Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 1380361" data-attributes="member: 3424">To answer this question, let's compare the Shadowdancer HiPS ability with the Ranger's HiPS ability.  First, the similarities.The Ranger's HiPS ability is actually an extension of his Camouflage ability.  Camouflage enables him to hide in natural terrain, even if it does not grant cover or concealment.  His HiPS ability enables him to hide even if he is being observed.The SD's HiPS ability seems to encompass both these aspects.  A SD can hide even if she is being observed, and I interpret "a shadowdancer can hide herself from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind" to mean that she can hide even she does not have cover or concealment.Now, the differences. The Ranger's HiPS ability is Ex and functions while he is in natural terrain, while the SD's HiPS ability is Su and comes into play when she is within 10 feet of a shadow that is not her own.  The Ranger's ability thus seems to depend on what we understand to be "natural forces" - skill, coloration, terrain knowledge, etc.  The SD's is magical and needs no natural explanation.  She can simply attempt a Hide check without the need for cover or concealment, even if she is being directly observed, as long as she is withing 10 feet of a shadow that is not her own.  Just like that.  It's magic.  Any questions?That said, the HiPS ability simply negates the need for cover or concealment and allows a check to be made even when being observed.  It does not negate any other penalties to Hide checks, such as the -20 penalty for hiding while attacking, running or charging, or the -5 penalty for moving at more than half but less than your speed.  Using the Hide skill is still a part of movement, or uses a move action even if you don't move (such as hiding after sniping or making an attack).On her turn, a SD can (this is not an exhaustive list - just some examples of how I would interpret the rules):1. Charge as a full-round action, and attempt a Hide check at -20 opposed by her opponent's Spot check.  If she succeeds, she is treated as invisible during her attack, but her opponent can now see her and react to her normally if he can act before her next action.2. Move as a move action, and attempt a Hide check without penalty if she moves at less than half her speed or -5 otherwise opposed by her opponent's Spot check.  If she succeeds, she is treated as invisible and may attack as a standard action, but her opponent can now see her and react to her normally if he can act before her next action.3. Attack as a standard action, and immediately attempt a Hide check at -20 opposed by her opponent's Spot check as a move action.  She may also take a 5-foot step as a free action.  If she succeeds, she is treated as if invisible at the start of her opponent's turn, but he may retry his Spot check as a move action.  The Spot check DC is the SD's last Hide check, including the -20 penalty - she may not re-roll the result.</blockquote>

Verification