I've been looking around at the rules for being unseen, and I've wondered what it REALLY means to be "Unseen".
Because if we just take the word for what it is, that means that being behind an enemy (without blindsight or a mirror) would be "Unseen" thus giving advantage on your attack role. And if so does this apply to when you are inside of combat? And would you need to take a hide action first to activate it?
For example: If a barbarian was behind a goblin that was currently facing the other way (lets say another party member) than would the barbarian get advantage on the attack role for being "Unseen"? Or would they require to take a hide action first?
The rules for being Unseen are currently a subject of heated debate; I don't think I have any great insight to add there.
I can easily address the other part of your post, though: there is no facing in the rules, which presume a character is generally aware of their immediate surroundings. So, a creature's "facing" is the purview of the DM. Historically, creatures in combat are presumed to "have their head on a swivel" and to see in all directions over the course of their turn. Outside of combat, I'm open to plausible shenanigans (e.g. my guards will tend to face a certain, obvious way when guarding a passage) but that's down to personal style.
I've been looking around at the rules for being unseen, and I've wondered what it REALLY means to be "Unseen".
While people disagree on it, I'd say being unseen is the opposite of being seen. If a creature can "see" you then you're seen and thus anything else is unseen, however the complication here is what counts as being seen is not strictly sight based (thus where it gets complicated). As ShaneTheStrange has said, All creatures see in all directions (thus there is no flanking bonuses) and so you can not be "behind" the creature as the second part of the question.
Now here are a couple of the states where you are definitely seen
- You are visually visible to the creature, this means you are not benefiting from an effect such as invisibility or behind total cover and the creature can see within that light level
- You are invisible but your invisibility is negated in some method, such as by see invisibility, blindsight or truesight. Alternatively you are affected by a spell that negates invisibility such as faerie fire or shining smite.
tl;dr if a creature can detect you with any of it's "sight" senses or otherwise stated to be able too see you, then you are seen. If they can not see you with any of their "sight" senses and not otherwise stated to be able to see you, then you are unseen. Not all sight senses are specifically about visual sight.
A creature can provide half-cover to another creature -- that's generally not enough to become unseen unless there is some specific ability or feature that says otherwise. For example, in 2014 a certain type of Halfling had a special Feature that allowed it to attempt to Hide behind another creature that was larger than the Halfling. In 2014 when successfully hidden, a creature became Unseen and Unheard.
A creature can provide half-cover to another creature -- that's generally not enough to become unseen unless there is some specific ability or feature that says otherwise. For example, in 2014 a certain type of Halfling had a special Feature that allowed it to attempt to Hide behind another creature that was larger than the Halfling. In 2014 when successfully hidden, a creature became Unseen and Unheard.
Also in 2024:
Halfling Traits
[...]
Naturally Stealthy. You can take the Hide action even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.
About the OP, generally speaking, just standing behind a creature doesn't mean you're unseen.
I've been looking around at the rules for being unseen, and I've wondered what it REALLY means to be "Unseen".
Because if we just take the word for what it is, that means that being behind an enemy (without blindsight or a mirror) would be "Unseen" thus giving advantage on your attack role. And if so does this apply to when you are inside of combat? And would you need to take a hide action first to activate it?
For example: If a barbarian was behind a goblin that was currently facing the other way (lets say another party member) than would the barbarian get advantage on the attack role for being "Unseen"? Or would they require to take a hide action first?
Creature can provide Half Cover but don't typically makes you unseen unless noted otherwise.
In your example, the barbarian wouldn't be able to take the Hide action because he's not Heavily Obscured or behind Three-Quarters Cover or Total Cover. Even being an Halfling couldn't do so because the goblin isn't a creature that is at least one size larger than it.
I object to the “Head on a swivel” rule during combat. I’ve always adopted a common sense approach that while in combat, you have to be focused on the threat that’s directly in your face. Looking behind you could get you skewered. So if someone is behind you and makes a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check to sneak up on you and backstab you, they can do it. You are already distracted, and combat is noisy, so sneaking up on someone in melee should not be terribly difficult. At least for a stealthy rogue or the like.
I object to the “Head on a swivel” rule during combat. I’ve always adopted a common sense approach that while in combat, you have to be focused on the threat that’s directly in your face. Looking behind you could get you skewered. So if someone is behind you and makes a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check to sneak up on you and backstab you, they can do it. You are already distracted, and combat is noisy, so sneaking up on someone in melee should not be terribly difficult. At least for a stealthy rogue or the like.
So stealthy Rogues gets a nice big bonus to their combat abilities, what do the rest of us get?
I object to the “Head on a swivel” rule during combat. I’ve always adopted a common sense approach that while in combat, you have to be focused on the threat that’s directly in your face. Looking behind you could get you skewered. So if someone is behind you and makes a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check to sneak up on you and backstab you, they can do it. You are already distracted, and combat is noisy, so sneaking up on someone in melee should not be terribly difficult. At least for a stealthy rogue or the like.
So stealthy Rogues gets a nice big bonus to their combat abilities, what do the rest of us get?
The thing that often get lost in the shuffle is that if facing or distraction is used to justify that a creature isn't seen before attacking, then wether it's hidden or not the attack is made with Advantage because of the rules for Unseen Attackers & Targets.
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I've been looking around at the rules for being unseen, and I've wondered what it REALLY means to be "Unseen".
Because if we just take the word for what it is, that means that being behind an enemy (without blindsight or a mirror) would be "Unseen" thus giving advantage on your attack role. And if so does this apply to when you are inside of combat? And would you need to take a hide action first to activate it?
For example: If a barbarian was behind a goblin that was currently facing the other way (lets say another party member) than would the barbarian get advantage on the attack role for being "Unseen"? Or would they require to take a hide action first?
The rules for being Unseen are currently a subject of heated debate; I don't think I have any great insight to add there.
I can easily address the other part of your post, though: there is no facing in the rules, which presume a character is generally aware of their immediate surroundings. So, a creature's "facing" is the purview of the DM. Historically, creatures in combat are presumed to "have their head on a swivel" and to see in all directions over the course of their turn. Outside of combat, I'm open to plausible shenanigans (e.g. my guards will tend to face a certain, obvious way when guarding a passage) but that's down to personal style.
While people disagree on it, I'd say being unseen is the opposite of being seen. If a creature can "see" you then you're seen and thus anything else is unseen, however the complication here is what counts as being seen is not strictly sight based (thus where it gets complicated). As ShaneTheStrange has said, All creatures see in all directions (thus there is no flanking bonuses) and so you can not be "behind" the creature as the second part of the question.
Now here are a couple of the states where you are definitely seen
- You are visually visible to the creature, this means you are not benefiting from an effect such as invisibility or behind total cover and the creature can see within that light level
- You are invisible but your invisibility is negated in some method, such as by see invisibility, blindsight or truesight. Alternatively you are affected by a spell that negates invisibility such as faerie fire or shining smite.
tl;dr if a creature can detect you with any of it's "sight" senses or otherwise stated to be able too see you, then you are seen. If they can not see you with any of their "sight" senses and not otherwise stated to be able to see you, then you are unseen. Not all sight senses are specifically about visual sight.
A creature can provide half-cover to another creature -- that's generally not enough to become unseen unless there is some specific ability or feature that says otherwise. For example, in 2014 a certain type of Halfling had a special Feature that allowed it to attempt to Hide behind another creature that was larger than the Halfling. In 2014 when successfully hidden, a creature became Unseen and Unheard.
Also in 2024:
About the OP, generally speaking, just standing behind a creature doesn't mean you're unseen.
As above certain species can take advantage of that situation, but generally no, you can't.
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Creature can provide Half Cover but don't typically makes you unseen unless noted otherwise.
In your example, the barbarian wouldn't be able to take the Hide action because he's not Heavily Obscured or behind Three-Quarters Cover or Total Cover. Even being an Halfling couldn't do so because the goblin isn't a creature that is at least one size larger than it.
I object to the “Head on a swivel” rule during combat. I’ve always adopted a common sense approach that while in combat, you have to be focused on the threat that’s directly in your face. Looking behind you could get you skewered. So if someone is behind you and makes a successful Dexterity (Stealth) check to sneak up on you and backstab you, they can do it. You are already distracted, and combat is noisy, so sneaking up on someone in melee should not be terribly difficult. At least for a stealthy rogue or the like.
Facing is optional in 5E and not integral part of core rules. 2024 isn't started to change that.
Facing was optional in 5E14, but in 5E24, there's no mention of it anywhere.
Author of The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters, MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing, How to Defend Your Lair and Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games.
So stealthy Rogues gets a nice big bonus to their combat abilities, what do the rest of us get?
To say "Thank you, rogue."
Author of The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters, MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing, How to Defend Your Lair and Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games.
The thing that often get lost in the shuffle is that if facing or distraction is used to justify that a creature isn't seen before attacking, then wether it's hidden or not the attack is made with Advantage because of the rules for Unseen Attackers & Targets.