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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Xetheral" data-source="post: 7219104" data-attributes="member: 6802765">I deem circumstances appropriate for hiding whenever I would call for a (likely Passive) Perception check to perceive (i.e. see or hear, occasionally other senses) a creature who isn't hiding. A creature in such circumstances who takes an action to hide replaces the Perception DC with the result of their Stealth check (absent unusual circumstances, the original DC is effectively a floor on the result of the Stealth check). Additonally, I always deem circumstances as appropriate for hiding if the conditions of a special ability are met.The basic idea behind my approach is that when there is no question that a creature is seen or heard (e.g. unobstructed view, sufficiently close range, noiseless environment, lack of distractions, etc.), then (absent a special ability) there is no possible method by which to conceal oneself, so hiding is useless.Similarly, if there is no question that that a creature is NOT seen or heard (e.g. totally obstructed view, extreme range, loud environment, all-consuming distraction) hiding is pointless because the would-be hider won't be perceived anyway.In the middle ground, when the perceiving is uncertain (and thus a check is warranted) where one's skill at hiding has a chance to make a difference. Therefore, those are the circumstances I deem appropriate for hiding.I know my approach is somewhat idiosyncratic, but I find it works well and is easily explainable to both new and experienced players. Its largest downside is the potential for setting different base Perception DCs in similar situations, so it requires a little extra thought to make sure I'm staying reasonably consistent.(Note that I do not interpret the rule about creatures being alert in combat as implying auto-detection of everythig not-hidden. Also, being unperceived in my approach does not preclude an enemy knowing or deducing one's location.)</blockquote>

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