I've introduced my 5th ed group to AD&D 2E

[James Gasik]

Oh, interesting, so your ability to sneak past something is completely decoupled from that thing-- so like an ancient dragon and the farmer have the same shot at seeing you, weird.

In general, yes. There are some caveats to the Thieving abilities- depending on how strictly your DM conforms to what the books say, you might run into difficulties. There was a forum thread about this several months back, where we had quite a back and forth about how well these abilities performed in games, and how often one could actually employ abilities like Backstab. But if your DM isn't a jerk about it, it can play fairly smoothly.

EDIT: for example, the caveat that you can't use Hide in Shadows in total darkness....

 

[Yaarel]

I learned to play D&D from a group that is playing 1e − of course with their own houserules.

 

[DarkCrisis]

How is rolling well enough on your hide different from rolling high enough on your sneak roll to beat their perception number?

Because a perception test can beat your sneak check no matter how good you roll.

In AD&D there is no opposing check(s). You simply are sneaking or you aren’t.

 

[tetrasodium]

Oh, interesting, so your ability to sneak past something is completely decoupled from that thing-- so like an ancient dragon and the farmer have the same shot at seeing you, weird.

It was balanced by the fact that you might not be the one rolling & may not know if you are being stealthy or not and by PCs being far more fragile when out on their own. Sneaking past monsters & interacting with stuff while sneaking was pretty dangerous

 

[DarkCrisis]

Oh, interesting, so your ability to sneak past something is completely decoupled from that thing-- so like an ancient dragon and the farmer have the same shot at seeing you, weird.

Dragons can see invis and can smell you, as can some monsters with better senses. So sort of but not exactly.

Remember Smog could still smell Bilbo.

 

[James Gasik]

I don't think there exists an AD&D group that uses the rules as written. Either they don't actually know all the rules and came up with their own solutions, or they just don't like how the rules work, it's all academic.

I used to have to deal with some obnoxious rules lawyers when I started DMing, so I made sure to read the rulebooks constantly, to the point that, even if I didn't know it by heart, I knew where a given rule was in the book, and could quickly find it.

To this day, there are rules that, when I bring them up, make long-time veterans of the game look at me like I'm speaking arcane gibberish. Then I show them the passage in a book, and they go "oh well, we never played it that way", lol.

 

[The-Magic-Sword]

Dragons can see in is and can smell you, as can some monsters with better senses. So sort of but not exactly.

Remember Smog could still smell Bilbo.

Is that reflected mechanically somehow as part of the sneak or is this part of that "Gygaxian skilled play" thing where you would have to think to prepare to have a way to disguise your scent to not get auto found?

 

[DarkCrisis]

Ok, I see what you mean.

I see the confusion. I forgot the “No” when saying “no chance to see”

 

[James Gasik]

Hide in Shadows and Move Silently do nothing to mask your scent. However, it is worth nothing that most creatures, in addition to lacking perception, do not have exceptional senses. Dragons are an exception, however:

The Complete Thief's Handbook, however, has some items you can purchase that can mask your scent and help you camouflage yourself, to supplement your own abilities.

 

[Mind of tempest]

interesting, this seems like it is nice for you.