Hide in plain sight question.

[Nail]

Practically speaking, what are the differences?

Invisible: You cannot Spot the invisible creature. A high enough Spot check allows you to "become aware of an invisible creature near you, though you can’t actually see it."

Hidden: You can Spot the hidden creature. A high enough Spot check allows you to see the creature.

 

[Alceste]

With greater invis, you can make a full attack every round. With HiPS, you can't.

Bingo, since hiding in shadows is a move action a rogue would only get their standard attack with sneak dice. An improved invis rogue gets a full attack with sneak dice. There is no doubt that improved invis is better.

 

[TheEvil]

Invisible: You cannot Spot the invisible creature. A high enough Spot check allows you to "become aware of an invisible creature near you, though you can’t actually see it."

Hidden: You can Spot the hidden creature. A high enough Spot check allows you to see the creature.

All very true. In the event of a failed Spot check, what is the difference? After all, there is a difference between flat-footed during the suprise round (you were not aware you were in combat) and flat-footed because it isn't you haven't acted yet in the combat (low initiative = you know you are in a fight, but aren't up to speed yet) but mechanically speaking, there is no difference.

 

[Wobber]

And the rogue can just wait for the next round to deliver his full arrack.
I agree that this ability isn't as potent as imp. invisibility, but it still seems very powerful for a 6th (right?) lv.

 

[mikebr99]

And the rogue can just wait for the next round to deliver his full arrack.
I agree that this ability isn't as potent as imp. invisibility, but it still seems very powerful for a 6th (right?) lv.

8th min... you need 10 ranks in hide before you can start the PrC... and other stuff too. And I don't think it's too powerful.

wraithstrike...
ray of stupidity...
powerword pain...
maybe... but not HiPS.

Mike

 

[Nail]

All very true. In the event of a failed Spot check, what is the difference? After all, there is a difference between flat-footed during the suprise round (you were not aware you were in combat) and flat-footed because it isn't you haven't acted yet in the combat (low initiative = you know you are in a fight, but aren't up to speed yet) but mechanically speaking, there is no difference.

Wait.....

Flat-footed = flat-footed, so hidden = invisible?

 

[TheEvil]

Wait.....

Flat-footed = flat-footed, so hidden = invisible?

Not quite. Flat-footed = flat-footed so unseen = unseen.
If you cannot see someone, then why does it matter why you can't see them? A rogue wearing a ring of X-ray vision and using a Brilliant Energy weapon could strike an opponent leaning against a wall from the other side. Would you argue that the opponent is not flat-footed because the rogue isn't invisible?

 

[Wobber]

8th min... you need 10 ranks in hide before you can start the PrC... and other stuff too. And I don't think it's too powerful.

wraithstrike...
ray of stupidity...
powerword pain...
maybe... but not HiPS.

Mike

Very important:

Does your racial skill bonus counts as ranks the skill. Like halflings have +2 to jump etc. if the players buys 4 ranks in jump, does that mean his character has 6 ranks for ebing a halfling?

 

[Sound of Azure]

Very important:

Does your racial skill bonus counts as ranks the skill. Like halflings have +2 to jump etc. if the players buys 4 ranks in jump, does that mean his character has 6 ranks for ebing a halfling?

Absolutely not. That's why they are listed as a racial bonus, and not "racial" ranks.

 

[RigaMortus2]

After all, there is a difference between flat-footed during the suprise round (you were not aware you were in combat) and flat-footed because it isn't you haven't acted yet in the combat (low initiative = you know you are in a fight, but aren't up to speed yet) but mechanically speaking, there is no difference.

There is? I would like to know what the difference is? And to throw in another category, what is the difference between them and those few feats (and maneuvers if you use ToB) out there that make an opponent flat-footed?