Lightly Obscured - Attack Penalty?

[SpikeFightwicky]

In the rules, it states that Lightly Obscured gives disadvantage on perception checks involving sight. It doesn't state anything about how this would affect Ranged attacks (that I was able to find). Is there a RAW for this? Would be fair to say ranged attacks at a target that is lightly obscured are at a disadvantage? Would this instead be considered some manner of Cover?

If a goblin was in half-cover surrounded by patchy fog (lightly obscured), would he have +2 AC and disadvantage for ranged attacks aimed at him?

[PhoenixPhyre]

In the rules, it states that Lightly Obscured gives disadvantage on perception checks involving sight. It doesn't state anything about how this would affect Ranged attacks (that I was able to find). Is there a RAW for this? Would be fair to say ranged attacks at a target that is lightly obscured are at a disadvantage? Would this instead be considered some manner of Cover?

If a goblin was in half-cover surrounded by patchy fog (lightly obscured), would he have +2 AC and disadvantage for ranged attacks aimed at him?

No, not by RAW.

Concealment makes it so you can hide/harder to discover if hiding. That's all. Being unseen (as a result of hiding or due to total concealment) grants advantage on attack rolls made by the creature and disadvantage on all attack rolls against them.

Cover, on the other hand, grants bonuses to AC and DEX saves. Cover =/= concealment. Cover can grant concealment, but they're separate effects.

[Dalebert]

You read it right. No effect on combat. Keep in mind that total Darkness is dim light (so lightly obscured) to people with dark vision. Just disadvantage on perception. Basically it's easier to hide but if you're not hiding, people can attack you fine.

[SpikeFightwicky]

Ok cool. Thanks to all for information!

[Man_Over_Game]

No, not by RAW.

Concealment makes it so you can hide/harder to discover if hiding. That's all. Being unseen (as a result of hiding or due to total concealment) grants advantage on attack rolls made by the creature and disadvantage on all attack rolls against them.

Cover, on the other hand, grants bonuses to AC and DEX saves. Cover =/= concealment. Cover can grant concealment, but they're separate effects.

PP covered most of it, but here's a bit more information for you:

Cover: Physical obstacle (Wall of Force).

Obscuration: Visual obstacle (Fog Cloud).

An example of both would be a wall.



Light Obscuration means that people have Disadvantage on Perception checks to see you, and Heavy Obscuration means they can't see you at all. Heavy Obscuration also means you're Unseen, and attacking while Unseen grants you Advantage on your attack.

You can Hide when you are Unseen, which means that the creature both can't see you AND doesn't know where you are (because you're being really quiet).

There's a large piece of the community misunderstanding the rules regarding stealth and being Unseen, but it boils down to this:

You do not need to Hide to get Advantage for attacking from Cover.

The Advantage you get from your attack is from the Unseen Attacker rules, and you're required to be Unseen to be able to Hide, but Hide doesn't mean that you get Advantage on your next attack...because being Unseen already provides that for you. If you weren't Unseen already, you couldn't Hide in the first place.

More information here:

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/132267/45619 (Difference between a physical and visual obstacle)
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/134902/45619 (You can pop from cover to attack with Advantage without being seen)
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/131604/45619 (You can attack from cover with Advantage without needing to be hidden)
https://rpg.stackexchange.com/a/124650/45619 (How do you use the Hide action, if not for granting Advantage?)



Theoretically, any ranged attacker could stay behind a wall and attack with Advantage every round by "popping" out.

[Man_Over_Game]

One last thing: If you want to get really weird about it, Light Obscuration imposes Disadvantage on visual Perception checks, Heavy Obscuration prevents ANY visuals whatsoever, Disadvantage on a Passive Check is treated as a -5, you're required to be Unseen (AKA Obscured) when attempting to Hide, and Hide requires a contested Stealth vs. Passive Perception Check.

Or, effectively, all attempts to see a creature that's Hidden are made with a -5 (or Disadvantage) or the searcher fails completely in the case of Heavy Obscuration, including the initial Active Stealth vs. Passive Perception contest. The only time Perception wouldn't get -5/Disadvantage is if the searching creature was using a sense other than sight (like smell or hearing).

Using these combinations of rules, and the fact that you already have to be Unseen to Hide, a creature that cannot use a secondary sense (hearing, smell) to search for creatures automatically fails to detect hidden creatures (if those creatures could Hide in the first place). Deafening a creature now has a use!

[Rationale01]

In the rules, it states that Lightly Obscured gives disadvantage on perception checks involving sight. It doesn't state anything about how this would affect Ranged attacks (that I was able to find). Is there a RAW for this? Would be fair to say ranged attacks at a target that is lightly obscured are at a disadvantage? Would this instead be considered some manner of Cover?

If a goblin was in half-cover surrounded by patchy fog (lightly obscured), would he have +2 AC and disadvantage for ranged attacks aimed at him?


Here are your general lighting rules to answer https:// youtu.be/icyNGxr1iSI[/url]

And here is a video specifically on Lightly obscured. https: //youtu.be/YutHfu_bU2o[/url]
I made a space in-between the URL in order to post it so you will have to correct it after you paste it in to your browser because I am a new member and can't post links yet

[Peelee]

The Mod on the Silver Mountain: Necromancy often carried an attack penalty.