pathfinder

One of the things that people new to the system kind of trip over -- in multiple areas of the game, but Stealth is one of the most common ones -- is that the rules make sense from the perspective of someone actually doing the thing. They're not simulating the process by any means, but they're much, much closer to trying to (or at least look like they're trying to) than people seem prepared for. Or that people pick up on on first reading.

So many of the rules are written in a deeply systematized way, and if you're not used to discussing or building systems, it can all seem really wordy and complex.

It all really just boils down to a few questions, though (hence the flow charts):

• Is there anything obstructing the view between Creature A and Creature B that would make it a little bit difficult to discern where the other character's edges are? If so, the other creature is Concealed.
• Is there anything making it so that one creature cannot see the other? e.g. did Creature B duck behind a fully opaque wall and are they standing away from the edge? Then they're Hidden.
  • If Creature B is standing right at the edge of the wall, you should assume they are still visible, in part. This just gives them cover. The 'Hide' action represents making an effort to be fully occulted by cover.
• If Creature A loses sight of Creature B (e.g. they ducked deep behind a wall, or they took cover and hid) and then Creature B moves stealthily, then Creature A no longer knows where Creature B is. Creature A now no longer able to detect Creature B.

Picture yourself in a little wooded glade. Unbeknownst to you, I'm approaching in an attempt to ambush you. You hear something in the woods, but you can't see what it is, and you can't tell exactly where it was. That means I'm Undetected. If you were to enter the woods and catch a glimpse of me as I duck behind a tree, that would mean you know where I am. If you can see parts of me poking out from behind hte tree, I've lost all stealth, but if you can't see me, I am Hidden. From there, if I successfully sneak away from the tree without you noticing, you no longer know where I am, and I'm Undetected once more. On the other hand, if I slip from the tree to behind a bush, where you can see me through the leaves, I'm now Concealed.