As far as I can tell, D&D core's rules for stealth and for starting a combat from stealth are incredible shallow. I'm triying to create my own rules (as close to RAW core as possible) to make sure that players don't get the sense that I improvisse the rules every time. Still, I would be glad if you give me feedback on them, to ensure they are balanced or suitable for D&D 5th.
I will put an example of how I would run an encounter in wich a party A (members 1,2,3) moves stealthy towards a party B (members 4,5,6) wich moves without stealth. For this example I will assume there is always something to hide behind.
When they come in range of seeing each other, I would ask all members of party A to perform a stealth check. If any member of party B that is searching for threats (as it's adventure stance) has more passive perception, the combat would start without surprise, (unless there is parley). On the other side, if all members of party A are successful in the stealth check, I would start a pseudocombat state (like combat but only with movement and with all movement taking place at the same time) where all the members of both parties can move their movement speed , but every member of the stealthy party that moves must make again an stealth check to keep hidden. Finally, if party A managed to keep stealthy, I would allow them to inmediatly start the combat with surprise whenever they want.
Still, after homebrewing this rules, I would like to ask you guys some questions, that I will include below. Every question has a number to link it to a poll, to make my easier to keep track of everyone thoughts.
1) Do you agree with forcing each player to perform again an stealth check for each movement? The rules tell you to check if someone is hidden until he stops being hidden, but doesn't specify frecuency. 2) If, being all the party stealthy, one member of party A attacks (range attack) one member of party B, would you consider that he screwd surprise and a normal combat starts after that attack, or would you consider that now the combat starts with surprise? The second case would allow that player to potentially attack three times before the enemy party reacts (The pre-combat attack, the surprise attack, and the more-iniciative attack). 3) In my pseudocombat stance would you allow the players to perform actions like dash, using objects and other types of actions that obviously don't give you away (like attacking)?
Keep in mind Party A could be the monsters and B the players or viceversa.
Thanks for any help or answer, I would like to ear your feedback.
Strong maybe. I might say half speed doesn't require reroll.
There should not be attacks outside of combat. If a hidden creature is ready to attack, that is initiative and first round of combat, unaware creatures are surprised, and the creature doesn't attack until its turn.
Dash should probably break stealth (have you ever tried to move full speed quietly and while crouching?) unless they have full cover (like 5 foot tall wall), other actions should be fine.
No, neither answer for 1 and 2, and a "yes, except" for 3. The problem with black and white questions is that answers are almost always grey.
Hi everyone.
As far as I can tell, D&D core's rules for stealth and for starting a combat from stealth are incredible shallow. I'm triying to create my own rules (as close to RAW core as possible) to make sure that players don't get the sense that I improvisse the rules every time. Still, I would be glad if you give me feedback on them, to ensure they are balanced or suitable for D&D 5th.
I will put an example of how I would run an encounter in wich a party A (members 1,2,3) moves stealthy towards a party B (members 4,5,6) wich moves without stealth. For this example I will assume there is always something to hide behind.
When they come in range of seeing each other, I would ask all members of party A to perform a stealth check. If any member of party B that is searching for threats (as it's adventure stance) has more passive perception, the combat would start without surprise, (unless there is parley).
On the other side, if all members of party A are successful in the stealth check, I would start a pseudocombat state (like combat but only with movement and with all movement taking place at the same time) where all the members of both parties can move their movement speed , but every member of the stealthy party that moves must make again an stealth check to keep hidden. Finally, if party A managed to keep stealthy, I would allow them to inmediatly start the combat with surprise whenever they want.
Still, after homebrewing this rules, I would like to ask you guys some questions, that I will include below. Every question has a number to link it to a poll, to make my easier to keep track of everyone thoughts.
1) Do you agree with forcing each player to perform again an stealth check for each movement? The rules tell you to check if someone is hidden until he stops being hidden, but doesn't specify frecuency.
2) If, being all the party stealthy, one member of party A attacks (range attack) one member of party B, would you consider that he screwd surprise and a normal combat starts after that attack, or would you consider that now the combat starts with surprise? The second case would allow that player to potentially attack three times before the enemy party reacts (The pre-combat attack, the surprise attack, and the more-iniciative attack).
3) In my pseudocombat stance would you allow the players to perform actions like dash, using objects and other types of actions that obviously don't give you away (like attacking)?
Keep in mind Party A could be the monsters and B the players or viceversa.
Thanks for any help or answer, I would like to ear your feedback.
No, neither answer for 1 and 2, and a "yes, except" for 3. The problem with black and white questions is that answers are almost always grey.