Rouge sneak attacking from hidden place during combat

[Torek-the-GM]

So my question is as a GM for a campaign i am currently running regarding rules for flat-footed and sneak attack.
Let's say there are 3 playeres. A human fighter, a halfling rouge and a cleric something.

They stumble across 3 orcs attacking a farmer 60 feet away. That is too far for the rouge to reach during the surprise round from their current hiding place. The fighter steps forward (15 feet or so) and attract the attention from the orcs, drawing them away from their pray. Initiative is rolled. The fighter stays in place doing a ready action or something. The orcs attack the fighter and NOW comes the question. Since this is after initiative, they are technically not flatt footed. But if the rouge has not been spotted, and now charge and damage one of the orcs that is attacking the fighter (never mind flanking) will the rouge gets sneak attack since they were technically not aware of the rouge?

Thanks in advance for all the knowledge and wisdom.

[FractalLaw]

The rogue needs to make a stealth check when they move up. If they aren't spotted by their target during the move then they can attack once and get a sneak attack.

[Torek-the-GM]

FractalLaw wrote:

The rogue needs to make a stealth check when they move up. If they aren't spotted by their target during the move then they can attack once and get a sneak attack.

Thank you. Just to be clear. Since he has in this case to move 15 feet to hit the orc. As a Halfling that is charging/ moving more than his half speed on the charge he takes a -5 on the stealth check. Are there any other things that makes him easily spotted since he essentially comes from a hiding place that is in their line of sight?

[Jurassic Pratt]

Everyone is Flatfooted at the beginning of combat up until the first time they act in initiative. So the rogue gets sneak attack if he acted before the orc did.

[Torek-the-GM]

Jurassic Pratt wrote:

Everyone is Flatfooted at the beginning of combat up until the first time they act in initiative. So the rogue gets sneak attack if he acted before the orc did.

I thank you for replying but that was not the question. Just to be clear this is a question regarding the scenario described above.

[Blymurkla]

Torek-the-GM wrote:

FractalLaw wrote:

The rogue needs to make a stealth check when they move up. If they aren't spotted by their target during the move then they can attack once and get a sneak attack.

Thank you. Just to be clear. Since he has in this case to move 15 feet to hit the orc. As a Halfling that is charging/ moving more than his half speed on the charge he takes a -5 on the stealth check. Are there any other things that makes him easily spotted since he essentially comes from a hiding place that is in their line of sight?

Always remember that the rules for Stealth is a stinking pile of garbage that doesn't really work. With that in mind:

You can't charge and use Stealth at the same time (barring some special ability that allows you to do that). The hafling has to settle for moving up to his intended target with a normal Move action (incurring the –5 if that move is more than half his speed).

I don't think that there's much else that's worth consideration. If the hafling hid behind something granting cover such as a low wall and the orcs move so that the hafling no longer has cover from them, the GM (you?) might rule that the orcs automatically spots the hafling. But as far as I know, there's no rule that states you can't Stealth around out in the open as long as you started with cover or concealment.

[Torek-the-GM]

Blymurkla wrote:

Torek-the-GM wrote:

FractalLaw wrote:

The rogue needs to make a stealth check when they move up. If they aren't spotted by their target during the move then they can attack once and get a sneak attack.

Thank you. Just to be clear. Since he has in this case to move 15 feet to hit the orc. As a Halfling that is charging/ moving more than his half speed on the charge he takes a -5 on the stealth check. Are there any other things that makes him easily spotted since he essentially comes from a hiding place that is in their line of sight?

Always remember that the rules for Stealth is a stinking pile of garbage that doesn't really work. With that in mind:

You can't charge and use Stealth at the same time (barring some special ability that allows you to do that). The hafling has to settle for moving up to his intended target with a normal Move action (incurring the –5 if that move is more than half his speed).

I don't think that comes into play. If the hafling hid behind something granting cover such as a low wall and the orcs move so that the hafling no longer has cover from them, the GM (you?) might rule that the orcs automatically spots the hafling. But as far as I know, there's no rule that states you can't Stealth around out in the open as long as you started with cover or concealment.

I thank you for your input. i actually have though a ruling on the subject for the upcoming sessions. But thanks again for your reply.

[Ciaran Barnes]

Rouge is a kind of cosmetic make up. The word you are wanting is rogue.

[Curghann]

@CB - Thank you! That was killing me.