Questions tagged [stealth]
For questions about the ability to remain undetected by other creatures, either by skill or special effect. (See also: the [concealment] tag.)
351
questions
2
votes
5
answers
371
views
How do I run stealth and perception? Passive perception vs active perception
I'm a new dm and I want to introduce some ambush style encounters in my game. I told my players recently that I will not ask them if they want to be steathly when moving around a dungeon because I ...
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does the Alert feature allow a character to automatically detect pickpockets?
The Alert feature states the following :
Always on the lookout for danger, you gain the following benefits:
You can't be surprised while you are conscious.
You gain a +5 bonus to initiative.
Other ...
14
votes
1
answer
968
views
Do you still need to perceive a hidden transformed creature before Truesight shows the creature for what it really is?
If a druid wildshapes he magically changes his physical appearance. Let's say he turns into a spider.
If he uses "pass without a trace" he gets flat +10 stealth.
If he then proceeds to cling ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What rolls would the party make to avoid being noticed/recognized?
My party currently is actively hiding from the law. To put it into context, they've murdered 4 civilians and about two dozen guards in their recent exploits. Reasonably, the various villages, towns ...
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How much light do psychic blades give off?
The description for a Soulknife's psychic blades says,
Also at 3rd level, You can manifest your psionic power as shimmering blades of psychic energy.
Are there similarly described items that have ...
19
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How can I showcase characters that aren't stealthy in a stealth-based mission?
I will soon be running the one-shots from Keys from the Golden Vault in order as a "campaign".
These missions are all set up like heists and, while they obviously favor stealth, I don't want ...
2
votes
0
answers
28
views
Hiding in combat in complete cover [duplicate]
We had a situation: Rogue broke line of sight to enemies by running around the corner in complete cover a round ago.
Next round, the enemies move closer, two engage melee fighters and two stop in the ...
4
votes
0
answers
61
views
How long does the hide action last? [duplicate]
Does the character's "action" take each round to maintain the ambush action used in the first turn?
This question arose as a consequence of the fact that every other "Action" is ...
18
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Is Gaseous Form + Invisibility + Nondetection such a powerful combo for scouting and infiltration? How can I make it more challenging for my players?
Some context: I'm a newbie DM running a campaign which requires the party to do a lot of scouting and infiltration missions. Especially in buildings. It's a city campaign happening in Waterdeep so I ...
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does a rogue attacking from behind a corner as a creature passes by have advantage?
Reading about the use of the Hide action in the PHB, and reading answers (1, 2, 3) on the topic had me wondering: if a rogue hiding behind a corner attacks a creature passing by with a melee weapon, ...
7
votes
2
answers
459
views
Does the Help Action reveal the location of a Hidden and Invisible creature?
Let's say I have a Pact of the Chain imp who is invisible and takes the Hide action to gain extra protection (harder to direct attack rolls to an unknown location). Then, he uses the Help action. Is ...
7
votes
3
answers
390
views
If my party is near a fortress, can they stealth past it?
I use D&D 5e at my table, and I want my party to sneak past a fortress of goblins behind arrow slits, and the arrow slits are shielding part of their vision. I'm a new Dungeon Master and I would ...
3
votes
0
answers
116
views
Is there a way to beat Blindsight? [duplicate]
Blindsight allows creatures to see invisible creatures (p. 183 PHB):
A creature with blindsight can perceive its surroundings without relying on sight, within a specific radius.
We are currently ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are there spells which cause hidden creatures to make a sound?
Inspired by this question about a homebrew spell, I was wondering if there are any official spells or abilities which cause either a target creature or creatures within an area to involuntarily make ...
19
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Can invisibility be countered by "ramming" the whole room with lots of conjured animals?
We're running Dragon Heist and having a quite dramatic encounter where a very important & powerful villain is trying to escape the sewers with 1 hp left.
The villain became invisible as the most ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What's the Perception DC to hear a creature dying from sneak attack?
I make a sneak attack against a lone target, with a spell or bow, killing the target in one hit.
How difficult is it for the target's allies in the next room to notice?
The Perception DC to hear the ...
6
votes
4
answers
977
views
False appearance and hiding mid combat
As per the title, I'm having a hard time to understand how these two abilities interact, more specifically in a case of a homebrewed monster that can blind creatures that failed a save. It goes as ...
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can a Gloom Stalker ranger continuously use Dread Ambusher if they knock-out or eliminate enemy after enemy, as long as it happens in one turn?
In D&D 5e, if a gloom stalker (ranger) is infiltrating somewhere while in stealth. Would it be possible for them to attack one enemy, potentially eliminate them, re-enter stealth and proceed to do ...
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
If a guard is "on guard", should the "Active Perception" be rolled by the guard, instead of the "Passive Perception"?
Say we have 2 veteran guards, standing inside a room in a mansion, guarding the guild's treasure. These guards are "on duty"/"on guard" 'cause their job is obviously to constantly ...
1
vote
6
answers
581
views
Casting long-casting-time spells undetected
The objective is to cast a long casting time spells like Tiny Hut or Private Sanctum that can give you a battlefield advantage.
For example Tiny Hut allows your team to have a position from which you ...
3
votes
1
answer
218
views
Are there any rules for using Stealth after attacking?
The 3E Stealth rules for hiding read as follows:
HIDING
If you have cover or concealment, make a Stealth check, opposed by an observer’s Perception check, to hide and go unnoticed.
If others are ...
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
In combat, does a hidden character lose half their speed?
Last session, my bard polymorphed a fellow party member into a T-Rex to fight another T-Rex. As concentration had to be kept, I made my bard take the hide action, which succeeded. My bard had no ...
4
votes
3
answers
470
views
Is Darkness an effective spell for making someone's approach less likely to be noticed in a dark environment?
While brainstorming ways to sneak up on someone, one idea was to go at night and cloak our infiltrator (who can see through magical darkness) with the Darkness spell. The expectation was that being ...
9
votes
1
answer
624
views
Does Nature's Mantle work with Pass Without Trace?
Nature's Mantle allows you to use the Hide action if you are lightly obscured.
While you are in an area that is lightly obscured, you can Hide as a
bonus action even if you are being directly ...
4
votes
1
answer
354
views
Casting scrolls while hiding?
How do you rule on a rogue that is invisible (superior invisibility), incorporeal, hiding in plain sight (sop) casting from scrolls?
Does he get penalties to hide?
Does the scroll emit lights which ...
1
vote
2
answers
273
views
Is it impossible to spot an invisible character from farther than 30 feet?
The Rule Compendium, page 76 (invisibility) introduces the concept that it is possible to spot an invisible character within 30 feet (with a spot check that would be minimum 20+20= DC40).
Does this ...
1
vote
0
answers
154
views
Does a rogue need to Hide after every attack of a full round attack ranged? [closed]
Based on the answer from KRyan to my previous question about full round attacks done by a rogue hiding in plain sight I know that the rogue needs to roll for hide after every melee attack. so if the ...
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
If a hidden Order of Scribes wizard uses the Manifest Mind feature to cast a spell with an attack roll from the spectral mind's space, what happens?
Say I'm playing an Order Of Scribes wizard with the Manifest Mind feature (TCoE, p. 77-78). My wizard has successfully hidden from an enemy. I've already used Manifest Mind to make my spectral mind ...
5
votes
1
answer
159
views
Are spot enhancements inferior to hide enhancements?
I have been searching ways (with spells and items) to enhance the spot check and ways to enhance the hide check (with spells and items). We have a PC in our campaign maxing out his spot and another ...
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What's the procedure for monsters/NPCs using stealth?
I've been GMing PF2e for a few months, but I still struggle with understanding stealth, especially when it comes to enemies.
An example from an upcoming dungeon I'm planning:
There's a room with an ...
3
votes
2
answers
935
views
Ways to become dazzled
The Dazzled Condition is quite useful for my rogue since if a creature is dazzled I am concealed. So I can make a Hide Action to become Hidden and so I can make a Sneak Attack. My question would be ...
2
votes
2
answers
276
views
How to spot a sneaky character that uses Hide in Plain sight + leaves no trace + has high "hide" ability
I see this question as the continuation to a previous question (best-ways-to-spot-sneaky-characters).
What are all the possible ways to spot an NPC or a player that has Hide in Plain sight (HiPs), ...
3
votes
1
answer
253
views
Hide in Plain sight (HiPs) - does it work if I cast light on myself?
Could a rogue with Hide in Plain sight (SP- e.g. shadowdancer) (HiPs) cast on themselves the spell light just to create shadows to hide in?
Reading "light and darkness" in the rule ...
1
vote
1
answer
147
views
Hide in Plain sights (HiPs)- is there any need to bluff or distract the observer?
Can a player with HiPs ignore the need to make a distraction or use bluff to avoid the observer having a clue on where they hide?
For example, at the start of their turn they declare to hide with HipS,...
5
votes
1
answer
363
views
Does a rogue need to Hide after every attack of a full attack action in melee?
After reviewing various topics (see below for reference) I was unable to find an answer.
A rogue shadowdancer approaches their target using Hips to hide, is now in front of the target. Attacks melee ...
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to detect an Unseen Servant?
Relevant parts of Unseen Servant spell:
This spell creates an invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends. The servant springs into ...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does casting Mislead within enemy eyesight reveal the illusion to be false?
When you cast Mislead, you become invisible while an image appears where you were standing. Invisibility causes you to be impossible to see without magical means, but it does not cause you to be ...
4
votes
1
answer
183
views
Stealth when blind
The blinded condition says:
The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength– and Dexterity-based skill ...
2
votes
1
answer
108
views
Can Ride be used to Push a mount/animal companion?
Suppose a mount does not know the Sneak trick. Could Ride be used to get the mount to use stealth? The specifics of the situation:
Character is a Goblin Hunter, Level 4 with a Wolf animal companion. ...
9
votes
4
answers
659
views
How do you handle Perception checks in different levels of obscurement?
How should you handle rolling for perception in areas with different levels of obscurement? E.g in darkness illuminated only by a torch (20ft bright light and 20ft dim light beyond that) or on a field ...
1
vote
0
answers
461
views
If you move into a lightly obscured area after hiding in a heavily obscured area, are you automatically seen? [duplicate]
Is there a rule in the game for how much obscurance you need to remain hidden once you are already hidden?
If I'm a Goblin in a pitch black cave, and I am fighting an Elf who has Darkvision, and I am ...
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How does eldritch blast interact with being hidden?
A level 5 goblin warlock moves behind a large tree and uses their bonus action to Hide. Their Stealth check beats the enemy's passive Perception. The hidden warlock then casts eldritch blast and rolls....
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What happens when an unnoticed creature rolls Stealth for initiative and fails the check?
Suppose the adventurer Alice is moving stealthily and using the Avoid Notice exploration activity, and then tries to sneak up on an enemy Bob. Alice rolls a Stealth check for initiative versus Bob's ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The Armorer artificer's Infiltrator Armor Model negates disadvantage on Stealth from armor; can you still gain advantage on the check by other means?
The Armorer artificer's Armor Model feature (TCoE, p. 16) lets you customize your Arcane Armor into the Infiltrator or Guardian armor models, each of which grants several benefits. The Infiltrator ...
3
votes
1
answer
640
views
Hiding with a Cloak of Elvenkind vs Faerie Fire
In a game, my PC hid using the cloak of elvenkind and the GM used Faerie Fire to expose me. Faerie Fire states that shimmering out line of an invisible creature is exposed. Will Faerie Fire expose you ...
6
votes
1
answer
370
views
How does Hunter's Bane work?
i am a new Pathfinder2E DM, and during my third session or so, the players received a Talisman called Hunter's Bane, copying from the AON:
Source Core Rulebook pg. 567 2.0
Activate: Free Action (...
19
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Can dim light be used to activate the wood elf's Mask of the Wild trait?
Because of a dispute with our DM, I'd like to confirm the following.
The wood elf's Mask of the Wild trait says:
You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain,...
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there any consequences to walking into a hidden enemy?
Suppose a PC is looking at an area of darkness that a foe has Hidden in. The PC would prefer not to guess the square the enemy is in and potentially waste their attack, so they decide to use their ...
31
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Should a sneaking group use group checks?
I always considered sneaking to be a per character check, because I have a hard time imagining a paladin in shiny, heavy and loud armor sneaking silently, just because a rogue with stealth expertise ...
6
votes
1
answer
381
views
Is there a way to Stealth but allow your allies to target you?
In my campaign, I recently acquired Legendary Sneak, meaning I do not need cover nor concealment to retain my Hidden and Undetected conditions when using Stealth. This has some excellent benefits ...