Ok, I've been digging through the stealth and combat threads for roughly three hours and I only have a couple questions. First, is there a difference between a target you don't see and an invisible target? Mechanically speaking, I mean.
Second, when fighting under concealment (not in plain sight) is there any reason I can't move and roll stealth? (For example, in an area of Darkness or Obscuring Mist/Fog Cloud)
Hopefully stirring this pot doesn't get me burned at the stake...
First, is there a difference between a target you don't see and an invisible target?
DM's call. By how i think its intended to work and how I run it is no difference. Strictly raw, there is nothing in stealth that technically enables you to deny an opponent their dex bonus except by getting a surprise round on them.
Scenario 1:
Kobold Rogue 1 is hiding behind a barrel. Sir Oblivious merrily walks through the dungeon with his spot check of -6. Kobold pops out and stabs him. Surprise round. Sneak attack.
Scenario 2" Kobold rogue is hiding behind a barrel. There is a dire rat in middle the room eating a peice of cheese.
Sir oblivious begins combat and is not surprised by the rat. He advances, swings and misses. He is no longer flat footed.
The kobold pops out from behind the barrel.... mechanically he's not sneak attacked. Stealth doesn't grant invisibility, and he's not flat footed because he's surprised. This isn't how I do it, but you could justify it by raw.
Mechanically speaking, I mean.
Second, when fighting under concealment (not in plain sight) is there any reason I can't move and roll stealth? (For example, in an area of Darkness or Obscuring Mist/Fog Cloud)
Hopefully stirring this pot doesn't get me burned at the stake...
If no one is looking at you YET you can start hiding.
If people are already looking at you you can't hide. Its like a magic eye picture: once you see it you can't unsee it.
*hands over asbestos jammies*
There is difference between being hidden and invisible - invisibility grants +20/+40 bonus to Stealth checks leading to greater chance of being unnoticed than normal hiding.
Paizo Stealth Blog, part II clarifing some ideas and RAI about Stealth.
Paizo Stealth Blog, part II clarifing some ideas and RAI about Stealth.
I hadn't seen that yet, thanks. That pretty well clears it up.
Paizo Stealth Blog, part II clarifing some ideas and RAI about Stealth.I hadn't seen that yet, thanks. That pretty well clears it up.
Keep in mind thats a playtest for new rules. I think most of that is how they always intended stealth to work but it really wasn't comming out in the raw.