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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 2525495" data-attributes="member: 3424">Okay, lots of confusion in this thread, as if the issue of Hide in Plain Sight wasn't already confusing enough.There are two "types" of Hide in Plain Sight. The Ranger's Hide in Plain Sight is an Extraordinary (non-magical) ability:Note that the description of this ability only states that he can hide while being observed. It doesn't negate the other requirements of being able to hide, e.g. you must have cover or concealment.The Shadowdancer's Hide in Plain Sight is a Supernatural (magical) ability:The first line of the ability description is similar to that of the ranger's, except that it is not limited to natural terrain only. In any kind of terrain, a shadowdancer can hide while being observed.The second line of the ability description goes one step further. As long as she is within 10 feet of some kind of shadow (not her own) a shadowdancer can even hide without the need for cover or concealment. A common misperception is that the shadowdancer must be hiding in a shadow, or somehow causes a shadow within 10 feet to expand so that she can hide in it. Neither is implied by the ability.However, the term "some kind of shadow" gives enough trouble. Barring extreme circumstances such as a room with a light source and perfectly smooth floors and ceilings, there is bound to be "some kind of shadow" within 10 feet of a shadowdancer, or she can easily create one by dropping a small object such as a pebble or a caltrop. This effectively means that a shadowdancer can hide anywhere. Some DMs don't like the ability to work that way, and rule that there must be a shadow large enough for the shadowdancer to hide in (although she does not necessarily have to hide in the shadow) - as a rough rule of thumb, there must be a square occupied by a creature or object of the same size or larger than the shadowdancer for her to use this ability.As for the interaction of the shadowdancer's Hide in Plain Sight and true seeing, the spell description states:Essentially, those who believe that true seeing is foiled by Hide in Plain Sight argue that the shadowdancer is "simply hiding", as per the second paragraph of the spell description, and that the spell description does not specifically state that it foils Hide in Plain Sight.Those who believe that true seeing foils Hide in Plain Sight argue that a Shadowdancer is "simply hiding" only if she hides behind normal cover or concealment. However, if she does not actually have anything to hide behind, she is using her supernatural ability to Hide in Plain Sight, and while the spell description does not specifically state that it foils Hide in Plain Sight, it seems to defeat magical forms of concealment (e.g. "secret doors hidden by magic") but does not see through non-magical forms of concealment (e.g. "secret doors hidden by mundane means"), except darkness. Since hiding without anything to hide behind is a magical ability, true seeing should foil it. However, it would give no additional advantage against a shadowdancer "simply hiding" behind normal cover or concealment (except darkness).</blockquote>

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