Hiding behind total cover with people watching

[jasin]

Can you hide by running going behind total cover and then coming out
again in the same action?

It seems a bit strange that someone could step behind a corner and then
step right back and get the drop on you, but it appears that it's
possible:

"If people are observing you, even casually, you can’t hide. You can run
around a corner or behind cover so that you’re out of sight and then
hide, but the others then know at least where you went."

I assume that means that they know where you went so they can go look
for you and they'll eventually find you, but that you are hidden. And in
a fight, you mostly don't need to stay hidden; all you need is another
sneak attack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Can you hide by running going behind total cover and then coming out
again in the same action?

It depends. Is there any cover or concealment when you come out again?

Let's say there's a Darkness spell - shadowy illumination, providing concealment. People can still see you, but it's dim and hazy. While they're watching you, you can't hide. If they're not watching you, you can... and then when they look back, they'll need to make a Spot check to notice you.

Now let's say you're outside in broad daylight. People can see you clearly. While they're watching you, you can't hide. And even if they look away, you can't hide - when they look back, you're still right there.

So when you go around the corner behind total cover, you can hide... but when you come back, if there's no cover or concealment (like, say, it's shadowy illumination), you'll be seen immediately.

-Hyp.

 

[jasin]

It depends. Is there any cover or concealment when you come out again?

Well, if there's total cover, there's cover, right? Just peek out behind a corner a bit so you've got cover instead of total cover and shoot them.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well, if there's total cover, there's cover, right? Just peek out behind a corner a bit so you've got cover instead of total cover and shoot them.

Then yes, that's fine.

Though you'll find there's argument as to whether this denies the foe his Dex bonus

-Hyp.

 

[mikebr99]

Then yes, that's fine.

Though you'll find there's argument as to whether this denies the foe his Dex bonus

-Hyp.

You're a nasty little blue guy...

Mike

 

[mikebr99]

And before anyone calls me on it... I cannot site a rule where it says that a successful hide check allows SA, unless you'll allow the COmplete Adventurer rules expansion of the hide skill.

But it does!

Mike

 

[TheGogmagog]

Well, if there's total cover, there's cover, right? Just peek out behind a corner a bit so you've got cover instead of total cover and shoot them.

Remember that you need to 'peek out behind the coner' by actually moving. This is still usually achievable, but you either occupy a square or not. If you have line of site you don't have total cover, if you have total cover you don't have line of siteuntil you move. Then they get a spot check and then you can fire away.

This is more critical with spell effects, like L' tiny hut and prismatic sphere. You are in the area of effect or you arn't. The description might say radius, but the battle map says squares that are effected and squares that arn't.

 

[Sejs]

Can you hide by running going behind total cover and then coming out
again in the same action?

It seems a bit strange that someone could step behind a corner and then
step right back and get the drop on you, but it appears that it's
possible:

"If people are observing you, even casually, you can’t hide. You can run
around a corner or behind cover so that you’re out of sight and then
hide, but the others then know at least where you went."

I assume that means that they know where you went so they can go look
for you and they'll eventually find you, but that you are hidden. And in
a fight, you mostly don't need to stay hidden; all you need is another
sneak attack.

Not as such, really - you run behind cover, get your hide on, then run back out...

...and you no longer have cover or concealment, so you're no longer hidden unless it's dark or there's heavy undergrowth or something else that will let you stay covered/concealed. (and if it's dark you're not making any sneak attacks anyway, unless you can see through it)

Really, at best you could run behind cover, create a diversion with a Bluff check (normally a standard action), then rush out while they're distracted and try to get the drop on them, eatting the -10 penalty to your hide check for the 'holy crap gotta move fast' thing, assuming they're within 1ft per rank in hide, and the -20 penalty for attacking while hiding. So a -30 to your hide check. And you've got to have a way to create a diversion as less than a standard action, such as with the Improved Diversion feat. Easy it's not.

So as you can see, it all pretty much boils down to how your DM wants to handle it. As pointed out above, it's not such a cut and dry issue.