Stealth

[Andacanavar]

When your PC decides to sneak around, what are the effects in-game?

Do the hostiles on the map automatically make Spot and Listen checks versus your Hide and Move Silently checks? Does this change when a DM is present?

If you are scouting ahead, and there is a large armoured half-orc in your party, how far ahead would you need to be to ensure that you are not going to be given away?

Lastly, if you do not possess a sneak attack, is their any benefit to sneaking up on foes (besides a surprise round?)

Thanks.

[jmecha]

Sneak Attack is ideal for sneaking up upon foes and getting in a cheap shot, but even without sneak attack, there are advantages to sneaking up on your foe and striking first.

You catch your foe flat footed which gives you a bonus to hit and more often then not landing the first blow in a fight gives you a better chance of being the one standing afterwards.

Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy Cobra Kai Dojo

[hollyfant]

Do the hostiles on the map automatically make Spot and Listen checks versus your Hide and Move Silently checks? Does this change when a DM is present?

Yes. No.
Every round, everybody gets a shot at detecting everyone and everything in range. A DM can keep the monsters from acting on their new knowledge.

If you are scouting ahead, and there is a large armoured half-orc in your party, how far ahead would you need to be to ensure that you are not going to be given away?

Not all that far, actually. Less than the distance of a ranged attack. And of course they'll only give themselves away, not your position.

Lastly, if you do not possess a sneak attack, is their any benefit to sneaking up on foes (besides a surprise round?)

Your first attack will catch the enemy flat-footed, which makes a world of difference for some foes. And sneaking to within melee distance of someone gives that first attack options which aren't available to archers, such as disarm or knockdown.

[Creslyn]

Probably the single biggest advantage of stealth is that if you are good enough at it you can choose your fights.

[dergon darkhelm]

Probably the single biggest advantage of stealth is that if you are good enough at it you can choose your fights.

This is entirely incorrect.


The biggest advantage to stealth is being able to watch other PCs cyb0r without them knowing.

[Rotku]

That's what the DM Wand is for, dergon.

[paazin]

Hm, does it matter if you're set to hostile/friendly or the like? I recall there was some discussion with that in NWN1.

[paazin]

Probably the single biggest advantage of stealth is that if you are good enough at it you can choose your fights.

This is entirely incorrect.


The biggest advantage to stealth is being able to watch other PCs cyb0r without them knowing.

... I always wondered why Rath wore an elven cloak and books.

[hollyfant]

They make him feel pretty.

[paazin]

Hm, does it matter if you're set to hostile/friendly or the like? I recall there was some discussion with that in NWN1.

So no one answered my question. Is stealth affected by being hostile/friendly?

[hollyfant]

Stealth isn't, no. Spot and Listen work against everyone. Only the Tracking & Survival combo cares whether someone is hostile or not.