Stealth, Hiding, and Sneaking

[Benboz]

I've been researching the mechanics of the stealth skill, and I have a fair amount of uncertainty about how the rules work. I do society play, so this is frustrating, because it's hard to have confidence that a build will function consistently with different GM's. So I suggest the following:

In the skill description, the Stealth functions of "Sneaking" (meaning avoiding detection while taking actions) and "Hiding" (meaning avoiding detection by obscuring location) could be divided into distinct sections.

It's challenging to understand how factors like cover vs total cover, invisibility, scent, light level, ambient noise, etc. affect these two separate functions when they're lumped together.

On the other hand, I definitely like getting them both by training up a single skill, so I'm not suggesting separate skills. But it would be great if Stealth could be more like Acrobatics, and the way leaping and tumbling are separated there.

[Benboz]

I wish I could be more specific, but my brain is melted from trying to decipher the core rulebook and several exhaustive rules question threads on this topic.

[Benboz]

OK, it's starting to congeal now...

An example of confusion around sneaking: Sneak Attack. The book seems to say Stealth can't be used for attacking. But on the message boards it sounds more like you can, but only the first attack gets Sneak Attack bonus damage.

An example of confusion about hiding: Hide in Plain Sight. The book seems to say it can't be used for hiding at all, rather for sneaking to an area of concealment or cover when someone is watching. But on the message boards it sounds like you can use this to remain concealed after your turn without cover or concealment.

I feel like treating sneaking and hiding separately in the skill description might help with clarity.

[Cyrad]

The Stealth rules are pretty broken, stupid, and confusing, But here's how they work:

1) The game considers any creature that has unobstructed line of sight to you as "observing" you. You cannot use Stealth while observed.

2) To use Stealth, you must begin and end your turn having cover or concealment. You can't use Stealth if you don't have it and you break Stealth if you end your turn without it.

3) The Stealth rules also have some special provisions for sniping and using Bluff to distract enemies.

So basically, you can't use Stealth in combat unless you're fighting in dim light or use invisibility magic.