Question: what are the rules for hiding? If I hid, then cast a spell, would I stay hidden, etc. I know you have to roll stealth, but what happens once you are hidden?
Ok, thank you. But I have another question. If I was hidden, and cast a spell, say command, and continued to move away, and they still didn’t see me, am I still hidden?
Think of it this way: if you shoot a Roman candle into the air, but they didn't see you, are you still hidden?
Hidden is about more than being unseen. It is about the enemies not knowing where you are at all. It can vary depending on DM, but RAW, you give away your current location when you cast a spell.
Think of it this way: if you shoot a Roman candle into the air, but they didn't see you, are you still hidden?
Hidden is about more than being unseen. It is about the enemies not knowing where you are at all. It can vary depending on DM, but RAW, you give away your current location when you cast a spell.
No. Hiding is about not knowing exactly where you are. In a lot of situations, you can hide and the opponent will still know approximately where you are. They just don't have eyes or ears on you sufficiently to figure out what you are going to do next in a combat round. (A halfling hiding behind a team mate, a wood elf hiding in a mist or light rain that only lightly obscures things .. or a character ducking behind a tree to hide).
"If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses." PHB 195. Making an attack includes spells that require an attack roll.
"You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you make noise ... you give away your position." PHB 177 If you make noise you give away your position and this would include casting a spell with a verbal component unless the DM decides you are too far away to be heard. In addition, unless you are behind something, using some sort of cover, invisible or have some other circumstance that would allow you to hide ... as soon as someone can see you, you won't be hidden.
"In combat, most creatures stay alert for signs of danger all around, so if you come out of hiding and approach a creature, it usually sees you." PHB 177. Movement while hidden and within possible view of a creature may result in the loss of being hidden. e.g. Trying to sneak up on someone in combat and remain hidden is basically not possible in this version of D&D. Even if you were invisible the defender might notice your approach though I would allow a stealth check to remain hidden if you were invisible and approaching a target that could not see you.
"The DM decides when circumstances are appropriate for hiding. Also, the question isn’t whether a creature can see you when you’re hiding. The question is whether it can see you clearly." PHB Errata
So a lot of hiding becomes DM fiat.
In your case, if you were hidden behind something or invisible and cast a spell requiring an attack roll then you would give away your position and not be hidden (RAW). If you cast a spell with a verbal component and are within hearing range (DM judgement) then you would give away your position and not be hidden. If you were a sorcerer using subtle spell for a spell that did NOT require an attack roll then you would likely stay hidden since you aren't doing anything to attract attention. This might depend to some extent on the spell. If you cast a spell originating at the caster with a visible effect then you will likely reveal yourself and lose hidden. On the other hand, casting a subtle fireball would inform the opponents that someone is present but not immediately give away your position unless the opponents have a clear view to where you are hiding.
Question: what are the rules for hiding? If I hid, then cast a spell, would I stay hidden, etc. I know you have to roll stealth, but what happens once you are hidden?
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
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D&D Beyond FoundersThere's a good discussion thread about this here:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/tips-tactics/13523-hide-action-rules
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Ok, thank you. But I have another question. If I was hidden, and cast a spell, say command, and continued to move away, and they still didn’t see me, am I still hidden?
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Usually casting a spell or attacking will break being hidden.
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Think of it this way: if you shoot a Roman candle into the air, but they didn't see you, are you still hidden?
Hidden is about more than being unseen. It is about the enemies not knowing where you are at all. It can vary depending on DM, but RAW, you give away your current location when you cast a spell.
No. Hiding is about not knowing exactly where you are. In a lot of situations, you can hide and the opponent will still know approximately where you are. They just don't have eyes or ears on you sufficiently to figure out what you are going to do next in a combat round. (A halfling hiding behind a team mate, a wood elf hiding in a mist or light rain that only lightly obscures things .. or a character ducking behind a tree to hide).
"If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses." PHB 195. Making an attack includes spells that require an attack roll.
"You can't hide from a creature that can see you, and if you make noise ... you give away your position." PHB 177 If you make noise you give away your position and this would include casting a spell with a verbal component unless the DM decides you are too far away to be heard. In addition, unless you are behind something, using some sort of cover, invisible or have some other circumstance that would allow you to hide ... as soon as someone can see you, you won't be hidden.
"In combat, most creatures stay alert for signs of danger all around, so if you come out of hiding and approach a creature, it usually sees you." PHB 177. Movement while hidden and within possible view of a creature may result in the loss of being hidden. e.g. Trying to sneak up on someone in combat and remain hidden is basically not possible in this version of D&D. Even if you were invisible the defender might notice your approach though I would allow a stealth check to remain hidden if you were invisible and approaching a target that could not see you.
"The DM decides when circumstances are appropriate for hiding. Also, the question isn’t whether a creature can see you when you’re hiding. The question is whether it can see you clearly." PHB Errata
So a lot of hiding becomes DM fiat.
In your case, if you were hidden behind something or invisible and cast a spell requiring an attack roll then you would give away your position and not be hidden (RAW). If you cast a spell with a verbal component and are within hearing range (DM judgement) then you would give away your position and not be hidden. If you were a sorcerer using subtle spell for a spell that did NOT require an attack roll then you would likely stay hidden since you aren't doing anything to attract attention. This might depend to some extent on the spell. If you cast a spell originating at the caster with a visible effect then you will likely reveal yourself and lose hidden. On the other hand, casting a subtle fireball would inform the opponents that someone is present but not immediately give away your position unless the opponents have a clear view to where you are hiding.
Too long; didn't read (I'm tired).
Based on skim, David42 is more correct, pretend I was that thorough.