I've some questions regarding the use of stealth in combat. The rules allow you to make stealth checks as soon as long as you are within concealment. Would this mean that a rogue could move out of a bush, hit someone with spring attack, and then head right back into the bush, rolling a new stealth check?
Another thing I've wondered is that it states you need cover or concealment to be able to use stealth, but in above mentioned example, would the enemy be considered flatfooted against any attack if the rogue moves out of the bush on them? Or do you NEED to use a ranged weapon to get sneak attack out of stealth, provided your enemy does not walk up right next to you?
As written, you lose stealth the moment you step out of concealment, which means that you need them to wander right up to you to get your sneak attack. The blog posted a potential rules rewrite which fixed this severe weakness in stealth a few weeks ago, but I don't believe there is anything official yet.
You can make a new stealth check provided you are not being observed. Once you have been spotted (by doing something like stabbing a dude), that means that you need total cover or concealment, not just partial in order to re initiate stealth. The exception is sniping, which lets you fire a ranged weapon from stealth and immediately make a new stealth check at -20 in order to remain hidden.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
As written, you lose stealth the moment you step out of concealment, which means that you need them to wander right up to you to get your sneak attack. The blog posted a potential rules rewrite which fixed this severe weakness in stealth a few weeks ago, but I don't believe there is anything official yet.
Note that after pages and pages of discussion (and even some at-home playtesting from a few posters), it was announced that a second draft - addressing ideas/concerns/questions from the first draft - was being written and passed around the Paizo offices for review. They plan to post this second draft of the re-write on the blog just as they did the first, and allegedly soon (I wouldn't be surprised to see it next week).
So keep an eye on the Paizo blog!
Well, it seems quite poor that you can't lunge out of stealth and get the drop on someone. Surely enemies should be considered flatfooted if you charge someone out of stealth?
Actually, the writing says: "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. " Doesn't say you need total concealment or full cover to do stealth. Although it is sort of silly that you could hide behind a friend(and get a cover bonus) and thus stealth, hiding in his shadow. So something definitely up for DMs discretion there.
I've been running with that so far, just wanted to see what the RAW said, but it seems to say very little. Will keep my eyes on the blog though.
Stealth (or Concealment from Stealth) , in the current RAW, does not make your opponent lose his dex. Thus, stealth, under the current rules , can never give you Sneak attack. Only Invisibility or blindness makes a foe lose his dex bonus.
Now sure, in a recent blog, they are talking about re-doing stealth so that it gives a sort of limited invisibility, and thus can be used for Sneak attack.
But under the current RAW, it does not. Ever.
(Well, yes, you can use Stealth to get yourself into a flanking position, but ....)
In 3.5 they had a burried RAI that someone attacking from stealth was effectively invisible. Neither the 3.5 nor the pathfinder rules spelled this out.