What exactly does Stealth do for you?

[RaizielDragon]

So, I realize that Stealth makes your opponent "unaware of you". What exactly does that mean?

I see in the surprise round rules that creatures unaware of their opponents don't get to act. What if it is the middle of combat and a creature is Stealthed. The opponents of that creature are therefore unaware of that creature. But where does it say the benefits of that, other than getting to act in a surprise round? There is no more surprise round, I assume, since the battle has already started, but isn't there some benefit?

Usually being "unaware" of your opponent means that opponents treats you as flat-footed; but that is only true during the surprise round, or in a round in which you have not acted.

I guess I'm just looking for where the added benefit is of Stealth during combat. I understand it let's you get the surprise round, and treat the opponent flat-footed then (though you only get one action, so good luck getting into melee with them).

[CriticalQuit]

If you manage to use Stealth in combat (by finding cover or concealment and successfully making a stealth check) you are successfully hidden again. This makes enemies unaware of where you are, and they must find you again (with Perception) to attack you. It also allows you to treat the enemy you've successfully hidden from with a flat-footed attack, which also gains sneak attack if you are a rogue.

You could also use stealth to sneak away from a battlefield, though the slow speed of stealth would make it hard to elude enemies that try to chase you unless you can find a good hiding spot or get to a crowded or otherwise good area to make a break for it.

[snobi]

It can help you snipe.

[blackbloodtroll]

Depends on how good at Stealth you are.

You can, with investment, hide from everything, in Normal Light, Bright Light, Low Light, Darkness, even while being observed and without cover or concealment, from Scent, Blindsight, Blindsense, Tremorsense, and all without casting any spells, in combat.

[RaizielDragon]

What rule exactly says that an opponent who is unaware of you (such as from you being Stealthed) is treated as flat-footed?

[Abyssian]

RaizielDragon wrote:

So, I realize that Stealth makes your opponent "unaware of you". What exactly does that mean?

I see in the surprise round rules that creatures unaware of their opponents don't get to act. What if it is the middle of combat and a creature is Stealthed.

To understand it better, I recommend taking "stealth" out of your vocabulary as a verb, and "stealthed" out as an adjective. Consider the Climb or Swim skill. You incur penalties while "climbed?" No. You incur penalties while climbing.

Imagine hiding behind a tree. Now roll a d20. I'll roll one, too. If your die plus modifier (your Stealth roll) is greater than my die plus modifier (my Perception roll), you have hidden behind the tree well enough that I didn't notice you. If my value is greater, I noticed you.

[Scavion]

RaizielDragon wrote:

What rule exactly says that an opponent who is unaware of you (such as from you being Stealthed) is treated as flat-footed?

Core Rulebook 5th Printing wrote:

Creatures that fail to beat your Stealth check are not aware of you and treat you as if you had total concealment.

This also needs to be updated on the SRD.

[RaizielDragon]

Ok, so Stealth provides Total Concealment. Total Concealment doesn't say that opponents are considered flat-footed from what I can tell.

[Xanzal]

I believe it's stated more plainly somewhere, though I can't find it at this time, but this is a more round about way to come to that conclusion.

Total Concealment wrote:

If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight, he is considered to have total concealment from you.

Armor Class wrote:

Sometimes you can't use your Dexterity bonus (if you have one). If you can't react to a blow, you can't use your Dexterity bonus to AC.

So, if Stealth provides total concealment, they cannot see you. If they cannot see you, they cannot react to the blow. If they cannot react to the blow, they cannot use their Dexterity bonus to their AC. This is identical to the effects being Flat-Footed.

Again, I believe it's stated more plainly elsewhere, but the intent seems clear. If you are hidden, opponents cannot use their dexterity bonus to their AC.

[Scavion]

That and the Devs have explicitly stated that they intend for Stealth to grant Sneak Attacks.