Questions about shadar-kai (edit: umbral sight/gloom stalker)

[Trash Panda]

What's the fairest way to deal with a shadar-kai player in combat. The guy has like 120ft range on his longbow and is completly invisible during 99% of combat encounters. Firing randomly in the direction arrows are coming from I feel kind of singles out the uniqueness of a shadar-kai.

I've tried having enemies hide from the fire, but even with disadvantaged shots it doesn't do much as it's not like the enemies are going to ever hurt him. I've tried heavy armor enemies too to no avail. I can't lob too much in the way of spellcasters at the group either because they are only level 4 lol (although they did tackle a roper pretty well).

What's worse, he only needs dim light to just be invisible completly. So all he has to do is like stand in a shadow, and regardless of the time of day unless he's in an open field I can't legitimitly say there isn't any nearby. I can't just have enemies catapulting bags of flour at shadows either.

I feel like there's little to no threat to him whatsoever, and I feel that kind of takes the fun out of it for everybody, him included. I like to try and let my players play what they want, but I feel like the shadar-kai race is just kind of inherintly broken with the invisibility thing. The rest I can deal with.

halp...i need to be fair to him and the group, but what's the point of playing dnd with no threat whatsoever?

im a new dm, so i don't know what to do about it lol

[Daemini]

Class? Level? Archtype? Whats giving him 99% invisibility?

[ƤЄℙƐꝒÖⱣӨ]

Not much to go on actually, sounds like he has some features which helps him hide? One thing that comes to mind that might be causing your situation has to do with the simple fact that once a charachter or creature attacks it made its presence known. Even if a charachter is under the greater invisibility effect once they attack they are explicitly not undetected anymore and MUST get a successful hide check versus perception to be undetected again. Furthermore the DM should common sense and not allow someone to keep hiding from the same spot for attacks reguardless of the skill checks, if someone hides behind a rock and takes a shot, you still know someones shooting from behind the rock. Between these two scenarios alone you can see why an undetectible attacker isnt possible in the 5e system.

Not being able to see a target gives disadvantage, this goes both ways. Even if you attack from an arrow slit and leave the area you are still detected even if not visible until youtake the hide action successfully. Usually this deals with rogues trying to gain advantage for sneak attacks, however, if you mention the Shadar Kai race specifically I assume the jaunt feature causes you problem? If so, refer to the above, if you decide as a GM that using that feature would be noticable from light or sound effect then it should be LITERALLY impossible to use the feature to stealthily relocate because: It requires you to down someone which requires an action, meaning they cant hide that same turn because attack takes an action and the feature uses a bonus action, since not even rogues can hide as a reaction this race is exactly no more stealthy than any other.

Basically it sounds like the player is abusing the DM's lack of game knoweldge. Now that you know that NOTHING but the hide action can make you undetected after attacking it shouldnt be an issue for you anymore.

[nylanfs]

bags of flour, gust of wind.

[Trash Panda]

Huh, I was going to post information on it, but I conviniently can't find the damn trait anywhere. He's a level 4 shadar-kai ranger. The teleport isn't what I was talking about. I'm gonna have to talk to him about it, as I can't even find this invisibility thing on google. It sure as hell isn't in the mordenkainen book that I can find.

I'm wondering if this is some lore thing he read somewhere. It's weird because when he described it it's like he was reading from something. I have no clue what it is. We play tomorrow morning so I'll update then.

[Daemini]

After researching I believe he is talking about the Umbral Sight from the Gloom Stalker archtype.

Umbral Sight - You are also adept at evading creatures that rely on darkvision. While in darkness, you are invisible to any creature that relies on darkvision to see you in that darkness.

Darkness (PHB) - Darkness creates a heavily obscured area. Characters face darkness outdoors at night (even most moonlit nights), within the confines of an unlit dungeon or a subterranean vault, or in an area of magical darkness.

This works as if you where in your room and turned off all the light sources. It also covers Darkvision. If he is in dim light, this will not work. Invisible does not work like in video games, you can still see the outline of a person in a shadow. They would have to hide behind cover to be totally unseen. Then again still wont be "invisible".

Some useful stuff you could use is having an enemy cast Light, Daylight, Dancing Lights, throw a torch or something equivalent. Enemies can even flank and stealth up behind the party. Monsters have feelings, if they're getting picked off they might charge the position out of rage. You could also give him a skill challenge of sorts to distract him, having to hit a target (rope holding bolder above goblins), maybe the group mate next to him triggered a net trap and he helps to get them out.

Just some info to help you, I'm sure others will also add ideas.

[damned]

Of the character is not in source material that you own you should consider not using it
As he is already using it you should ask hm to provide you the source material

If the character is "breaking" the game and is detracting from yours and others fun you can either talk to them about it or engineer it to become less fun.

Have an intelligent enemy get sick of sending many minions after him and have him send is some stealthy opponent who can put a "mark" on the character.

From then on - until he discovers it - have all ranged attackers target him at no penalty and target him often. Take him out of the battle every time - but not kill him (unless he fails all his death saves).

If he starts wondering why have him find a clue or overhear a conversation that reveals that his secret is known to the big bad and that they are gonna get him sooner or later.

[nylanfs]

Umm, is this what he is? If so that is a monster and NOT, I repeat NOT deisgned for players.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/22816-shadar-kai

[Trash Panda]

It is in fact, umbral sight. I'll utilize some of the tips listed above, so thanks for that. Also, the shadar-kai was made a playable race in fantasy grounds with the release of mordenkainens tome, along with additional lore to their history.

[damned]

does Mordenkainen give you advice on how to handle them?

[Trash Panda]

lol no. the shadar-kai themselves aren't apparently the issue i was having anyways.

[damned]

I think your player is having a lend of you...
I had a quick look through Mornekainens Tome of Foes and the shadar-kai do not have all the abilities your player is claiming...

[Daemini]

Its already solved, read the above post from me.

[damned]

Originally posted by Daemini:

Its already solved, read the above post from me.

Awesome! Good stuff.