Stealth

While direct confrontation is one way to solve problems, it is far from the only way. Oftentimes, it is valuable to pass unseen, to evade and elude foes rather than to gun them down. Moreover, if it becomes necessary to use force, then better to use it from a position of strength against an unknown foe than to risk pain and death in a “fair fight”.

Stealth is generally not a specific action which a character performs. Instead, it is a series of states in which other actions are performed.

Stealth States

A stealthy character exists in one of three states — Revealed, Detected, or Hidden.

A revealed character is visible to their enemies and their precise location is known. Other characters can attack and react to revealed opponents normally—they’re assumed to communicate with one another when a target is revealed. Revealed is, in essence, a state where stealth has not been attempted or where stealth has failed.

A detected character is one who the enemy cannot currently see, but whose presence and approximate location are known. Other characters can attack and react to detected opponents normally, but the detected character for all purposes counts as Unseen. If a detected character has not been previously revealed, other characters may be unaware of the exact nature of the detected character; is that a deer in the bushes or an assassin?

A hidden character is one who the enemy cannot currently see, hear, or otherwise perceive, and whose location is not currently known. Sometimes, a hidden character’s presence may not be known either. Other characters cannot make attacks against a hidden opponent, and the hidden character is Unseen.