Revised Hide Action: Good Clarification or Convoluted Mess?
Hide Action
When you take the Hide Action, choose one of the following options. Both options require you to make a DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth) check. Record the result; creatures that might detect you compare their Wisdom (Perception) Checks against it when necessary.
Become Invisible. You try to vanish from sight while only Lightly Obscured or while positioned behind Half or Three-Quarters Cover.
- If you are not behind Three-Quarters Cover, you have Disadvantage on your Dexterity (Stealth) Check. At the DM’s discretion, taking additional measures to improve your concealment — such as dropping Prone or otherwise enhancing cover — can negate this Disadvantage.
- On a successful check, you become Invisible to all creatures that fail to meet or exceed your Stealth result with their (passive) Perception checks.
- You are no longer Invisible, are no longer obscured or behind cover towards a creature.
Become Hidden. If you are already Invisible, you can use the Hide Action to become Hidden, hiding your presence and location from other creatures.
- While Hidden from creatures, they are unaware of your presence and location.
- At the DM’s discretion, certain activities can break the Hidden condition and reveal your presence. Examples include: Making an Attack, Casting a Spell, speaking loudly, or moving in a way that gives away your position. If this occurs, other creatures may immediately know your location, even if you remain Invisible.
Invisible [Condition]
While you have the Invisible condition, you experience the following effects.
Unseen. You aren’t affected by any effect that requires its target to be seen. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying is also concealed.
Attacks Affected. Attack Rolls against you have Disadvantage, and your Attack Rolls have Advantage.
Circumventing the Condition. If a creature uses Special Senses to "see" (e.g. using Blindsight), you don't gain the benefits of this Condition against that creature.
Ending the Condition. The Feature, Spell, or rule that granted you the Invisible Condition also states how and when the Condition ends on you.
Hidden [Condition]
While you have the Invisible Condition, you can also try to fully hide your location. While Hidden, you experience the following effects.
Surprise. If you’re Hidden when you roll Initiative, you have Advantage on the roll.
Unknown Location. Other creatures cannot descern your location. If previously alerted, they might still suspect your presence.
Circumventing the Condition. Creatures can use Special Senses (e.g. Tremorsense) to prevent you from being Hidden from them.
Ending the Condition. You stop being Hidden immediately after any of the following occurs: you make a sound louder than a whisper, an enemy can see you, you make an Attack Roll, or you cast a Spell with a Verbal Component.