Alright all, help me settle a long-held debate that I've had with a friend of mine.
Scenario:
A stealth-spec rogue takes on gun training and attempts to sneak attack with the gun. How BLOWN is the rogue's cover? Can the rogue return to stealth via normal ranged attack rolls?
My argument: Yes, because there IS NO MENTION OF IT ANYWHERE IN THE TEXT!
His argument: The pistol cannot be silenced, therefore, the loud-ass BLAM of the pistol would INSTANTLY give away your position and you canNOT re-stealth.
Who's right?
I would agree with you. The rogue should have a chance to return to stealth using the usual RAW.
Rogue is likely within 30' of the target (barring any special builds that can extend sneak attack range).
In an enclosed area, that pistol shot is going to reverberate all over the room - you aren't going to accurately echo locate it (there is a reason you wear ear protection at the gun range...).
Both inside and outside, I would say you'd be able to determine maybe what compass direction the shot(s) came from, but it's more likely you'll be able to do that based on where the bullet hits (your back, front, side, etc).
I'd just go with RAW for sneak attacks - whether its the twang of a bow, the snap of a crossbow or the report of a gunshot, mechanically I'd treat them all the same.
The loud report of the firearm is not covered by game mechanics. While it would aid in pinpointing the character, the character can again find cover and stealth again. As long as you aren't being observed you can stealth. You could know, beyond a doubt, the Rogue is behind that wall, but unless you can see our hear him, or observe him in some other way, he may make a stealth check.
you aren't going to accurately echo locate it (there is a reason you wear ear protection at the gun range...)
Yes, there is, but it's not to prevent you from locating the source of the gunshot.
To answer the OP, you have to understand what Sniping does.
Never in the history of the real world or in the history of Golarion has a sniper been able to shoot someone with any weapon known to man in such a way that the person cannot know that he's been shot (assuming dead counts as knowing). His friends know he's been shot too, unless they cannot see the guy who was shot.
In other words, when you make the attack with any weapon, the victim(s) know the attack has happened. Weird corner cases where you make a silent attack and kill a lone target with nobody else around to see or otherwise observe his death are the only exception. If the target survives the attack, or if he has friends that suddenly see a wound appear, blood and brains splatter, etc., then EVERYBODY knows there is a sniper.
That's how it works in Pathfinder. You shoot the guy, he yells "Ouch!", and everyone starts looking for you. Or maybe he falls over dead and his friends see him die and they all start looking for you. Etc.
You might make your Sniping stealth roll with the -20 to maintain your stealth, but that does NOT make them forget that you are there - they all still know you're out there somewhere, they simply don't know where.
This is all true, even if your attack is a noisy gun. A quiet arrow still makes some noise in flight, and if you shot Bob in the back, then everyone is going to look for you in a direction behind Bob, not in front of Bob. Etc. Your noisy gun doesn't change any of that - they're still looking for you behind Bob, and you might have successfully remained hidden so they don't know exactly where you are.
Awesome :D If this comes up again with that friend I will definitely lead him here *finger pyramid of evil contemplation*
THANKS ALL!