D&D 5E hide action usability?

[Zinnger]

Had a combat that might fit this so I'll ask here for opinions. A wood elf rogue being chased by orcs at night in a lightly wooded area wanted to shoot a bow, move, and hide in the next copse of trees. Each round same trick... shoot w/ advantage and sneak attack damage, move, hide. Several questions arise with this action:

1) Are the stealth checks made as active opposed checks and the rogue only hides if his stealth check is higher than the perception check of each orc?

2) Are the stealth checks made normal and the rogue is absolutely hidden and the orcs must use their action to search (at disadvantage since it is dark and considered lightly obscured with dark vision) and therefore even if they did spot the rogue be unable to attack since they used their action to search?

3) Does the wood elf rogue make a stealth check to hide and the orcs only get to use their passive perception (-5 for disadvantaged light obscured again) to note where the elf is hiding? Orcs passive perception is about an 11 but only 6 after disadvantage is calculated. Rogue has +7 on stealth as it is his expert skill. So... even though the elf may be only 15' away from the orc when he steps into the next hex of brush/trees he is vanished and there is no chance for the orcs to see him without using their action to search on their turn.

4) If there is only 1 or 2 squares of trees/brush for the elf to step into and hide does this create disadvantage for the stealth attempt? There are three orcs totally focused on trying to catch and fillet one elf for dinner. Do the orcs get advantage on their perception checks?

5) I also have a problem with passive perception in 5e. A first level rogue with expertise in perception and a 12 Wis can simply walk right up to every DC 15 secret door and point it out without fail. Does anyone else have a problem with this? Is there a solution for the all win passive perception?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Kalshane]

If the Orcs have Disadvantage to Perception because of dim light, why doesn't the elf have Disadvantage on his ranged attacks (which the Advantage from hiding would cancel out)?

If a Rogue has spent one of his two Expertise skills on Perception, I'm okay with him being really good at spotting traps. Though keep in mind the rules say that Perception allows you to notice signs of traps in an area. Investigation is necessary to ID the trap.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

So ive found that hide action seems really redundant. Why wouöd anyone try hiding in combat? Is there something im missing? Are there uses for it that you can do at least once on combat? Or better yet once per round for rogues (or warlocks with darkness invisbility invocation)?

In a long range archery duel it removes disadvantage and costs you essentially nothing (one round hiding instead of shooting, but since you're also not getting shot at that's not a big cost). Works better for solo characters/monsters than for parties, for obvious reasons (there will always be that one guy who refuses to take cover...).

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

If the Orcs have Disadvantage to Perception because of dim light, why doesn't the elf have Disadvantage on his ranged attacks (which the Advantage from hiding would cancel out)?

Because light obscurement affects perception but not attack rolls.

 

[Uchawi]

It works really well when you buy your DM beer.

 

[Kalshane]

Because light obscurement affects perception but not attack rolls.

Ok. I'm not completely up to speed on everything that creates Disadvantage.

Honestly, I think it might just come down to "Pursuing a wood elf through the woods at night is a really bad idea" and the orcs paid the consequences.

That being said, if it's down to "There's a single bush to hide behind in the clearing, he must be back there" I think the DM would be well in his rights to declare the elf doesn't gain Advantage when he pops out from behind said bush and attacks the orcs.