D&D 5E hide action usability?

[Warmaster Horus]

Because according to the rules, people are more alert to their surroundings during combat.

Which means they automatically spot anyone who took at Dex(Stealth) action to approach them stealthily outside of cover. There is nothing in the rules that states that the Dex(Stealth) check taken properly in combat is done at Disadvantage.

 

[Psikerlord#]

I generally impose disad on mid-combat hide attempts. My reasoning is I think it is "realistic" and I prefer that. Once you are in combat, scooting off around behind a barrel, or behind your companions if a halfling, or even a corner to hide behind is not so easy - the enemy just saw you go to that location, and is keeping an eye/ear out for you. So I impose disad on the check.

Hiding for me is for ambush type scenarios - a pre-combat maneuver. Sometimes if a combat is crazy enough I dont impose disad, but generally I do.

I know many players prefer a "gamey" hiding ability, but it's not for me. If that means you wont play a rogue at my table, fair enough, there are plenty of other classes to choose from.

 

[Coredump]

Which means they automatically spot anyone who took at Dex(Stealth) action to approach them stealthily outside of cover.

There is nothing in the rules that states that the Dex(Stealth) check taken properly in combat is done at Disadvantage.

1) I disagree that they will automatically spot them, kind of makes stealth worthless if it does. But that may be a different discussion.

2) I would not say it always causes the hide check to have disadv, it depends on the circumstances: how many on each side, other distractions, how many places to hide, how many times the rogue has done the same trick in the same combat, etc.... But being in combat means they are more alert than normal, and are actively trying to keep track of the bad guys... which should make it harder to hide. (maybe or maybe not 'disadvantage'-level harder....)

 

[Coredump]

I generally impose disad on mid-combat hide attempts. My reasoning is I think it is "realistic" and I prefer that. Once you are in combat, scooting off around behind a barrel, or behind your companions if a halfling, or even a corner to hide behind is not so easy - the enemy just saw you go to that location, and is keeping an eye/ear out for you. So I impose disad on the check.
.

I feel generally the same. A few sessions ago, my archer (ranger/rogue) was in a fight, and was able to slide down an embankment. At that point I felt okay using Hide because I was able to Hide, move 30' in either direction, then next turn move some, Attack, Hide again, and move some more. Repeat. Since it let me 'appear' anywhere along a 60' line, it seemed 'realistic' enough. (Plus, it was my favored terrain.)

 

[Psikerlord#]

I feel generally the same. A few sessions ago, my archer (ranger/rogue) was in a fight, and was able to slide down an embankment. At that point I felt okay using Hide because I was able to Hide, move 30' in either direction, then next turn move some, Attack, Hide again, and move some more. Repeat. Since it let me 'appear' anywhere along a 60' line, it seemed 'realistic' enough. (Plus, it was my favored terrain.)

Yeah that would be fine from my perspective, normal hide check.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

1) I disagree that they will automatically spot them, kind of makes stealth worthless if it does. But that may be a different discussion.

2) I would not say it always causes the hide check to have disadv, it depends on the circumstances: how many on each side, other distractions, how many places to hide, how many times the rogue has done the same trick in the same combat, etc.... But being in combat means they are more alert than normal, and are actively trying to keep track of the bad guys... which should make it harder to hide. (maybe or maybe not 'disadvantage'-level harder....)

Regarding (1), the sidebar on Hiding ... p.177 PHB ... states that 'if you come out of hiding and approach a creature, it usually sees you'. Hence the reference to the auto spot. I usually allow that Hiding characters that stay in cover (1/2, 3/4 or EFFECTIVE obscuration to the observer's senses) are subject to opposed Stealth<->Perception comparisons.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

I generally impose disad on mid-combat hide attempts. My reasoning is I think it is "realistic" and I prefer that. Once you are in combat, scooting off around behind a barrel, or behind your companions if a halfling, or even a corner to hide behind is not so easy - the enemy just saw you go to that location, and is keeping an eye/ear out for you. So I impose disad on the check.

Hiding for me is for ambush type scenarios - a pre-combat maneuver. Sometimes if a combat is crazy enough I dont impose disad, but generally I do.

I know many players prefer a "gamey" hiding ability, but it's not for me. If that means you wont play a rogue at my table, fair enough, there are plenty of other classes to choose from.

Do you also prevent mages from making Arcana checks during combat? After all, realistically, it is a whirling miasma of action that makes getting the nuances of spell casting correct from across the room. How about Athletics checks? After all, without the ability to do adequate stretching before exertion can effect the outcome of the check. In fact, why have any skill checks at all, since obviously the enemy is alert enough to prevent any of them from being effective. That way no one can possibly get 'gamey' while playing the game.

 

[Paraxis]

Because according to the rules, people are more alert to their surroundings during combat.

No according to the rules you make a stealth roll to hide vs passive perception in combat, if there was supposed to be advantage or disadvantage all the time you think the rules would mention it.

 

[Psikerlord#]

Do you also prevent mages from making Arcana checks during combat? After all, realistically, it is a whirling miasma of action that makes getting the nuances of spell casting correct from across the room. How about Athletics checks? After all, without the ability to do adequate stretching before exertion can effect the outcome of the check. In fact, why have any skill checks at all, since obviously the enemy is alert enough to prevent any of them from being effective. That way no one can possibly get 'gamey' while playing the game.

Ah.. no. I consider hiding a special case. So does Mike Mearls apparently, because it was his idea to impose disad on a halfling trying to hide behind an ally mid-combat (I dont have the twitter reference handy).

 

[Psikerlord#]

No according to the rules you make a stealth roll to hide vs passive perception in combat, if there was supposed to be advantage or disadvantage all the time you think the rules would mention it.

This is not necessarily true. The DM can also treat is as a contest, indeed a stealth vs perception check is specifically called out in DMG under Contests.

In my personal case, I dont use passive perception at all (for a number of reasons). So it is always an active check for both parties.