Hide and how it works

[MithrasRahl]

How exactly does hide work? I'm playing an archer in my current campaign, and I've read a bunch of stuff about how hidden creatures basically act as if they are invisible.

By RAW, how does hide work with attacking people? If I'm hidden and attack someone, are they flat-footed, regardless of whether they're engaged with someone else or not?

When I shoot, do they have to make a spot check to see me, or is it just assumed they do?

Basically, does anyone have the knowledge and the time to explain in detail how Hide works in terms of combat?

 

[don_shard]

From the SRD:

Sniping: If you’ve already successfully hidden at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack, then immediately hide again. You take a –20 penalty on your Hide check to conceal yourself after the shot.

I think it's generally accepted that your opponents lose their Dexterity bonus to AC while you're hidden, like invisibility. I can't find the specific rule as it pertains to hiding for the life of me, however. In any case, that's how we've always done it.

After your attack is resolved, roll a new Hide check with the above penalty. Your opponents then make a spot check. If their spot exceeds your hide, they see you, and you no longer can snipe until you are unobserved and make a new Hide check. If they don't see you, congratulations, you can snipe again next round.

 

[frankthedm]

By RAW, how does hide work with attacking people?

If by "RAW", you meant "Core 3", It does not. You have to pull from the FAQ or rules compendium to get anything out of being hidden. By the skill entry itself, hiding does very little unless the DM wants to count you as invisible against those you are hidden from. The RC takes that stance as well.

 

[Hypersmurf]

By the RAW itself... the RC takes that stance as well.

The RC is part of the RAW

-Hyp.

 

[wedgeski]

It does not. You have to pull from the FAQ or rules compendium to get anything out of being hidden. By the RAW itself, hiding does very little unless the DM wants to count you as invisible against those you are hidden from. The RC takes that stance as well.

I've always done the "unaware of you therefore loses Dex to AC" thing but didn't realise it wasn't explicitly stated anywhere. Huh.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I've always done the "unaware of you therefore loses Dex to AC" thing but didn't realise it wasn't explicitly stated anywhere. Huh.

It is now.

-Hyp.

 

[Mistwell]

It does not. You have to pull from the FAQ or rules compendium to get anything out of being hidden. By the RAW itself, hiding does very little unless the DM wants to count you as invisible against those you are hidden from. The RC takes that stance as well.

1) RAW = Rules As Written. Rules As Written /= "CORE ONLY". Complete Adventurer and Rules Compendium both give rules for this, and are both "Rules as Written". So it's in the Rules as Written.

2) Rules Compendium specifically overrides CORE anyway.

So any way you look at it, your answer was not accurate.

 

[frankthedm]

If I'm hidden and attack someone, are they flat-footed, regardless of whether they're engaged with someone else or not?

Far as it looks to me, you have to roll the hide while attacking to be hidden, with sniping being the notable exception. Thus you have to have a way to strike at your for while claiming cover from a solid object or while concealed, which may mean your foe also has concealment, negating sneak attack.

"It’s practically impossible (-20 penalty) to hide while attacking, running or charging. "

I've always done the "unaware of you therefore loses Dex to AC" thing but didn't realise it wasn't explicitly stated anywhere. Huh.

Not in the core 3. I do think wotc said fairly often thats how the meant it to work.

 

[MithrasRahl]

Is the stuff from the RC about Hide anywhere on the net? I don't particularly want to buy the book just for that, and I haven't been able ot find it yet.

 

[mikebr99]

Is the stuff from the RC about Hide anywhere on the net? I don't particularly want to buy the book just for that, and I haven't been able ot find it yet.

If you've got complete adventurer... then you've got what RC says about hide... that and the phb.

Mike