Sneak Attack...Them Darn Halflings :)

[waytoomuchcoffee]

some magic creatures have the supernatural ability to ..."

Show me in the MM or MM2 anywhere the statement "This creature has xyz damage reduction. This is a supernatural ability."

 

[Caliban]

Show me in the MM or MM2 anywhere the statement "This creature has xyz damage reduction. This is a supernatural ability."

MM2, Page 15, Damage Reduction (Su):.

That being said, I'm pretty sure that the "standard action to activate a Supernatural Ability" rule only applies to abilities that actually have to be activated. Damage Reduction is always on, it doesn't have to be activated. I would say the same thing for the Monk's supernatural speed.

It's not clear if HiPS is Always On or an Activated ability. I can see valid arguements for it either way.

 

[Abraxas]

posted by waytoomuchcoffee

Show me in the MM or MM2 anywhere the statement "This creature has xyz damage reduction. This is a supernatural ability."

Just to add to what Caliban wrote - MM1, Page 9, Damage Reduction (Su)

 

[Atticus_of_Amber]

I do remember something in the rules to the effect that making an attack on someone means they automatically spot you, but with sniping, i find this a little unrealistic.

From watching movies (we're talking cinematic realism here) and playing various video games (Goldeneye and Halo are good examples), it seems that a good sniper can hit you and you can still not know where s/he is. Of course, knowing which direction you just took fire from can make it easier to spot the sniper, but in playing Halo and Goldeneye, I've taken multiple shots from the same sniper before I spotted him on occasions (especially artic camouflaged snipers against snow in Goldeneye).

So, I'd say that a missile attack from a hidden sniper would not cause the victim to automatically spot the sniper. Instead, each shot would provoke an immediate opposed spot-hide check with a cumulative -4 penalty on the hide check for each shot made from the same hidden position against the same target.

 

[mikebr99]

Re: Summary

A few things:
(1) This -20 penalty to HIPS is stated in the EPIC book, thus 'not a house rule'

This rule didn't make it into the final release of the ELH... So, it IS a house rule... though a good one.

(2) Hiding isn't a move equivalent, it's a free action that effects other actions, such as 'hide while charging' at -20 penalty, hide while sniping -20 penalty, hide while moving normally -5 penalty, hide while moving at half speed 0 penalty

Hiding IS a move equiv. action, that can combined with movement, or no movement at all. You cannot HIDE more then once per round... unless you are hasted, or using Spring attack.

(3) Ettins DO NOT get TWO (2) spot, listen, search... They get a bonus as stated in monster manual (+2) because of their multiple heads.

This is correct... see MM.

(4) Some Supernatural Abilities are standard actions, some are not

Also correct... see DR for an example of an SU ability that doesn't require any time at all to invoke... because it is always in effect.

(5) HIPS as the ShadowDancer's Supernatural ability doesn't impose a -20 penalty, because it's 'supernatural', but for someone that doesn't have this supernatural ability, it is a modification to their Hide skill with a -20 penalty... still not a standard action.

I would have to disagree with this... Hiding in plain sight can only be accomplished by an EPIC level Rogue (if they had left the blinkin' thing in the book!), at a -20 DC check. Non EPIC Rogues cannot do this at all. Even casual observation cancels out the hide chance.

The Shadowdancer's HIPS class ability allows a non-EPIC character to hide while being observed, before he has become an EPIC character... but still with the -20 DC check.

A normal Shadowdancer is simply given an EPIC ability before everyone else. One that is supernatural.

Now...

The HIPS class ability of the Shadowdancer is also a move equiv. action... even though it is an supernatural ability. The Shadows close to the Shadowdancer are helping him hide. It isn't something he has to decide to use or not, it just happens every time the SD hides.