Simple Q&A D&D 3.5 (by RAW) XXII

[Curmudgeon]

A 647b continuation

1. The other factors affecting the Orc's Spot score are the distraction of combat (-5) and the Rogue's size. Size alters the opposing Spot check by +/- 4 for every size step. If the Rogue is Medium size, that's +4 to the difficulty compared to Large size.

2. Every time you wish to Hide you must satisfy the three requirements to be allowed to make this skill check:

• There must be line of sight; otherwise no Hide check is allowed.
• You cannot be observed.
• You must have cover/concealment.

If you're observed when you attack you can either break line of sight (gain total cover/concealment, at least briefly) or use the Bluff skill to make a distraction. Gaining cover/concealment is usually a matter of moving relative to the terrain, although there are also magical means of achieving both concealment and cover. Then you need to take one of the actions which allow a Hide check; usually, this is movement. Hide in Plain Sight offers additional options here. The various forms of HiPS all remove the "not being observed" requirement for the Hide skill; some forms (generally Supernatural) also remove the cover/concealment requirement.

3. Sniping rules require the following:

• The Rogue is hiding initially, in a location which offers cover/concealment. (Most likely cover rather than concealment, since concealment makes sneak attack impossible.)
• The Rogue makes a ranged attack, and is (probably) Spotted doing so.
• The Rogue does not move anywhere, but uses a move action to (attempt to) Hide in place. By spending this move action the Rogue gets to bypass the usual "not being observed" Hide requirement, but has to eat a -20 penalty to the skill check.