Hide in Plain Sight / Spring Attack

[Tobold Hornblower]

What sort of action is the shadow dancer's hide in plain sight? Or is it just an opposed roll, that isn't really an action?

My attempt at interpreting the rules is that if you move at half speed, you can attempt to hide in plain sight. Otherwise moving would ruin the hide attempt. If you move at more than half speed, then you can't hide.

So, given speed 30' and trying to hide in plain sight between spring attacks, the shadow dancer can move 10', attack, then move 5' and hide in plain sight, all in one round. The next round, she can 5', attack again, and move 10'. She gets an attack every round at half speed, catching flat-footed any opponent that fails the spot check.

Alternatively, she could move 15', attack, move 15' in a round, but not hide in plain sight. On the next round she could cast a spell or throw a dart or some other standard action, move no more than 15', and hide in plain sight. She gets a spring attack every other round at full speed, catching flat-footed any opponent that fails the spot check.

Where did I go wrong, if anywhere?

Now with expeditious retreat can you move your normal speed, half the doubled speed, and still hide?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Thanee]

I suppose Hide is a standard action as most skill uses are.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Also, stating that you can make a half-move and still hide outlines the limits of what you can do and still hide, so no attack action, just a half-move!

Bye
Thanee

 

[mikebr99]

I suppose Hide is a standard action as most skill uses are.

Bye
Thanee

Hide is a move equiv. action... part of your normal movement during the round.

(*)Hide (DEX; ARMOR CHECK PENALTY)
Check: The character's Hide check is opposed by the Spot check of anyone who might see the character. The character can
move up to one-half normal speed and hide at no penalty. At more than one-half and up to the full speed, the character suffers a
–5 penalty. It's practically impossible (–20 penalty) to hide while running or charging.

 

[laiyna]

so you could move hidden (with a hide check -20) attack, and move hidden (with a hide check -20). And get each round a few sneak attacks in

 

[Henrix]

Hide in Plain Sight is a supernatural ability, and, unless otherwise stated in the ability, those take a standard action.

 

[mikebr99]

Hide in Plain Sight is a supernatural ability, and, unless otherwise stated in the ability, those take a standard action.

No... sorry. HIPS uses the same mechanic as the Hide skill (ie. move equiv.).

Hide in Plain Sight: Shadowdancers can use the Hide skill even while being observed. As long as they are within 10 feet of some sort of shadow, shadowdancers can hide themselves from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind.
They cannot, however, hide in their own shadows. Hide in plain sight is a supernatural ability.

This ability is allowing you to hide while being observed... an Epic ability only without this class skill.

 

[Vaxalon]

so you could move hidden (with a hide check -20) attack, and move hidden (with a hide check -20). And get each round a few sneak attacks in

Only if you have the "spring attack" feat. Without that, your move must come before or after your move, not both.

 

[mikebr99]

so you could move hidden (with a hide check -20) attack, and move hidden (with a hide check -20). And get each round a few sneak attacks in

I think you are describing the spring attack feat being used with the hide skill... perfectly legal... except that you'd only get ONE attack out of it.

 

[Tobold Hornblower]

Thanks for the quick responses, there coming faster than I can keep up on. You seem to be going through much of the thoughts I had while reading the rules.

As Henrix pointed out, "Hide in Plain Sight is a supernatural ability, and, unless otherwise stated in the ability, those take a standard action." This was the most confusing thing for me, since it isn't otherwise stated. But it says "Shadowdancers can use the Hide skill", and using the hide skill doesn't seem to be a standard action, just an opposed roll that goes along with whatever action you are taking.

So my original senarious still seem valid, but I didn't know you could hide with a penalty while moving more than half speed. I see that now in the SRD, but didn't notice it in my books at home. I'm at work now.

Thanks all. Any more thoughts?