Take Cover Action + Sneak

[daedel, el azote]

In the description of Take Cover Action (pg 471 core) says: "If you would
have standard cover, you instead gain greater cover, which provides a +4 circumstance bonus to AC; to Reflex saves against area effects; and to Stealth checks to Hide, Sneak , or otherwise avoid detection" (emphasis mine)

However under Sneak description it says: "Because you’re moving, the bonus
increase from Taking Cover doesn’t apply"

Is this errata? Or I am not undertanding the ruling here? Please advise!

[Cordell Kintner]

The full related quote from Sneak is:

Sneak wrote:

If you have cover or greater cover from the creature throughout your Stride, you gain the +2 circumstance bonus from cover (or +4 from greater cover) to your Stealth check. Because you’re moving, the bonus increase from Taking Cover doesn’t apply.

And from Take Cover, the related text:

Take Cover wrote:

This lasts until you move from your current space, use an attack action, become unconscious, or end this effect as a free action.

Taking Cover relies on you staying put after taking the action. If you move at all after taking the action you lose the benefits.

[CrystalSeas]

Cordell Kintner wrote:

Taking Cover relies on you staying put after taking the action. If you move at all after taking the action you lose the benefits.

nitpicking correction: RAW says: "use an attack action" but it does not say "use a move action".

So, while I agree with your summary "relies on you staying put after taking the action", it's not quite "move at all". You can use certain actions with the "move" trait, but not ones where you leave the space.

[The Raven Black]

It is indeed bewildering that Take cover specifically mentions gaining a bonus to Sneak and then Sneak specifically explains that you do not get the bonus from Take cover.

[Claxon]

I think the problem arises from separating out Hide from Sneak.

Sneaking is hiding but while moving, and hiding is sneaking but stationary.

I think these rules for Take Cover were likely written before those mechanics were separated, and then they were quickly added in to the Take Cover rules without thinking about how it would work.

Honestly, I'm not sure why we needed to separate out hide and sneak anyways but there's probably a lot of really small specific things that rely on them being separate.