Mesmerist + Hypnotic / Bold / Painful Stare: Does it work when the target -can't- see the Mesmerist?

[Alayern]

With the release of Ultimate Intrigue and particularly a spell within it, a question is thus raised:

Can a target that cannot observe the Mesmerist be affected by its "stare" class features?

From the hypnotic stare description:

Quote:

"The hypnotic stare is a psychic effect, and relies more on the mesmerist's focus than the target's perception of his stare."

and

Quote:

"The mesmerist can use this ability even while blinded, but must succeed at a DC 20 concentration check to do so."

indicate the mesmerist doesn't need to be perceived directly by the target, but how cut and dry is this relationship?

Can the Mesmerist use this while invisible? What about if they're under the effects of hidden presence? (Ultimate Intrigue 216)

[Ridiculon]

It depends on whether or not they count as gaze attacks i think? good question.

That first quote seems to indicate that the target does not have to be able to see the mesmerist, it acts more like a psychic wave of bad juju that just happens to originate from the mesmerist's eyes/brain.

[KingOfAnything]

Also,

Hypnotic Stare wrote:

It can't be avoided in the same ways a gaze attack can.

The mesmerist doesn't need to be perceived at all. However, Hypnotic Stare counts as an attack and would break either invisibility or hidden presence.

[Emageht]

Hypnotic stare does not require an attack roll, and does no damage. How is it considered an attack, ie would break invisibility?