Static Spot Check to Notice Invisible?

[moritheil]

I was just reading over the rules for invisibility and saw that the DC to notice an invisible creature moving about nearby is 20. Is this right? I've always added 20 to the Hide check of the invisible creature, provided it was trying to hide. And indeed, Hide notes that invisibility provides a +20.

So is it 20 or 20 + Hide check, or some frustrating compromise?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

or 20 + Hide check

this.

 

[frankthedm]

Unless someone is trying to hide, being spotted is automatic.

 

[Jhulae]

Unless someone is trying to hide, being spotted is automatic.

Unless they're invisible. Then being spotted is DC 20 + hide check (DC 40 + hide check if the invisible creature is not moving at all).

 

[Vegepygmy]

Unless someone is trying to hide, being spotted is automatic.

Unless they're invisible. Then being spotted is DC 20 + hide check (DC 40 + hide check if the invisible creature is not moving at all).

You don't get to make a hide check if you're not trying to hide. Hence the static DC 20 to Spot an invisible person who is not trying to hide.

 

[Jhulae]

You don't get to make a hide check if you're not trying to hide. Hence the static DC 20 to Spot an invisible person who is not trying to hide.

Right. DC 20 + Hide Check (which at that point is 0).

 

[jaelis]

Here's a screwy thing. Say you have greater invis on, and you attack someone but miss. What is the DC for him to notice you? (If you hit, of course, he notices right away.)

If you are trying to hide: Spot DC = hide check + 20 (invisible) -20 (attacking) = hide check.

If you are not trying to hide: Spot DC = 20 (fixed).

So unless your hide mod is +10 or better, you're better off not trying to hide in that situation!

 

[moritheil]

Here's a screwy thing. Say you have greater invis on, and you attack someone but miss. What is the DC for him to notice you? (If you hit, of course, he notices right away.)

If you are trying to hide: Spot DC = hide check + 20 (invisible) -20 (attacking) = hide check.

If you are not trying to hide: Spot DC = 20 (fixed).

So unless your hide mod is +10 or better, you're better off not trying to hide in that situation!

Hmm. You can only snipe from 10' or more away. I don't know if you can hide at all immediately after making a melee attack. So I'd guess DC 20, given those two choices.

 

[jaelis]

You can hide as part of an attack action (since the skill specifies a penalty for it). You can't normally hide again right after a melee attack since your opponent is paying attention to you, but if you're invisible or have HiPS, you can pull it off.

 

[moritheil]

You can hide as part of an attack action (since the skill specifies a penalty for it). You can't normally hide again right after a melee attack since your opponent is paying attention to you, but if you're invisible or have HiPS, you can pull it off.

The hide skill says:

Sniping

If you’ve already successfully hidden at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack, then immediately hide again. You take a -20 penalty on your Hide check to conceal yourself after the shot.

Where does it talk about hiding as part of an attack aside from sniping?