Can a lightfoot halfling use the ability to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed?

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Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:




You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.




Can a lightfoot halfling use this trait to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed? Or does the general restriction against hiding while being observed preclude the lightfoot halfling's ability to hide behind a larger creature?



Must the halfling be unobserved before moving behind a larger creature, or does moving behind the larger creature now meet the "unobserved" requirement?










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    up vote
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    Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:




    You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.




    Can a lightfoot halfling use this trait to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed? Or does the general restriction against hiding while being observed preclude the lightfoot halfling's ability to hide behind a larger creature?



    Must the halfling be unobserved before moving behind a larger creature, or does moving behind the larger creature now meet the "unobserved" requirement?










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      8
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      8
      down vote

      favorite











      Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:




      You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.




      Can a lightfoot halfling use this trait to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed? Or does the general restriction against hiding while being observed preclude the lightfoot halfling's ability to hide behind a larger creature?



      Must the halfling be unobserved before moving behind a larger creature, or does moving behind the larger creature now meet the "unobserved" requirement?










      share|improve this question















      Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:




      You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.




      Can a lightfoot halfling use this trait to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed? Or does the general restriction against hiding while being observed preclude the lightfoot halfling's ability to hide behind a larger creature?



      Must the halfling be unobserved before moving behind a larger creature, or does moving behind the larger creature now meet the "unobserved" requirement?







      dnd-5e stealth racial-traits halfling






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      edited 21 mins ago









      V2Blast

      16.2k239103




      16.2k239103










      asked 12 hours ago









      Wyrmwood

      4,9821434




      4,9821434




















          2 Answers
          2






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          up vote
          11
          down vote



          accepted










          Yes, they can.



          In 5e, any character is able to Hide as soon as they move into an 'obscured' area - even if they were observed during the movement on the way to that area. The only bit that matters is that they end their movement with something substantial breaking line of sight between them and the observer, and have enough remaining actions to Hide.



          In the case of the Lightfoot Halfing, they are allowed to treat a space behind a larger creature as 'obscured', hence can move behind such a creature and Hide even if they were observed before / during that action. The only caveat would be that the larger creature must be blocking line of sight to the observer(s) at the time that the Hide action was taken.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.













          • 5




            It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
            – Cliff
            9 hours ago










          • I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
            – V2Blast
            20 mins ago


















          up vote
          3
          down vote













          The ability says that they can hide behind a creature larger than themselves, and it really does mean that. It is a specific exception to the general rule. If they're behind a larger creature, they are unseen for the purpose of hiding.






          share|improve this answer




















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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            11
            down vote



            accepted










            Yes, they can.



            In 5e, any character is able to Hide as soon as they move into an 'obscured' area - even if they were observed during the movement on the way to that area. The only bit that matters is that they end their movement with something substantial breaking line of sight between them and the observer, and have enough remaining actions to Hide.



            In the case of the Lightfoot Halfing, they are allowed to treat a space behind a larger creature as 'obscured', hence can move behind such a creature and Hide even if they were observed before / during that action. The only caveat would be that the larger creature must be blocking line of sight to the observer(s) at the time that the Hide action was taken.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.













            • 5




              It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
              – Cliff
              9 hours ago










            • I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
              – V2Blast
              20 mins ago















            up vote
            11
            down vote



            accepted










            Yes, they can.



            In 5e, any character is able to Hide as soon as they move into an 'obscured' area - even if they were observed during the movement on the way to that area. The only bit that matters is that they end their movement with something substantial breaking line of sight between them and the observer, and have enough remaining actions to Hide.



            In the case of the Lightfoot Halfing, they are allowed to treat a space behind a larger creature as 'obscured', hence can move behind such a creature and Hide even if they were observed before / during that action. The only caveat would be that the larger creature must be blocking line of sight to the observer(s) at the time that the Hide action was taken.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.













            • 5




              It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
              – Cliff
              9 hours ago










            • I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
              – V2Blast
              20 mins ago













            up vote
            11
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            11
            down vote



            accepted






            Yes, they can.



            In 5e, any character is able to Hide as soon as they move into an 'obscured' area - even if they were observed during the movement on the way to that area. The only bit that matters is that they end their movement with something substantial breaking line of sight between them and the observer, and have enough remaining actions to Hide.



            In the case of the Lightfoot Halfing, they are allowed to treat a space behind a larger creature as 'obscured', hence can move behind such a creature and Hide even if they were observed before / during that action. The only caveat would be that the larger creature must be blocking line of sight to the observer(s) at the time that the Hide action was taken.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            Yes, they can.



            In 5e, any character is able to Hide as soon as they move into an 'obscured' area - even if they were observed during the movement on the way to that area. The only bit that matters is that they end their movement with something substantial breaking line of sight between them and the observer, and have enough remaining actions to Hide.



            In the case of the Lightfoot Halfing, they are allowed to treat a space behind a larger creature as 'obscured', hence can move behind such a creature and Hide even if they were observed before / during that action. The only caveat would be that the larger creature must be blocking line of sight to the observer(s) at the time that the Hide action was taken.







            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer






            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered 11 hours ago









            John Goblin

            2264




            2264




            New contributor




            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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            New contributor





            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            John Goblin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.







            • 5




              It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
              – Cliff
              9 hours ago










            • I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
              – V2Blast
              20 mins ago













            • 5




              It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
              – Cliff
              9 hours ago










            • I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
              – V2Blast
              20 mins ago








            5




            5




            It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
            – Cliff
            9 hours ago




            It is also worth noting that "hidden" doesn't necessarily negate object permanence. You are "out of sight" but not necessarily "out of mind". Most spells/attacks that target a creature have the requirement "target a creature you can see"
            – Cliff
            9 hours ago












            I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
            – V2Blast
            20 mins ago





            I'd suggest editing the header ("Yes, they can.") to clarify which question you're responding to, since the title and body of the post ask both the positive form of the question and the opposite of it.
            – V2Blast
            20 mins ago













            up vote
            3
            down vote













            The ability says that they can hide behind a creature larger than themselves, and it really does mean that. It is a specific exception to the general rule. If they're behind a larger creature, they are unseen for the purpose of hiding.






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              The ability says that they can hide behind a creature larger than themselves, and it really does mean that. It is a specific exception to the general rule. If they're behind a larger creature, they are unseen for the purpose of hiding.






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                The ability says that they can hide behind a creature larger than themselves, and it really does mean that. It is a specific exception to the general rule. If they're behind a larger creature, they are unseen for the purpose of hiding.






                share|improve this answer












                The ability says that they can hide behind a creature larger than themselves, and it really does mean that. It is a specific exception to the general rule. If they're behind a larger creature, they are unseen for the purpose of hiding.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 12 hours ago









                Derek Stucki

                19.9k665105




                19.9k665105



























                     

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