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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 7214645" data-attributes="member: 6801845">I agree with most of what you said.I also agree with Something I do in my campaign is allow stealth in combat if someone is sufficiently occupied.  So if the half-orc barbarian is trying to smash in some poor guard's face with a maul, the guard may not notice the thief sneaking up behind him until it's too late.However, hiding also has to be reasonable.  If that thief tries the same trick on the same guard the next round, the guard is watching for him.In addition, if the enemy sees you walk behind a lone tree they know approximately where you are and it doesn't matter what your stealth check is.Distance and other environmental factors can also be an overlooked feature.  In general the farther away you are the harder you are to see.  Sound can also make a difference - you're less likely to notice someone if relying on sight alone.Perceiving invisible creatures can be one of the tougher to adjudicate.  Someone flying invisibly over a market square is going to be darn near undetectable while someone walking through freshly fallen snow may be easily noticed.Many times I give free stealth checks with advantage/disadvantage if I think it's appropriate and may even in some cases apply disadvantage to the observer's passive perception. Not strictly by the book, but it makes for more fund and more tense moments.Recently in a game the PCs were trying to pass by some giant guards while flying and invisible.  It should be noted that the giants had fairly high passive perceptions.  The party had came through a portal, so the giants had noticed some odd ripples in the portal, but didn't know exactly what had happened.  I then had the party make stealth checks with advantage.  They were actively trying to be stealthy, so the giants were at disadvantage.The wizard rolled poorly so the giants were now fully alert.  A second stealth roll with advantage by the wizard?  Double ones.  I ruled that the poor wizard was so worried about being seen he accidentally ran into and knocked over a brazier and was temporarily covered in soot.  Time for initiative.The point here is that I decided that since the guards were competent, there was a chance (a very small one I thought) to notice the group coming through the portal so I did a mini skill challenge.Was it the right call by the book? Heck if I know.  But it was fun for the group, so it was all good.</blockquote>

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