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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the_redbeard" data-source="post: 4395945" data-attributes="member: 22644">There are two different places where active perception is specified.  Once is in the perception skill, as a standard action, on page 186.The other is in the Targeting What You Can't See rules, on page 281.186:If you want to use the skill actively, you need to take a standard action orspend 1 minute listening or searching, depending on the task.281:Make a Perception Check: On your turn, you can makean active Perception check as a minor action, comparingthe result to the concealed creature’s last Stealth check.From those two apparently conflicting rules, I would say that the standard action is for a general search to reveal such things as traps and secret doors.  The rule on 281 is more specific and calls out exactly finding a stealthed target.So I would rule a minor action for an active perception check to perceive a stealthed target... Specific over-rules general. YTMV (Your Table May Vary.)Hopefully, we'll see this clarified in the scheduled errata in September.Does the minor action perception check solve your problem?As for Shadow Walk, page 131:Shadow WalkOn your turn, if you move at least 3 squares away fromwhere you started your turn, you gain concealmentuntil the end of your next turn.Note: there is no flavor text.  We don't know if shadows appear, or if the warlock walks into the plane of shadows.  All we know is that they gain concealment, one of the requisites for stealth.Timing:The only requirement is having moved at least 3 squares from your start.  It is my opinion that anyone ruling it doesn't occur immediately on having moved 3 squares is inserting their own house rule to gimp the ability that they are afraid of.Why Be Afraid of Shadow Walk?Concealment is a -2 to attacks, and the ability is conditional on a distance of 3 squares from origin (not just moving back and forth, but moving 3 squares from starting square.)  This is conditional and in many tight locations will not be possible, and often optimal positioning for the warlock.  It is NOT a free ride.Response: But Concealment is requisite for Stealth, this is Hide in Plain SightIt takes a feat and investment in an otherwise dump stat for stealth to be an effective strategy for a warlock.What can you get with one feat and some stat investment?You could go from your basic leather proficiency to Chain mail.  That's a +4 armor class difference that is not at all conditional.So, one feat (stealth training) gains a very conditional +5 to defenses (and +2 to hit), while the other feat (chain) gains an always on +4 to defenses.Why do people think this is so overpowered?Don't be afraid.This is a very flavorful ability that makes the warlock a unique striker, not just another ranged attack.  Give the warlock a break, go by the RAW and deal with it.</blockquote>

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