Let's say a character moves, turns invisible, and then takes a free action to drop prone. Is he now easier to hit or harder to hit for being prone?
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A prone defender gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.
Easier to hit in melee, harder to hit at range.
If you're dropping prone as a free action, it's going to be loud. I probably wouldn't even require a perception check to realize what happened.
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Let's say a character moves, turns invisible, and then takes a free action to drop prone. Is he now easier to hit or harder to hit for being prone?
Mechanically? The miss chance doesn't change, perception is unaffected, but hit rolls are modified as per being prone (+4 melee attack, -4 ranged attack).
GM might impose some circumstance penalties, but that would depend on the setting and how the actions are described/interpreted.
Does seem like voluntarily dropping prone after moving while invisible would be counter productive, as unseen mobility is one of the stronger points of the spell. Character will require a move action to get back up.
If you're dropping prone as a free action, it's going to be loud. I probably wouldn't even require a perception check to realize what happened.
I'd think that would depend on what you were wearing. Full plate, sure. But in just clothing, it's pretty easy to drop prone intentionally and make very little noise. And the extra noise is accounted for in the armor check penalty to Stealth.
If you're going to try to house rule in some realism, there's no end of things that could happen. Maybe you'll flatten a human-shaped section of carpet/foliage and give your location away. Maybe the attacker will tread on you by accident.
A prone defender gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.Easier to hit in melee, harder to hit at range.
And 50% miss chance either way.