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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ziana" data-source="post: 4313372" data-attributes="member: 69885">Different customer service reps have provided contradictory answers on Stealth In Combat, to the point where they started refusing to answer those questions because they're working on errata or developing consistent guidelines. See the Stealth in Combat thread: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=230323" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=230323</a> I believe the CSR quoted above was giving an answer based on faulty understanding of the intended rules. We've seen this several times now.Stealth applies in two situations: Out of Combat and In-Combat.Out of Combat is where terms like "unaware" or "avoiding notice" really apply. This is RP type situations like sneaking up on a guard whose back is turned, or distracting the innkeeper so the rogue can get upstairs. Once stealth fails, NPCs are aware of the player, and combat or other results ensue. This is also the usage that can help grant surprise once combat starts.You make a stealth check when you attempt to perform an action stealthily. PHB188 doesn't distinguish between in-combat or out-of-combat (which is part of why people get confused). Important points are that stealth is not a mode or condition as in 3E, it is a method attached to any other action, including attacks. You can move stealthily, attack stealthily, throw a switch stealthily, etc.In-combat, you can't sneak up behind monsters because they are considered to be aware of their surroundings in all directions: there is no "facing". However, the necessary conditions for stealth are cover or concealment, so you you can make use of these to perform stealth attacks.Combat Advantage is a minor bonus. There are numerous ways to gain it, and I believe it is part of the intended design of 4E combat that players be encouraged to make effective use of tactics to gain it. The design of the system encourages it: rogues and fighters will position for flanking, they'll use special abilities to stun/daze/blind or knock down their opponents. Using terrain to make stealth attacks provides a *chance* (stealth DC) of gaining combat advantage for ranged attackers who are making the effort to make use of cover or concealment. Using pillars, crates, bushes etc. to launch attacks at targets who can't adequately anticipate their attacks, is effective tactics. Since melee fighters can many ways of gaining CA each round, it is not unbalanced in any way for rogues or rangers using stealth to make ranged attacks from cover to also have a possibility of gaining CA.</blockquote>

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