I will be running the final confrontation with Zenith Splintershield this weekend and would like some advise from this august body on running the Invisible Stalkers. I will be increasing the number of stalkers from 1 to 2 or possibly 3 due to the size of the group. I don't have much experience running permanently invisible foes and I don't have any of the books with me here at the office, but I understand that to hit the IS, the PC must first, take a guess on where it is, second roll a percentage die due to concealment (50% miss chance) and third, roll to hit at a -4 due to the creature being invisible. Is this correct?
Thanks for the help!
DM Dave
I understand that to hit the IS, the PC must first, take a guess on where it is, second roll a percentage die due to concealment (50% miss chance) and third, roll to hit at a -4 due to the creature being invisible. Is this correct?
You are correct except for the -4 to hit. Here's other important information from the SRD:
"The ability to move about unseen is not foolproof. While they can't be seen, invisible creatures can be heard, smelled, or felt.
Invisibility makes a creature undetectable by vision, including darkvision.
Invisibility does not, by itself, make a creature immune to critical hits, but it does make the creature immune to extra damage from being a ranger's favored enemy and from sneak attacks.
A creature can generally notice the presence of an active invisible creature within 30 feet with a DC 20 Spot check. The observer gains a hunch that "something's there" but can't see it or target it accurately with an attack. A creature who is holding still is very hard to notice (DC 30). An inanimate object, an unliving creature holding still, or a completely immobile creature is even harder to spot (DC 40). It's practically impossible (+20 DC) to pinpoint an invisible creature's location with a Spot check, and even if a character succeeds on such a check, the invisible creature still benefits from total concealment (50% miss chance).
A creature can use hearing to find an invisible creature. A character can make a Listen check for this purpose as a free action each round. A Listen check result at least equal to the invisible creature's Move Silently check result reveals its presence. (A creature with no ranks in Move Silently makes a Move Silently check as a Dexterity check to which an armor check penalty applies.) A successful check lets a character hear an invisible creature "over there somewhere." It's practically impossible to pinpoint the location of an invisible creature. A Listen check that beats the DC by 20 pinpoints the invisible creature's location.
Listen Check DCs to Detect Invisible Creatures
Invisible Creature Is . . . DC
In combat or speaking 0
Moving at half speed Move Silently check result
Moving at full speed Move Silently check result -4
Running or charging Move Silently check result -20
Some distance away +1 per 10 feet
Behind an obstacle (door) +5
Behind an obstacle (stone wall) +15
A creature can grope about to find an invisible creature. A character can make a touch attack with his hands or a weapon into two adjacent 5-foot squares using a standard action. If an invisible target is in the designated area, there is a 50% miss chance on the touch attack. If successful, the groping character deals no damage but has successfully pinpointed the invisible creature's current location. (If the invisible creature moves, its location, obviously, is once again unknown.)
If an invisible creature strikes a character, the character struck still knows the location of the creature that struck him (until, of course, the invisible creature moves). The only exception is if the invisible creature has a reach greater than 5 feet. In this case, the struck character knows the general location of the creature but has not pinpointed the exact location.
If a character tries to attack an invisible creature whose location he has pinpointed, he attacks normally, but the invisible creature still benefits from full concealment (and thus a 50% miss chance). A particularly large and slow creature might get a smaller miss chance.
If a character tries to attack an invisible creature whose location he has not pinpointed, have the player choose the space where the character will direct the attack. If the invisible creature is there, conduct the attack normally. If the enemy's not there, roll the miss chance as if it were there, don't let the player see the result, and tell him that the character has missed. That way the player doesn't know whether the attack missed because the enemy's not there or because you successfully rolled the miss chance.
If an invisible character picks up a visible object, the object remains visible. One could coat an invisible object with flour to at least keep track of its position (until the flour fell off or blew away). An invisible creature can pick up a small visible item and hide it on his person (tucked in a pocket or behind a cloak) and render it effectively invisible.
Invisible creatures leave tracks. They can be tracked normally. Footprints in sand, mud, or other soft surfaces can give enemies clues to an invisible creature's location.
An invisible creature in the water displaces water, revealing its location. The invisible creature, however, is still hard to see and benefits from concealment.
A creature with the scent ability can detect an invisible creature as it would a visible one.
A creature with the Blind-Fight feat has a better chance to hit an invisible creature. Roll the miss chance twice, and he misses only if both rolls indicate a miss. (Alternatively, make one 25% miss chance roll rather than two 50% miss chance rolls.)
A creature with blindsight can attack (and otherwise interact with) creatures regardless of invisibility.
An invisible burning torch still gives off light, as does an invisible object with a light spell (or similar spell) cast upon it.
Ethereal creatures are invisible. Since ethereal creatures are not materially present, Spot checks, Listen checks, Scent, Blind-Fight, and blindsight don't help locate them. Incorporeal creatures are often invisible. Scent, Blind-Fight, and blindsight don't help creatures find or attack invisible, incorporeal creatures, but Spot checks and possibly Listen checks can help.
Invisible creatures cannot use gaze attacks.
Invisibility does not thwart detect spells.
Since some creatures can detect or even see invisible creatures, it is helpful to be able to hide even when invisible."
Nice job on quoting the SRD there Derek :-)
Don't forget that if you can't see your attacker, you do not benefit from your dex bonus to AC. The attacker also gets a +2 bonus on attacks against you.
Here's one thing I've never quite figured out with invisible creatures.
If something is naturally invisible, (Invisible Stalker, and Hellcat, I think are the two that come to mind), what is seen when someone has True Seeing or See Invisibility up? Just an outline? Do the invisible creatures actually have coloration that just can't normally be seen?
I'm curious what others think. It's not a huge deal in any case (especially for the combat in question, I believe), but it's something that's always made me curious.
Nice job on quoting the SRD there Derek :-)
The SRD. Don't leave home without it. :)
swearls of smokey clowd... not sure why but i remeber reading that somewhere
Here's one thing I've never quite figured out with invisible creatures.
If something is naturally invisible, (Invisible Stalker, and Hellcat, I think are the two that come to mind), what is seen when someone has True Seeing or See Invisibility up? Just an outline? Do the invisible creatures actually have coloration that just can't normally be seen?
I'm curious what others think. It's not a huge deal in any case (especially for the combat in question, I believe), but it's something that's always made me curious.
Depends on the invisible creature, really. In the case of the invisible stalker, see invisibility shows a dim oultine of a cloud and true seeing reveals a roiling cloud of vapor.
You could probably describe an invisible will-o'-wisp as a spherical outline. A hellcat, also an outline of the creature.
Unless the creature description acutually describes what you would see if you could see the invisible creature using spells and such, it's safe to assume that you would detect the creature's outline.
The SRD. Don't leave home without it. :)
Dumb question- What is the SRD?
Thanks for the tips by the way!DM Dave
Dumb question- What is the SRD?
Thanks for the tips by the way!
DM Dave
Dave, don't tell me you've never seen the System Reference Document? It's an overview of all the core d20 rules. It's online, free and a bible for rule-lawyers and DM's alike.
allow me to introduce you to the wonderfull world of online SRD goodness. Jus follow this link
SRD
Dave, don't tell me you've never seen the System Reference Document? It's an overview of all the core d20 rules. It's online, free and a bible for rule-lawyers and DM's alike.
allow me to introduce you to the wonderfull world of online SRD goodness. Jus follow this link
SRD
Ah, but the REAL rules-lawyer will have the offline searchable 3.5 SRD by Andargor installed on his lap-top for instant DM-smacking.
Ah, but the REAL rules-lawyer will have the offline searchable 3.5 SRD by Andargor installed on his lap-top for instant DM-smacking.
{klick}{download}{done}
erhm. Right. I mean...
Let's take it easy shall we. Offline Searchable Monster Images.. what will they think of next...
Excellent! Smithers, you've outdone yourself!
DM Dave
You know, I seem to recall that there was a scroll or other magic item in Bhal Hamatung that would allow a PC to either see invisible or to cast invisibility purge. Looking through the module, I can't seem to find it anywhere, though.
I'm thinking of planting a scroll of invisibility pruge on Mangh if I can't find the original location.
You know, I seem to recall that there was a scroll or other magic item in Bhal Hamatung that would allow a PC to either see invisible or to cast invisibility purge. Looking through the module, I can't seem to find it anywhere, though.
I'm thinking of planting a scroll of invisibility pruge on Mangh if I can't find the original location.
If I'm not mistaken, it is either in the Black Dragon's loot or in Mangh's loot (the oh so fun exploding jars). In my campaign, it got blown up.
DM Dave