| Vex313 |
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I am obviously late to this party, as I only encountered this issue today. I've read through the 460 messages and opinions and wanted to check to understand if I have this right.
Stealth(only part of the description that is relevant): If people are observing you using any of their senses (but typically sight), you can't use Stealth. Against most creatures, finding cover or concealment allows you to use Stealth. If your observers are momentarily distracted (such as by a Bluff check), you can attempt to use Stealth.
Hide in Plain Sight (Su): A shadowdancer can use the Stealth skill even while being observed. As long as she is within 10 feet of an area of dim light, a shadowdancer can hide herself from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind. She cannot, however, hide in her own shadow.
The way I understand it, is that I cannot enter a state of "stealthiness" unless I am unobserved. I also must be in concealment or cover to maintain my "stealthiness". Should I leave cover or concealment I will lose my "stealthiness" and be visible. If my stealth check is beaten by a perception check, I am no longer "steathed" for that creature.
Hide in Plain Sight only allows me to enter a state of "stealthiness" while being observed, as long as I am within 10' of dim light, but otherwise does nothing. Should my stealth check be beaten by a perception check, I am no longer "stealthed" for that creature.
Example: Mary is a SD and has a 10 ranks in stealth. Bob is a human and Bill is a dwarf, both have 10 ranks in perception.
Mary is being observed by both Bob and Bill and wants to hide. Normally she would have to distract them in order to hide, taking a -10 penalty to her stealth check to hide. She is standing in normal light but is 10' from dim light, so she instead uses her Hide in Plain Sight ability. She can now roll a stealth check to hide. Since you can make a stealth check while moving (up to half your speed) she can move before making the check, or stand still.
Option 1a (she stands still): She rolls a 10 on her stealth check for a total of 20. Bob rolls an 11 on his perception check for a total of 21. Bill rolls a 12 on his perception check for a total of 22. She has failed and is still seen by both of them.
Option 1b (she stands still): She rolls a 10 on her stealth check for a total of 20. Bob rolls an 11 on his perception check for a total of 21. Bill rolls a 9 on his perception check for a total of 19. Mary is now hidden from Bill, but is still visible to Bob.
Option 2 (she moves 10' into the dim light): She rolls a 10 on her stealth check for a total of 20. Bob rolls an 11 on his perception check for a total of 21. Because Bob is a human, dim light is an unfavorable condition to see in, he gets a -2 penalty to his perception check making his total 19. Bill rolls a 12 on his perception check for a total of 22. Because dwarves have darkvision (assuming Mary is still in range of it) dim light is not an unfavorable condition for him. His total remains at 22. Mary is now hidden from Bob, but not from Bill.
It seems to me that darkvision itself has nothing to do with the ability at all. Darkvision is only able to negate the unfavorable conditions caused by lighting within its range.