Rules for Hiding

by JohanHolm

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Rules for Hiding

These are inspired by the OD&D playtest, trying to plug various holes that exist in both the 2014 and 2024 rules (and some in the playtest of course).

Much of this is codifying how I expect most tables play anyway, e.g. that stepping around a corner lets you do an attack with advantage (instead of being instantly spotted as in 2014 RAW), that enemies will see you if you stay in their face (as opposed to 2024 RAW), or that See Invisibility fully works (as opposed to RAW in both!).

Hide (Action)

Stealth vs DC 15 or enemy Passive Perception (whichever is higher)

You attempt to mask your presence from enemies. You must be out of line of sight of all enemies, usually by being Heavily Obscured. If you are next to opaque three-quarters cover when attempting to hide, you can typically use it to break line of sight. For example, keep to the left of your space to remain unseen through an arrow slit. This only breaks line of sight, and does not affect obscurement.

Success: Gain the Hidden condition below, and mark your result as the DC to find you.

Failure: You are still obscured or behind cover as before, but enemies know your location due to noise and how you affect your surroundings.

Hidden (Condition)

  • Undetected. Enemies cannot see, hear or otherwise detect you unless the condition ends. Depending on their guesses and your surroundings, they may attack the space you are in, following normal rules for attacking the unseen.

  • Surprise. If more than half of one side of combat is Hidden or Invisible when combat starts, the opposing side has disadvantage on Initiative.

  • Ending the Condition. The condition ends immediately after any of the following occurrences:

    • You make a sound louder than a whisper (including casting a spell with a Verbal component).
    • You make an Attack Roll.
    • An enemy detects your location with the Search action.
    • An enemy touches you (including moving into your space, grappling you or hitting you with a melee attack).
    • An enemy gains line of sight to you. In this case, you can take an immediate action before the condition is lost (for example, Ready to attack someone when they round a corner), and if you're moving you only lose the condition once that movement ends (for example, dart past one foe to surprise attack another).