Hide and how it works

[Mistwell]

Complete Adventurer says:

"(Min: 5 ranks in hide)You can also use this option to sneak up on someone from a hiding place. For every 5 feet of open space between you and the target, you take a -5 penalty on your Hide check. If your Hide check succeeds, your target doesn't notice you until you attack or make some other attention-grabbing action. Such a target is treated as being flat-footed with respect to you."

RC also says the target, if they fail their spot check, treats you as invisible.

 

[MithrasRahl]

Complete Adventurer says:

"(Min: 5 ranks in hide)You can also use this option to sneak up on someone from a hiding place. For every 5 feet of open space between you and the target, you take a -5 penalty on your Hide check. If your Hide check succeeds, your target doesn't notice you until you attack or make some other attention-grabbing action. Such a target is treated as being flat-footed with respect to you."

RC also says the target, if they fail their spot check, treats you as invisible.

So that would mean that if my party engaged the enemy while I was hidden, my first shot counts as if I was invisible? and then I could make another hide check -20 to stay hidden?

 

[Kmart Kommando]

Complete Adventurer's Hide entry says what the PHB should have said.