Quote Originally Posted by Ashdate View Post
Right, but that just makes the stealth rules clumsy. You generally make one check to attack, defend, disarm, heal, etc. Why should stealth rules involve making individual "contests" against each individual? It should be one roll for each side.
So when you run guards they all share the attack same roll? Because in game each of those other contests are against individual. It's not as different as you imply.

Keeping track of the hidden status is no more difficult that tracking who's dead on the battlefield. Arguably easier really, as the player is essentially setting their "spot" DC when they roll, and you only have to check one set of stats. Compared to combat when you have to track attacks, defenses, saving throws, and skills like balance, move silently, disable device, spellcraft.