Should you be able to target enemies that are not visible with an attack?
For example: you want to shoot a firebolt (120ft) at a target.
Situation 1: Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light). Target is 90ft away.
Situation 2: You are blind, your vision is 0ft. Target is 90ft away.
Situation 3: Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light). Target is 45 ft away, is heavily obscured by fog cloud, darkness, or other obstruction.
Situation 4: You are in complete darkness without any light source. your vision is 0ft Target is 10ft away
Situation 5 You are in a heavily obscured area, (ex: fog cloud, darkness, etc) Your vision is 0ft Your target is 10ft away.
You don't "auto-target" like you normally do, assuming they're Hidden while Invisible. You have to nominate where you think they are, and if they're not there, then you automatically miss. If they are there, you attack like normal, but with Disadvantage.
If they are not Hidden (ie, they haven't taken the Hide without then moving, attacking or otherwise removing the Hidden condition), then you know where they are (because you can hear the sounds they make, see their footprints etc) and so you "auto-target" as normal, but still have Disadvantage.
Personally, I think that invisibility in 5e are too weak - an invisible creature at the edge of your normal ranged attack range is as difficult to hit as someone visible just outside of said range. In fact, that range no longer matters at all, thanks to the way that 5e Disadvantage rules work. It really needs an overhaul in my opinion. Invisible Creatures should be extremely difficult to hit at range. I'm not sure if 1D&D is looking into that or not though.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
You can always attack a target within range unless noted otherwise. You'll just have disadvantage on the attack roll if you can't see them somehow . The attack might automatically missed if you guessed the wrong location of a hidden creature as well.
What specifically prevent attacking an unseen target within range is if it target a creature you can see. Fire Bolt doesn't do so so all scenarios result in attack with disadvantage.
Both of the previous posts didn't mention that if your target also can't see you then the Advantage provided by that is cancelled by the Disadvantage due to not being able to see your target and the result (RAW) is a straight roll with neither Advantage nor Disadvantage applied.
In terms of being able to attack creatures you can't see, you are always allowed to TRY. In all of the cases you describe, an attacker can try to attack the target. Success depends on whether the target is in the location you think they are and the attack roll.
PHB: "When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you’re guessing the target’s location or you’re targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn’t in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target’s location correctly. When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it."
A creature which is Hidden has a location that is unknown. The character may know where the creature was last noticed and the creature may still be there but the character/player does not know. In this case, the character/player chooses the location to attack and makes a die roll to see whether the attack is successful. (If the target isn't in the location that is attacked, the attack automatically misses, however, the DM may still have the player roll dice so that this isn't immediately obvious).
If a creature is not Hidden then its location is known and the unseen attackers and targets rules cited above apply.
However, how does a creature become hidden? There are two ways ... first, a creature that is unseen can attempt a stealth check opposed by the passive perception of nearby creatures. If successful, the creature becomes hidden, their location may not be known exactly (they could still be in whatever location they were in when they made the stealth check). Hidden is ALSO implicitly defined as being "unseen and unheard" ... from the rules ...
PHB: "If you are hidden — both unseen and unheard — when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses."
If a creature is both unseen and unheard then the creature IS hidden even if they did not make a stealth check. Characters do NOT know the location of every creature in the world that hasn't made a stealth check to become hidden. Creatures that are far enough away that they are both unseen and unheard are AUTOMATICALLY hidden without a Hide action being required.
Deciding if a creature is automatically hidden is up to the DM. In your examples:
"Situation 1: Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light). Target is 90ft away."
If there is no way to hear or otherwise sense the target that is 90' away in this case then I would rule that target is hidden and the character wouldn't even know the creature was there until something happened to make its location known.
If the character gets close enough to the creature where they might be able to hear or otherwise sense the hidden creature - I would either require a stealth check from the hidden creature vs. the passive perception of the approaching character or perhaps more likely I would use the passive stealth of the hidden creature vs a perception check from the approaching character since it is the hidden creature that is continuously hiding in this case (either approach works - just depends on whether I want the NPC or PC rolling dice).
If the creature at 90' had just attacked and revealed its location (as explicitly mentioned in the rules cited above) then the character could attack. It would either be a straight roll if they can't see each other or disadvantage if the other can see the character but the character can't see the target.
If the target can't be seen, and it is impossible to hear them at 90' (DM call) and there is no way to otherwise sense their location then the creature is automatically hidden and if they move, it's current location is not known.
"Situation 2: You are blind, your vision is 0ft. Target is 90ft away. "
Same as above.
"Situation 3: Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light). Target is 45 ft away, is heavily obscured by fog cloud, darkness, or other obstruction."
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
"Situation 4: You are in complete darkness without any light source. your vision is 0ft Target is 10ft away"
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
"Situation 5 You are in a heavily obscured area, (ex: fog cloud, darkness, etc) Your vision is 0ft Your target is 10ft away."
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
The difference in scenarios 2-5 is that the creature might be closer. Whether they would have to take the Hide action to become hidden or can be considered automatically hidden depends on the ambient noise and the DM judgement. If the area was in a silence spell and you could not see, then you would know the location of a creature when they make an attack or cast a spell but they would immediately become hidden afterward unless there was some other sense that could reveal their location. On the other hand, keeping track of a creature within 10' (for a trained adventurer) even with relatively high levels of ambient noise, is likely possible, so I would usually require the Hide action and associated stealth check for a creature within 10' to become Hidden.
Naturally, if while having disadvantage the target can't see you or you also have advantage to attack somehow, therefore you're considered to have neither of them and roll one d20.
If a creature is both unseen and unheard then the creature IS hidden even if they did not make a stealth check. Characters do NOT know the location of every creature in the world that hasn't made a stealth check to become hidden. Creatures that are far enough away that they are both unseen and unheard are AUTOMATICALLY hidden without a Hide action being required.
A official ruling in Sage Advice say that without a special ability, hiding in combat requires the Hide action. Meaning it require an action rather than being free and generate a score to compare to Passive Perception as opposed to be unperceivable auto-success. DM canalways rule differently than core rules and official ruling.
If a creature is both unseen and unheard then the creature IS hidden even if they did not make a stealth check. Characters do NOT know the location of every creature in the world that hasn't made a stealth check to become hidden. Creatures that are far enough away that they are both unseen and unheard are AUTOMATICALLY hidden without a Hide action being required.
A official ruling in Sage Advice say that without a special ability, hiding in combat requires the Hide action. Meaning it require an action rather than being free and generate a score to compare to Passive Perception as opposed to be unperceivable auto-success. DM canalways rule differently than core rules and official ruling.
Agreed. A DM can always rule differently and could decide that environmental conditions that make the creature impossible to detect (and thus hidden) are sufficient to constitute a "special ability" under those circumstances. Since the SAC leaves open the possibility of "special ability", the DM has the option of ruling a creature can be considered automatically hidden if circumstances warrant.
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Should you be able to target enemies that are not visible with an attack?
For example: you want to shoot a firebolt (120ft) at a target.
Situation 1:
Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light).
Target is 90ft away.
Situation 2:
You are blind, your vision is 0ft.
Target is 90ft away.
Situation 3:
Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light).
Target is 45 ft away, is heavily obscured by fog cloud, darkness, or other obstruction.
Situation 4:
You are in complete darkness without any light source. your vision is 0ft
Target is 10ft away
Situation 5
You are in a heavily obscured area, (ex: fog cloud, darkness, etc) Your vision is 0ft
Your target is 10ft away.
In all above cases, you can't "see" your target.
Depends what you mean by "target".
You don't "auto-target" like you normally do, assuming they're Hidden while Invisible. You have to nominate where you think they are, and if they're not there, then you automatically miss. If they are there, you attack like normal, but with Disadvantage.
If they are not Hidden (ie, they haven't taken the Hide without then moving, attacking or otherwise removing the Hidden condition), then you know where they are (because you can hear the sounds they make, see their footprints etc) and so you "auto-target" as normal, but still have Disadvantage.
Personally, I think that invisibility in 5e are too weak - an invisible creature at the edge of your normal ranged attack range is as difficult to hit as someone visible just outside of said range. In fact, that range no longer matters at all, thanks to the way that 5e Disadvantage rules work. It really needs an overhaul in my opinion. Invisible Creatures should be extremely difficult to hit at range. I'm not sure if 1D&D is looking into that or not though.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
You can always attack a target within range unless noted otherwise. You'll just have disadvantage on the attack roll if you can't see them somehow . The attack might automatically missed if you guessed the wrong location of a hidden creature as well.
What specifically prevent attacking an unseen target within range is if it target a creature you can see. Fire Bolt doesn't do so so all scenarios result in attack with disadvantage.
Both of the previous posts didn't mention that if your target also can't see you then the Advantage provided by that is cancelled by the Disadvantage due to not being able to see your target and the result (RAW) is a straight roll with neither Advantage nor Disadvantage applied.
In terms of being able to attack creatures you can't see, you are always allowed to TRY. In all of the cases you describe, an attacker can try to attack the target. Success depends on whether the target is in the location you think they are and the attack roll.
PHB: "When you attack a target that you can’t see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you’re guessing the target’s location or you’re targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn’t in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target’s location correctly. When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it."
A creature which is Hidden has a location that is unknown. The character may know where the creature was last noticed and the creature may still be there but the character/player does not know. In this case, the character/player chooses the location to attack and makes a die roll to see whether the attack is successful. (If the target isn't in the location that is attacked, the attack automatically misses, however, the DM may still have the player roll dice so that this isn't immediately obvious).
If a creature is not Hidden then its location is known and the unseen attackers and targets rules cited above apply.
However, how does a creature become hidden? There are two ways ... first, a creature that is unseen can attempt a stealth check opposed by the passive perception of nearby creatures. If successful, the creature becomes hidden, their location may not be known exactly (they could still be in whatever location they were in when they made the stealth check). Hidden is ALSO implicitly defined as being "unseen and unheard" ... from the rules ...
PHB: "If you are hidden — both unseen and unheard — when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses."
If a creature is both unseen and unheard then the creature IS hidden even if they did not make a stealth check. Characters do NOT know the location of every creature in the world that hasn't made a stealth check to become hidden. Creatures that are far enough away that they are both unseen and unheard are AUTOMATICALLY hidden without a Hide action being required.
Deciding if a creature is automatically hidden is up to the DM. In your examples:
"Situation 1:
Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light).
Target is 90ft away."
If there is no way to hear or otherwise sense the target that is 90' away in this case then I would rule that target is hidden and the character wouldn't even know the creature was there until something happened to make its location known.
If the character gets close enough to the creature where they might be able to hear or otherwise sense the hidden creature - I would either require a stealth check from the hidden creature vs. the passive perception of the approaching character or perhaps more likely I would use the passive stealth of the hidden creature vs a perception check from the approaching character since it is the hidden creature that is continuously hiding in this case (either approach works - just depends on whether I want the NPC or PC rolling dice).
If the creature at 90' had just attacked and revealed its location (as explicitly mentioned in the rules cited above) then the character could attack. It would either be a straight roll if they can't see each other or disadvantage if the other can see the character but the character can't see the target.
If the target can't be seen, and it is impossible to hear them at 90' (DM call) and there is no way to otherwise sense their location then the creature is automatically hidden and if they move, it's current location is not known.
"Situation 2:
You are blind, your vision is 0ft.
Target is 90ft away. "
Same as above.
"Situation 3:
Your vision is 60ft (30 bright light, 30 dim light).
Target is 45 ft away, is heavily obscured by fog cloud, darkness, or other obstruction."
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
"Situation 4:
You are in complete darkness without any light source. your vision is 0ft
Target is 10ft away"
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
"Situation 5
You are in a heavily obscured area, (ex: fog cloud, darkness, etc) Your vision is 0ft
Your target is 10ft away."
Same as above. However, closer so decision on being hidden would depend on ambient noise or other ability to sense the target.
The difference in scenarios 2-5 is that the creature might be closer. Whether they would have to take the Hide action to become hidden or can be considered automatically hidden depends on the ambient noise and the DM judgement. If the area was in a silence spell and you could not see, then you would know the location of a creature when they make an attack or cast a spell but they would immediately become hidden afterward unless there was some other sense that could reveal their location. On the other hand, keeping track of a creature within 10' (for a trained adventurer) even with relatively high levels of ambient noise, is likely possible, so I would usually require the Hide action and associated stealth check for a creature within 10' to become Hidden.
Naturally, if while having disadvantage the target can't see you or you also have advantage to attack somehow, therefore you're considered to have neither of them and roll one d20.
A official ruling in Sage Advice say that without a special ability, hiding in combat requires the Hide action. Meaning it require an action rather than being free and generate a score to compare to Passive Perception as opposed to be unperceivable auto-success. DM canalways rule differently than core rules and official ruling.
Agreed. A DM can always rule differently and could decide that environmental conditions that make the creature impossible to detect (and thus hidden) are sufficient to constitute a "special ability" under those circumstances. Since the SAC leaves open the possibility of "special ability", the DM has the option of ruling a creature can be considered automatically hidden if circumstances warrant.