I never realized how Darkvision negates Hide

[Zaruthustran]

Hide normally requires some sort of cover or concealment:

Hide
You need cover or concealment in order to attempt a Hide check. Total cover or total concealment usually (but not always; see Special, below) obviates the need for a Hide check, since nothing can see you anyway.

Typically, characters with Hide go the Concealment route and hide in some sort of shadow. The problem is that creatures with Darkvision are unaffected by shadows:

DARKVISION
Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified for the creature. Darkvision is black and white only (colors cannot be discerned). It does not allow characters to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

Concealment
Ignoring Concealment: Concealment isn’t always effective. A shadowy area or darkness doesn’t provide any concealment against an opponent with darkvision.

Sure, you can still Hide from a character with Darkvision by using some sort of cover, or concealment from smoke. But it's tougher than I thought to sneak attack orcs, ogres, and other critters.

-z

 

[fett527]

Quite right. Never really thought of that either. I'm trying to work out in my head if there was ever a time that this came into play in our current campaign.

 

[Nail]

Sure, you can still Hide from a character with Darkvision by using some sort of cover, or concealment from smoke. But it's tougher than I thought to sneak attack orcs, ogres, and other critters.

-z

Darkvision has a range. Hiding doesn't.

That is: Hide, then charge. Your double move is at the limit of their darkvision.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Re: Re: I never realized how Darkvision negates Hide

Heck, hide while charging. . . it's only a -20. One of my characters pulled it off once .

(And it was fun to charge out from hiding and sneak attack the giant with a greatsword).

Darkvision has a range. Hiding doesn't.

That is: Hide, then charge. Your double move is at the limit of their darkvision.

 

[Numion]

Re: Re: I never realized how Darkvision negates Hide

Darkvision has a range. Hiding doesn't.

That is: Hide, then charge. Your double move is at the limit of their darkvision.

But you could only do a partial charge on the surprise round, moving up to once your movement, not double.

 

[Bauglir]

So refocus on your surprise action, then charge at the start of the first full combat round..

 

[Philip]

Sure, you can still Hide from a character with Darkvision by using some sort of cover, or concealment from smoke. But it's tougher than I thought to sneak attack orcs, ogres, and other critters.

To make it even worse, from the SRD:

A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

So it doesn't matter if you charge or not. If the orc has darkvision, and you don't, while both of you are in a shadowy area (which gives concealment to him, but not to you), you can't sneak attack anyway.

You cannot sneak attack while concealed in darkness unless you have darkvision.

 

[Numion]

So refocus on your surprise action, then charge at the start of the first full combat round..

Isn' t refocus a full-round action, which can't be done on the surprise round?

 

[Bauglir]

Seems there is no refocus action in 3.5..

It's just a long delay, which is a special case free action..

 

[Roxlimn]

To a certain extent, I've always been of the opinion that characters with Darkvision were at advantage in areas of reduced illumination even in 3e. At that time, I simply imposed an ad hoc +4 to the opponent's spot check if he could see but you could not see him.

I'm glad that it's much clearer cut now.