I Think I've Been Running Legendary Sneak Wrong

[Balkoth]

https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?ID=5173

I've been running this as the rogue in the party can just always make a stealth check in the middle of an empty room and try to Sneak -- if he succeeds he isn't noticed, if he fails everyone still sees him.

But the failure condition of Sneak isn't being fully spotted, it's being hidden. Which made me re-examine the rules.

I *think* it's supposed to be the rogue can try to Hide at any point. If he succeeds he's now hidden, if he fails everyone still sees him.

THEN he has to Sneak and make another stealth check. If he succeeds he's undetected. If he fails he's hidden. If he critically fails he's observed.

Is that all correct?

[TheFinish]

Correct. It's not that you can't Sneak out of the blue, it's simply that it does nothing because of this line:

"At the end of your movement, the GM rolls your Stealth check in secret and compares the result to the Perception DC of each creature you were hidden from or undetected by at the start of your movement."

If you were not hidden or undetected from anyone when you began your movement, it does nothing except halve your speed.

Legendary Sneak lets you attempt to Hide anywhere, at any time. This may (or may not) cause you be Hidden from one or more creatures. You can then use Sneak, also anywhere, anytime, with the effects of the action.

[Darksol the Painbringer]

Yes, characters must first Hide to become hidden/undetected, then can Sneak to move and remain hidden/undetected based on their check. The only thing Legendary Sneak does is essentially give you the ability to Hide in plain sight (as well as always use Stealth on initiative rolls unless you don't want to).

[Balkoth]

Got it, thanks!