Ranged Attacks and Shadowdancer? (Pathfinder Society)

[Amir Hiram]

Shadowdancers get Hide in Plain Sight, which allows them to go POOF! so long as they are in dim light or in darkness. Stealth (described here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/stealth ) does not normally cost any action at all, but is instead part of a move action (and with the Swift Stealth rogue talent you can move at your full speed while being stealthy).

Here are the excerpts I wish to post I continue.

What Kind of Action is Stealth?

Spoiler:

Usually none. Normally, you make a Stealth check as part of movement, so it doesn't take a separate action. However, using Stealth immediately after a ranged attack (see Sniping, above) is a move action.

Hide in Plain Sight

Spoiler:

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.

Let's assume you're stealthed and are in dim or dark conditions (such as via the natural dim light of a torchlit cave or the effects of a Darkness spell). Let's also assume that there is an opponent within plausible Sneak Attack range and that this opponent has not detected your character. First...

1) If you take a full attack action this round, does only the first attack count as a sneak attack or do all the attacks count as a sneak attack?

2) In the next round, going by the definition of what sort of action Stealth is, can you use Stealth while standing still via Hide in Plain Sight and then make a second series of full attacks? What if you take a Five Foot Free Step?

If this is a plausible, in-the-rules setup that indeed works, would this make a decent start to a Sneak Attack focused character in Pathfinder Society? Clearly, you'd need to be Level 6 to make it work properly, but I figure a stealth-focused halfling rogue using Sniping actions (see Stealth) could manage alright until level 6, as could a Tiefling using Darkness and Blinding Sneak Attack.

This was inspired by another thread where Blinding Sneak Attack and the use of Darkness were brought up as possibilities for ranged rogues.

EDIT: And are there any good, solid ways to make up for the loss of SAD and BAB by taking that level of Shadowdancer? I'm assuming Rogue 11 / Shadowdancer 1 is the best way to go about this, unless a couple Fighter levels are dipped into for feats and higher BAB?

[Claxon]

Quote:

Stealth

(Dex; Armor Check Penalty)

You are skilled at avoiding detection, allowing you to slip past foes or strike from an unseen position. This skill covers hiding and moving silently.

Check: Your Stealth check is opposed by the Perception check of anyone who might notice you. Creatures that fail to beat your Stealth check are not aware of you and treat you as if you had concealment. You can move up to half your normal speed and use Stealth at no penalty. When moving at a speed greater than half but less than your normal speed, you take a –5 penalty. It's impossible to use Stealth while attacking, running, or charging.

Creatures gain a bonus or penalty on Stealth checks based on their size: Fine +16, Diminutive +12, Tiny +8, Small +4, Medium +0, Large -4, Huge -8, Gargantuan -12, Colossal -16.

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. While the others turn their attention from you, you can attempt a Stealth check if you can get to an unobserved place of some kind. This check, however, is made at a –10 penalty because you have to move fast.

Breaking Stealth: When you start your turn using Stealth, you can leave cover or concealment and remain unobserved as long as you succeed at a Stealth check and end your turn in cover or concealment. Your Stealth immediately ends after you make and attack roll, whether or not the attack is successful (except when sniping as noted below).

Sniping: If you've already successfully used Stealth at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack and then immediately use Stealth again. You take a –20 penalty on your Stealth check to maintain your obscured location.

Creating a Diversion to Hide: You can use Bluff to allow you to use Stealth. A successful Bluff check can give you the momentary diversion you need to attempt a Stealth check while people are aware of you.

Action: Usually none. Normally, you make a Stealth check as part of movement, so it doesn't take a separate action. However, using Stealth immediately after a ranged attack (see Sniping, above) is a move action.

Special: If you are invisible, you gain a +40 bonus on Stealth checks if you are immobile, or a +20 bonus on Stealth checks if you're moving.

If you have the Stealthy feat, you get a bonus on Stealth checks (see Feats).

So your first attack breaks stealth.

It has been argued but never officially resolved as to whether a 5ft step is sufficient to allow someone with HiPS to use stealth after a series of attacks to hide again. However, even if you can do so your attacks after the first do not benefit from stealth. Using this method you will not get a full sneak attack. It also requires you to be within 30ft to use sneak attack on a target.