D&D 5E What does "give away your location" mean?

[Springheel]

"When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you’re guessing the target’s location or you’re targeting a creature you can hear but not see....When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it. If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses." (PHB p.195)

I hate to start another thread about stealth, but this is really, really specific.

A character is hiding, heavily obscured by either darkness or deep foliage. They shoot an arrow at a target that they can clearly see.

When the above quote says "give away your position", that only means that enemies can target you now, correct? It doesn't mean they can actually see you, because you are still heavily obscured. Which means your attacks continue to get advantage until you are no longer considered heavily obscured?

 

[Lanliss]

correct, they still cannot see you. You continue to gain advantage.

 

[Flamestrike]

"When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you’re guessing the target’s location or you’re targeting a creature you can hear but not see....When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it. If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses." (PHB p.195)

I hate to start another thread about stealth, but this is really, really specific.

A character is hiding, heavily obscured by either darkness or deep foliage. They shoot an arrow at a target that they can clearly see.

When the above quote says "give away your position", that only means that enemies can target you now, correct? It doesn't mean they can actually see you, because you are still heavily obscured. Which means your attacks continue to get advantage until you are no longer considered heavily obscured?

Pretty much yes. If they were in charge range they could move over and wallop you, or shoot back at you (with disadvantage seeing as you cant be seen, but are not longer hidden).

Being heavily obscured also means that you can be targetted with many spells, and are immune to AoO.

 

[robus]

"When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you’re guessing the target’s location or you’re targeting a creature you can hear but not see....When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it. If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses." (PHB p.195)

I hate to start another thread about stealth, but this is really, really specific.

A character is hiding, heavily obscured by either darkness or deep foliage. They shoot an arrow at a target that they can clearly see.

When the above quote says "give away your position", that only means that enemies can target you now, correct? It doesn't mean they can actually see you, because you are still heavily obscured. Which means your attacks continue to get advantage until you are no longer considered heavily obscured?

The assumption is that they are able to figure where the source of the attack originated. And I would say that you've also given away your hiding place. So I'm not sure advantage still applies? If people know your hiding place are you still hidden? I would say no.

 

[ProphetSword]

The assumption is that they are able to figure where the source of the attack originated. And I would say that you've also given away your hiding place. So I'm not sure advantage still applies? If people know your hiding place are you still hidden? I would say no.

If I duck behind a tree and shout out "I'm behind the tree," I have given away my location. However, if the tree is still between the two of us, you will not be able to see me. Not being seen is the criteria for the Advantage.

 

[Hriston]

You are still unseen. You don't need to be hidden to get advantage, just unseen. Hidden is more than that. When you are hidden, those you are hidden from don't know where you are to a degree that's targetable, and so have to guess a location to attack.

To "give away your location" is to no longer be hidden. You have broadcast your position to all participants, who can now directly target you and will continue to track your position until you become hidden again.

 

[Lanefan]

The assumption is that they are able to figure where the source of the attack originated. And I would say that you've also given away your hiding place. So I'm not sure advantage still applies? If people know your hiding place are you still hidden? I would say no.

You're hiding in a shadow at the base of the castle wall at night while a fight goes on in a firelit area nearby. Nobody knows you're there until you fire an arrow into the fray. Now, anyone who cares knows there's someone over that way somewhere...probably in the shadows...but as you're still in the shadow nobody can actually see you (they're looking from a lit area into a dark area). They can shoot the shadow but they don't know where you are within it, hence the disadvantaged roll. Or they can charge into the shadow and probably find you pretty quickly.

The reason they can target you at all is because you've given them something to target. I mean, before you take your shot someone could always put an arrow into the shadow just for the hell of it without ever knowing you're in there at all, but they don't have anything specific to target. (which raises a tangential question: if the to hit roll's at disadvantage if someone knows you're in there how is it handled when the shot is purely speculative?)

Lanefan

 

[robus]

If I duck behind a tree and shout out "I'm behind the tree," I have given away my location. However, if the tree is still between the two of us, you will not be able to see me. Not being seen is the criteria for the Advantage.

Right you still have cover but you are no longer hidden.

 

[ProphetSword]

Right you still have cover but you are no longer hidden.

Didn't say I was hidden. I said I was unseen. That is the criteria to gain advantage...the fact that you can't see me. Doesn't matter if you know I'm behind the tree.

Another example: I'm invisible, but I keep taunting you and saying: "I'm right in front of you!" You'll still have disadvantage and I'll have advantage. I've given up my location, but you still can't see me.

 

[robus]

Didn't say I was hidden. I said I was unseen. That is the criteria to gain advantage...the fact that you can't see me. Doesn't matter if you know I'm behind the tree.

Another example: I'm invisible, but I keep taunting you and saying: "I'm right in front of you!" You'll still have disadvantage and I'll have advantage. I've given up my location, but you still can't see me.

Ah I hate the hiding rules