attack against you, you do not have cover imo. If all you need is an ally, then why even have terrain, it seems to me that this was certainly not the intent.

I also have not seen a response to this on the FAQ or customer service response to this issue.

I posted this thread on the Gleemax forum as well.

 

[Jack99]

No.

Allies grant cover against ranged attacks, not cover.

 

[keterys]

Agreed.

 

[Ziana]

I attempted to get a CS ruling a couple days ago, and the answer had nothing to do with what I asked. So go ahead & try; but I believe it would be inappropriate to allow players to use each other as cover for the purpose of stealth. That would mean a good thief can walk behind another player and anyone in front of them would never know he's there.

And as said, players only provide cover against ranged attacks, it's not ordinary cover or concealment.

 

[toxicspirit]

Remember that Stealth isn't an action in and of itself. It is used in conjunction with another action to make that action stealthy. In this case, a Rogue would be using the cover granted by his ally to conceal not himself, but his attack. It is the attack itself that is stealthy, and would therefore grant Combat Advantage (if the target fails his Perception check).

 

[peterparker18974]

Remember that Stealth isn't an action in and of itself. It is used in conjunction with another action to make that action stealthy. In this case, a Rogue would be using the cover granted by his ally to conceal not himself, but his attack. It is the attack itself that is stealthy, and would therefore grant Combat Advantage (if the target fails his Perception check).

I am very well aware of this. But, according to the rules, you have cover from an enemy when he is making a ranged attack against you. Since you are the one attacking him, he is not making a ranged attack against you and you do not have cover from him.

 

[keterys]

Remember that Stealth isn't an action in and of itself. It is used in conjunction with another action to make that action stealthy. In this case, a Rogue would be using the cover granted by his ally to conceal not himself, but his attack. It is the attack itself that is stealthy, and would therefore grant Combat Advantage (if the target fails his Perception check).

Right, you just need to _actually_ get cover or concealment, neither of which a friend provides for purposes of stealth.

Darkness? Trees? Sure!

Bobo the Dragonborn Paladin? Sadly, not.

 

[doctorhook]

"Do allies grant cover for Stealth?"

Only versus your crush in a high school cafeteria.

 

[Ravingdork]

I saw someone post a CS quote on the Gleemax forums that said you COULD hide behind your allies.

 

[toxicspirit]

I saw someone post a CS quote on the Gleemax forums that said you COULD hide behind your allies.

I saw what was probably the same post, which prompted my earlier response.