The CORRECT way to play out Stealth encounters???
Take a situation where the GM's hungry panther is stalking prey, a PC, through sparsely forested terrain.
Panther
Listen +6, Spot +6, Hide +8, Move Silently +8
low-light vision, scent
Silaigne Deepblade
Listen +2, Spot +6, Hide +5, Move Silently +8
Terrain Rules: Maxium Spot distance in Sparse Forest is 3d6 x 10 feet.
So is this what the rules are saying....? Is this how the encounter should be played???
1. First, the GM determines maximum detection range using the terrain rules. Sparse Forest = 3d6 x 10'. Throw 3, 5, 2, for a total of 100 feet.
The panther is lying in wait, looking for prey. The PC is moving through the forest at his normal Walk speed of 30.
2. Panther's senses: The panther gets a reactive Spot and a Listen check, per the rules. The panther isn't moving and not making sound, so the PC only gets a Spot check.
Panther Spot: d20 +6 (skill) = 12
PC Hide: d20 +5 (skill) -5 (move penalty) +0 (panther size modifier) = 5
No need for panther Listen check as the Spot check succeeded.
Using the encounter distance rule, the panther spots Deepblade at 70 feet distant.
3. PC's senses: Deepblade could spot the panther also.
Deepblade's Spot: d20 +6 (skill) = 23
Panther's Hide: d20 + 8 (skill) +2 (advantaged bonus) +0 (PC size modifier) = 15
Using the encounter distance rule, the PC sees the panther at 80 feet.
The GM describes the situation thusly: "Silaigne, you're walking along, through the sparse woods, when, off to your right, you see a black speck move off the top of a rock. It's a panther!
The panther easily jumps from the rock where it was laying to the ground, takes a few steps in your direction, as if it is not sure.
Encounter distance is 70 feet. Roll initiative.
Panther Initiative = 13
Deepblade Initiative = 14
Round 1
Silaigne: I pull my sword, slowly, and back away from the panther.
GM: OK, you can pull your weapon from its scabbard as part of your move. Backing up like that, facing the cat the entire time, you increase range by 30 feet. Range between you and the panther is now 100 feet.
Panther: The panther breaks into a run for you, moving at double speed. He covers 80 feet. He's only 20 feet from you, but it's your turn.
Round 2
Silaigne: I'm doing a Ready Action. If that cat attacks me, I'm swinging.
GM: Good. You plant yourself with a wide, steady stance. As the black beast runs towards you, you swing your steel around your torso in swirling patterns, loosing your muscles. You hands come to rest, gripping your blade, in the ready position.
Panther: The great black cat charges, using it's Pounce ability. But, you get your Readied Action first.
Silaigne: I swing with a total attack of 19.
GM: The cat leaps, but you swing at it, slicing it's forepaws and underbelly, just before it lands on you! Damage!
Silaigne: Damage is 13 total.
GM: Your blade slices the cat to the bone! It happens so quick, it's hard for you to know more. But, that momentary sight of bone beneath the black fur, and the feel of your weapon as it slices through the cat, tells you that your stroke was true.
GM: It is momentum alone that carries the cat into you, and it is alive, going wild, clawing and biting you. The claws barely scratch you, applying no damage. But the thing does chomp at the side of your face as it pushes off. Take 10 points of damage and consider the right side of your neck and ear bloodied and deeply scratched from the bite. And, since the bite was successful, it can use its Improved Grab ability. (Grapple check.) You're too quick for that, though, and your off-hand you manage to get between you and the cat. You push it off.
Round 3
Silaigne: The cat is in front of me, then, having just been thrown to the ground. I recover with both hands and swing at it. I roll a total of 8.
GM: You're not quick enough. Your blade bites into the earth. But, you get another chance as the cat scrambles to get to its feet again. It's going to bolt, but first you get an attack of opportunity as it leaves your threatened area.
Silaigne: My swing is a total of 12.
Panther: Too slow again. You swing where the cat was. It runs, at top speed, 80 feet away and disappears behind a copse of trees.
GM: We're out of rounds, now, back into scenes.
Silaigne: The thing's wounded, badly, and probably not going to re-engage me. Normally, I'd track it, following the blood trail, but I have no time. I've got to get back to the village.
End of encounter.
(I rolled real dice as I was writing this encounter, not knowing where it was going to go. That didn't make for much stealth gaming, though.)