Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Shadow Dancer

ScottG · 09-08-2003, 09:40 PM

Like others at first I thought I wasn't getting the feature (hide in plain sight) because it wasn't offered as "wheel" selection.

Now obviously I'm finding it working, but getting it to work for you can be a bit tricky so I'd thought I'd share my experiences here.

First off as others have mentioned, hide in plain sight is simply an addition to your hide function. All you need to do to hide again is simply remove yourself from combat and press your hide function, (f1 or your hide button in the quickslot).

Now hiding during combat is easier said than done. The basic technique is: after making your attack while hidden, click on any floor surface to move to that destination and thus no longer be engaged in combat. (Usually moving away from opponent(s).) Then of course imeadiatly click on hide and then click on the opponent again to attack, (obviously trying for another sneak attack).

The problem is that when you click on the floor to move to a new location your making yourself susceptible to an attack of oppurtunity and possibly a sneak attack, (if your opponent has that ability). Most have suggested that to overcome this problem you should make your attacks ranged. Of course with a ranged attack you are out of distance for a melee attack of opportunity, (though you could still have a problem with ranged attackers).

But what if you want this cool feature for melee while limiting attacks of oppurtunity? Can you effectivly limit attacks of opputunity, sneak attacks, etc.? Well as it turns out to even have the opportunity to select the Shadow Dancer class you must have the feats Dodge and Mobility - both of which reduce this chance. To eliminate it all together you can select Spring Attack feat. Alternativly to "effectivly" eliminate it you can utilize a high Tumble skill (10+). Chances are (if you went the Rogue to Shadow Dancer route) you already have selected 10 points in Tumble.

Note: for multiple attackers during melee the feat Cleave works VERY well with Sneak Attacks simply because you will often kill the first target of your Sneak Attack with that one attack AND then you will still be "hidden" for your additional Cleave attack allowing another (near simultanious) Sneak Attack. (Great Cleave simply amplifies this effect.) If your facing a tough opponent AND at least one other "easy" (low hit point) opponent then you should first attack the weaker opponent so that you can kill with that first strike and have the next one "transfer" to the tougher opponent. Its still advantageous to have Cleave and Greater Cleave when you have the "hide in plain sight" feature because your getting EXTRA attacks with them.

[ 09-08-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: ScottG ]

09-08-2003, 09:40 PM	#1
ScottG Drow Warrior Join Date: June 13, 2003 Location: Never Never Land Age: 55 Posts: 267	Like others at first I thought I wasn't getting the feature (hide in plain sight) because it wasn't offered as "wheel" selection. Now obviously I'm finding it working, but getting it to work for you can be a bit tricky so I'd thought I'd share my experiences here. First off as others have mentioned, hide in plain sight is simply an addition to your hide function. All you need to do to hide again is simply remove yourself from combat and press your hide function, (f1 or your hide button in the quickslot). Now hiding during combat is easier said than done. The basic technique is: after making your attack while hidden, click on any floor surface to move to that destination and thus no longer be engaged in combat. (Usually moving away from opponent(s).) Then of course imeadiatly click on hide and then click on the opponent again to attack, (obviously trying for another sneak attack). The problem is that when you click on the floor to move to a new location your making yourself susceptible to an attack of oppurtunity and possibly a sneak attack, (if your opponent has that ability). Most have suggested that to overcome this problem you should make your attacks ranged. Of course with a ranged attack you are out of distance for a melee attack of opportunity, (though you could still have a problem with ranged attackers). But what if you want this cool feature for melee while limiting attacks of oppurtunity? Can you effectivly limit attacks of opputunity, sneak attacks, etc.? Well as it turns out to even have the opportunity to select the Shadow Dancer class you must have the feats Dodge and Mobility - both of which reduce this chance. To eliminate it all together you can select Spring Attack feat. Alternativly to "effectivly" eliminate it you can utilize a high Tumble skill (10+). Chances are (if you went the Rogue to Shadow Dancer route) you already have selected 10 points in Tumble. Note: for multiple attackers during melee the feat Cleave works VERY well with Sneak Attacks simply because you will often kill the first target of your Sneak Attack with that one attack AND then you will still be "hidden" for your additional Cleave attack allowing another (near simultanious) Sneak Attack. (Great Cleave simply amplifies this effect.) If your facing a tough opponent AND at least one other "easy" (low hit point) opponent then you should first attack the weaker opponent so that you can kill with that first strike and have the next one "transfer" to the tougher opponent. Its still advantageous to have Cleave and Greater Cleave when you have the "hide in plain sight" feature because your getting EXTRA attacks with them. [ 09-08-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: ScottG ]