Stealth: Found By Accident?

[Deylinarr]

First time GM here, wanted to pose this scenario to the Collective to get your thoughts....

A rogue is being chased through the forest by a fighter. The rogue comes to an area where the canopy is thicker (ie, 'dim light') and there are many rock formations. He thinks it looks like a great place to hide. He rolls a decent Stealth check and waits.

The fighter comes through and fails her perception check to beat the rogue's stealth. But in true fighter fashion, decides to keep walking forward looking for him anyway (move action). The fighter walks right into the rogue's square.

A) in this scenario, would the fighter still be able to use her standard action to make an attack? She was truly unaware of her opponent right up until the moment they bumped into each other. Is it still a normal round or some weird surprise round type situation within the normal flow of combat?

B) if the fighter had walked near the rogue's square and the rogue took an AOO, does the fighter now have the chance to finish their move action and make an attack on the rogue?

Thank in advance for the assistance!

[Jakkedin]

A) The fighter only knows that their progress is impeded. So their options are to continuing their move but into another square, use their standard action to attempt a perception check to determine why they cannot continue, and use their standard action in another way. This could include using other skills, attacking blindly into that square (and all the ramifications involved), casting spells or using items. No surprise round. If the rogue has a readied action and since the fighter failed his perception check vs the rogue's stealth, the fighter is flat-footed and the rogue gets sneak attack. And if the fighter provokes, he is flatfooted as well. Unless stealth is broken somehow.

B) Yes the fighter could continue their move, and yes, they could attack the rogue.

[Zarius]

If they aren't in active combat, the rogue CAN let him pass through his square unhindered. In fact, he could do that anyways, but most people would take an AoO to try to gank said fighter.

[Diego Rossi]

The rogue has two chances to make a sneak attack as an AoO (but can make only one as attacking break stealth):
- when the fighter leave the previous square too enter the rogue square;
- when the fighter try entering his square.

If he decide not to take any of the AoO,the fighter get a free perception check: "Action: Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus." (almost bumping into the rouge is a stimulus). I would give a perception bonus to the fighter as the rogue will have to accommodate his stance and position to let him pass unhindered.

If even after that the fighter has failed into detecting the rogue, he will continue to move without noticing anything.

PRD wrote:

Friend: You can move through a square occupied by a friendly character, unless you are charging. When you move through a square occupied by a friendly character, that character doesn't provide you with cover.

Opponent: You can't move through a square occupied by an opponent unless the opponent is helpless. You can move through a square occupied by a helpless opponent without penalty. Some creatures, particularly very large ones, may present an obstacle even when helpless. In such cases, each square you move through counts as 2 squares.

Ending Your Movement: You can't end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless.

As I see it, the rogue can chose to treat the fighter as a friendly character.

[Samish Lakefinder]

This type of question comes up in invisibility threads. The interpretation I found convincing is that the person who's square is being moved through can determine if the one entering the square is an ally for movement rules. This means that the fighter would move through the rogue's square without knowing it (assuming rogue wanted to let him), unless the fighter decides to end his movement in the rogue's square in which case he bumps into something and is bounced to the previous square.

Generally if the rogue takes an AOO,they drop out of stealth.

[Mallecks]

When you this situation happens in your game, also take into account how the rogue is hiding. Was he hiding behind a tree or a rock? Maybe he stayed on "the other side" of it. Was he hiding in tall grass? Maybe he can just lie still and fighter runs over him. (Someone I know was doing infiltration training in the military. He hid in the woods and just laid down and someone on the enemy team literally stepped on him and didn't notice, so possible. It was at night though.)

The grid, turns, and movement really should only matter during actual combat, imo.