The World of Avlis

I have let my son start playing a bit on an online world. I have watched him both to see what all goes on there to make sure it is alright for him and also to make sure that he is acting correctly. So far most of it seems fine. A bit of language once in a bit, but not too bad and he is going to hear it at school anyways.

This is an Action server and basically just PvP so people can make builds and get ratings. There are tournaments and things and he has fun. I noticed one thing when he was playing though and I am curious if this is a game engine exploit or if this is how things work.

He will be in battle and then the opponent will start running. He chases them around and they will run around the corner of a building and *poof*, disappear. I just assumed that they were HIPsing until I found out some of the players did not have HIPs. So that left me to the conclusion that they are just hiding as soon as they make the corner (unless I am missing something). This would be impossible since his PC is on their tail chasing them from battle. The only thing that makes it possible is that the game engine is looking at the position of his PC, the position of their PC and the corner of the building, which would block line of sight as far as the engine is concerned, but as far as battle goes, he would still be able to see them because he is right there on them.

So am I correct in saying that this is a game engine exploit?

Thanks.
Scott

IMO: They're breaking combat long enough to enter stealth, it's not really an exploit...it's just stealth

From what I understand you can pass behind something as small as a tree and it is considered leaving line of sight for stealth purposes.

Have him try to raise his listen score with a few items, and see if that still happens.

Correct.. they are using the LoS engine rule to activate Stealth.

Grunt wrote:IMO: They're breaking combat long enough to enter stealth, it's not really an exploit...it's just stealth

I have never played a sneaker so that is why I was asking. I would have thought that they would have needed to be out of sight to stealth. If you don't have to be then what is the use of HIPs?

As I said, he is chasing them so there is no way as far as battle goes that they could get out of sight. Everyone has haste. and monk speed is disabled, so the PCs are the same speed. Actually one of his PCs is a barbarian so it should be able to gain if anything. That rules out being able to get far enough ahead to get out of sight.

From what I understand you can pass behind something as small as a tree and it is considered leaving line of sight for stealth purposes.

I can totally understand that if they actually get out of sight, but in PnP, there is no way that someone is going to get out of sight as I am chasing right on their tail, even if they do go around the corner, so it has to be the game engine in my opinion.

Correct.. they are using the LoS engine rule to activate Stealth.

What is LoS? I am terrible at acronyms.

Have him try to raise his listen score with a few items, and see if that still happens

I had him bump it up in the 70s or 80s. Does not matter. I am guessing since he is running trying to attack that it is applying the negative bonuses to him.

I guess it all depends on how you look at it.

Thanks again.
Scott

This is a fairly common strategy in most PvP servers that have disabled Shadowdancing as its overpowered. Instead, you Corner-sneak like this-- as soon as you've broken direct line of sight (LoS) with someone, you can hide from them again. It's "cheap," but yeah, that's what it is. Not an exploit, just using the rules of the engine.

also, Barbarian speed + haste = Normal person + haste though. Barbarian speed doesn't stack with anything.

PS the most effective counter-strategy is to drop Horrid Wilting where you know they are. Area of effect and a fort save means you'll hit 'em most of the time

dhocott wrote:From what I understand you can pass behind something as small as a tree and it is considered leaving line of sight for stealth purposes.

Not all objects block line of sight.

You can still "see" them on the screen, but really you're only hearing them. They will appear transparent (as if under imp. invis) once they've broken line of sight. They can then hide.

Anything that breaks line of sight can be used to do this. Even invisibility or darkness.

LoS = Line of Sight
AoE = Area of Effect (in case it comes up)

I would suggest using anything that can do Hold Person or Slow, if you have anything that can do it.

Pip Garthyk wrote:LoS = Line of Sight
AoE = Area of Effect (in case it comes up)

I would suggest using anything that can do Hold Person or Slow, if you have anything that can do it.

I am guessing they would make saves since most are level 60. Seems that Action worlds are quite different. I have played around with helping him make some builds, but i have learned that I am a terrible build maker when it comes to making something powerful. I see people crit/smite/whatever for 350-800pts damage. i just kind of scratch my head.

He got some DM help and has a pretty good PC, other than people running aorudn the corner hiding from him.

Scott