Questions tagged [stealth]
For questions about the ability to remain undetected by other creatures, either by skill or special effect.
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Is a Perception Check against an Invisible Target made with Disadvantage?
Here's the scenario:
Creature A is invisible, in an empty room, in an arbitrary location in the room
The room is adequately lit (call it Bright Light, for the sake of argument)
Creature A is trying ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Do perception checks to locate Invisible / Hiding creatures auto fail? [duplicate]
The Invisibility condition states:
For the purpose of Hiding, the creature is heavily obscured.
Rules for The Environment state:
A heavily obscured area—such as Darkness, opaque fog, or dense ...
15
votes
6answers
1k views
What are the balance implications behind making invisible things auto-hide? [on hold]
This question was inspired by a comment on this question.
Normally when a 'thing' (Usually creature, but type in my games doesn't always mean as much as it should by RAW) turns invisible anyone ...
4
votes
2answers
220 views
In this scenario, how do I determine whether the enemies are surprised?
Being new to D&D and planning to do some DM'ing in the near future, I found myself struggling with "Surprise" in combat. To educate myself on this topic, I first want to understand the surprise ...
4
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2answers
1k views
Is the +10 Stealth bonus of the Pass without Trace spell in addition to a character's current Stealth bonus?
I know the pass without trace spell is strong, but it seems absolutely ridiculous if characters can add +10 to their already high Stealth bonus. For instance, with a Stealth bonus of +8 (which is ...
6
votes
1answer
128 views
Can Shadow Demons hide in melee combat to gain advantage on attacks?
Shadow Demons (MM, p. 64) have two abilities that seem to want to work in conjunction with each other:
Shadow Stealth - While in dim light or darkness, the demon can take the Hide action as a bonus ...
9
votes
3answers
271 views
Would being hidden grant advantage on both Bracers of Flying Daggers attacks?
Assuming that I'm using the Bracers of Flying Daggers magic item (from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, p. 190):
This armband appears to have thin daggers strapped to it. As an action, you can pull up to ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
Adding up the ability score? [duplicate]
D&D 5e If it says that I have a +7 to Stealth, do I add my Dexterity bonus (which is 3) plus my proficiency x 2 (which is 2x2 = 4) because of being an expert to it, or, is the + 7 just the number ...
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Is being unseen an equivalent to being hidden? [duplicate]
For example, if I am using a longbow, and my party is ~50ft in front of me, and I have made no actions other then getting up to a high point, am I able to shoot with advantage, and if so, can I use ...
3
votes
2answers
167 views
How should I adjudicate a player character's Wisdom (Perception) check against monsters lying in ambush?
Example: A fighter is concerned by the potential of ambush and scans the suspected area. For certain, there are goblins hiding in the thicket he suspects.
Should the DM have the fighter roll a ...
7
votes
2answers
198 views
If I'm invisible and use stealth, but the enemy has See Invisibility, what can I do without being detected?
I'm preparing for a large encounter in my campaign. Unfortunately, the DM likes to be a jerk to me when I try to do something spectacular, such as casting darkness over an area of enemies and then ...
8
votes
2answers
639 views
Is there anything in the rules giving Loxodons disadvantage on Stealth checks?
I'm curious if there is a ruling on this topic. Specifically the debate was over whether a Loxodon Way of the Shadow Monk could benefit from the massive stealth advantages and ninja-teleportation. ...
19
votes
2answers
779 views
How to Fairly and Consistently Handle Silent Sentry Removal / Assassinations / etc.?
The Situations
Fiction is full of moments when instead of facing an enemy head-on in an open Conflict, an attacker prefers a sneaky approach that, if fully successful, bypasses combat. Whether it's ...
4
votes
3answers
162 views
Does relocation/teleportation while hidden require a new Stealth check?
I've been looking around, and from what I understand, the Stealth rules seems to be kind of a sore point in D&D/Pathfinder systems.
What I'm getting at will require two separate questions (other ...
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4answers
3k views
Can scale mail be modified to remove disadvantage on Stealth checks?
One of my players in D&D 5e asked the Blacksmith if he could create some kind of small cushion to muffle the armor and not get disadvantage on stealth anymore. Is this possible? If so, how much ...
5
votes
4answers
420 views
Can a part of the group remain stealthy when combat starts?
A group of 4 PCs roll Dexterity (Stealth) checks. They sneak around and 3 of them get noticed by the enemy (because of line of sight or just bad Dexterity (Stealth) rolls). Combat starts, everyone ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
How does the Wood Elf's Mask of the Wild trait work, in terms of flavor?
Just a flavor question (with perhaps slight gameplay influence):
How does a wood elf use the Mask of the Wild trait to hide?
The wood elf's Mask of the Wild trait says:
You can attempt to hide ...
6
votes
1answer
296 views
Mechanics for one-shot (stealth) incapacitation [closed]
I feel like the rules of 5e (I'm not familiar with other editions) are really lacking in department of stealth opportunities.
I'm mostly talking about one shot kills, but not necessarily. Examples:
A ...
10
votes
2answers
832 views
Can my familiar hide in the same space as me?
Let's take an example:
I am standing with my cat familiar next to an enemy. It turns out that this enemy hates cats and want to attack it.
Can my familiar, without provoking opportunity attacks, ...
9
votes
1answer
510 views
If the party is hidden prior to attacking enemies, do they surprise the enemies and/or get advantage on their attacks?
Our adroit heroes tracked the goblins back to a small camp in the woods. Completely unaware of the threat around them, the goblins sit around a fire, easy prey to the hidden band of adventurers ...
6
votes
1answer
295 views
Do Sleight of Hand checks cover stealthiness?
The PHB and basic rules describe Sleight of Hand checks as follows:
Whenever you attempt an act of legerdemain or manual trickery, such as planting something on someone else or concealing an object ...
5
votes
2answers
227 views
How quiet is a creature that's not moving?
A typical adventurer in a breastplate and employing a heavy wooden shield suffers a −6 armor check penalty on appropriate skills, including the Move Silently skill.
But, with that in mind, what's the ...
4
votes
1answer
89 views
How do hidden enemies interact with the soft cover rules?
A pack of wolves are fleeing from the PCs, who are shooting at them with longbows from an entrenched position. One of the wolves is injured and has abandoned stealth in favor of a more rapid escape: ...
8
votes
1answer
224 views
When does a hidden opponent that is moving become visible?
Directly inspired by the question, When does a hidden opponent that is attacking become visible?.
From the Player's Handbook, page 194:
If you are hidden -- both unseen and unheard -- when you ...
4
votes
1answer
353 views
Is there a mechanic for an instant stealth kill?
I've read D&D 3.5 core books and haven't found anything useful in such a scenario - a player is approaching an unaware opponent (for instance with a dagger) and is trying to kill him by cutting ...
2
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2answers
223 views
Can a centaur move stealthily while someone rides on him?
Can a centaur (from Unearthed Arcana: Centaurs and Minotaurs) with a rider use Stealth/move stealthily?
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a lightfoot halfling use the ability to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed?
Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:
You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.
Can a lightfoot halfling use ...
31
votes
6answers
7k views
In a PvP arena, how can other characters deal with a Rogue with Expertise in Stealth?
I'm running an arena-style fight between a lot of PCs. It's now getting to the point that there are few enough PCs that they are beginning to take levels to counter one another.
One of the players ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Does a Hidden character who casts Booming Blade with the benefit of Subtle Spell metamagic get revealed?
A Sorcerer is hiding in a bush, giving them Cover, and last round, they used the Hide action to obscure their location. An unremarkable Orc is standing adjacent to the bush.
This round, the Sorcerer ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Do you need to be hidden to get advantage when attacking while unseen?
I always assumed you needed to be hidden to get advantage when attacking/disadvantage when being attacked, but after looking at the rules I'm fairly certain this is not the case. There's a chance I'm ...
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votes
3answers
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Having goblins hide every turn in Lost Mine of Phandelver
The following contains minor spoilers for LMoP.
I am preparing to DM my first-ever game, which is the published adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver. I'm looking at the very first encounter, the
I ...
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3answers
1k views
Can an Arcane Archer fighter use a Banishing Arrow to effectively get two surprise rounds?
The Arcane Archer fighter (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 28-30) gets a number of Arcane Shot options, allowing them to unleash special magical effects when they fire a longbow/shortbow. One of ...
3
votes
2answers
258 views
Does a dual-wielder get advantage on both attacks if hidden? [duplicate]
If my rogue attacks while hidden and dual-wielding shortswords, do I have advantage on both of my attacks (from Two-Weapon Fighting) or only on the first attack?
4
votes
3answers
555 views
Is there any need to roll for surprise when the enemy has no way to detect you?
Supposing my wizard has an owl familiar (120ft darkvision) and spots a band of enemies 120 feet away at night. If my wizard engages from a distance that they cannot possibly detect her from, is a ...
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7answers
2k views
Can a Stealth check ever be made passively?
The PHB, at p. 175, presents passive skill checks as a means to represent two different kinds of in-game scenarios:
Such a check can represent the average result for a task done repeatedly, such as ...
6
votes
2answers
425 views
How can I best narrate the position of an unhidden invisible skeleton?
While fighting through a wizard's tower, the party breaks into an unexplored storeroom to take cover from enemies down the corridor outside the room. Unbeknownst to them, there is an invisible ...
8
votes
2answers
839 views
What methods are there to cause a Blinded (but not Deafened) creature to lose track of my position?
The scenario.
I'm playing a level 3 Sorcerer, using the Shadow Sorcer Origin provided by Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Before combat began (or in the immediately previous round, if you like) I ...
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3answers
275 views
Does this Poltergeist's Telekinetic Thrust give away its location?
The Monster Manual's entry for the Specter (p. 279) includes the Poltergeist variant, which has the Telekinetic Thrust action. The part I'm considering is (emphasis mine):
If the target is an ...
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votes
3answers
473 views
If a hidden creature fails to surprise a character, is the creature still hidden?
If a hidden creature fails to surprise a character, is the creature still hidden?
For example, a goblin is hiding in some bushes, and a PC walks by. To determine surprise, the DM rolls for the goblin'...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Is hiding different when invisible than when behind total cover?
A character rolls stealth with advantage if he is invisible, because he can't be seen. Why doesn't a character get advantage for being behind total cover? The senses you rely on to detect the ...
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3answers
2k views
Controlling Spiritual Weapon while hidden
If my multi-classed Rogue(4)/Warlock(5) casts Spiritual Weapon, and then Hides...
Can he continue to control the Spiritual Weapon on his subsequent turns and remain Hidden? Or does attacking the ...
5
votes
3answers
407 views
Does hidden just mean unseen and unheard?
Exactly what "hidden" means in game is not completely obvious.
Hiding When you try to hide, make a Dexterity (Stealth) check. Until
you are discovered or you stop hiding, that check’s total is
...
0
votes
2answers
303 views
Does making an attack while Hidden reveal your position to a blind & deaf creature?
The rules on attacking creatures from hiding are:
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, ...
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3answers
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In combat, do creatures have complete knowledge of the locations of all other non-Hidden creatures in the combat?
In my question about Hiding I realised in the comments that I was resting on the following assumption:
In combat, every creature knows exactly (to the square) where every other creature in the ...
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votes
2answers
614 views
Can you Hide from some but not all enemies?
One of my players is asking if he can use Wall of Fire to block off the line of sight of enemy archers. The spell description says the wall is "opaque", so this seems like a valid thing to try.
...
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4answers
4k views
Can I see a Hidden creature that is not obscured at all?
Here is the scenario: I am the GM, and one of my players is a Sharpshooter Rogue. He likes to hide as a bonus action to gain advantage on his rolls, which effectively nullifies the -5 attack bonus on ...
9
votes
1answer
768 views
Does Pass without Trace and Wild Shape into Cranium Rat make you untraceable?
Pass without trace says:
A veil of shadows and silence
radiates from you, masking you and your companions from detection. For
the duration, each creature you choose within 30 feet of you
(...
27
votes
3answers
3k views
Does tremorsense see through Pass without Trace?
Scenario: The PCs have Pass without Trace active when they walk through a tunnel where an Umber Hulk has been waiting behind the wall in ambush for prey, using its tremorsense.
Question: Does the ...
9
votes
3answers
394 views
Is shadow blend as powerful as it seems?
The level 7 Dark Moon Disciple monk substitution level grants the monk—in exchange for the supernatural ability wholeness of body—the supernatural ability shadow blend that says
In any conditions ...
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11answers
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How do I allow the Rogue opportunities to be stealthy with a Druid in the party?
My party is currently level 6, and consists of a Halfling Rogue, Human Druid, Halfling Barbarian, and Half-Elf Monk. They're all excellent players who play tactically and know their class well. I'm ...
