I am sure that this topic is in a forum somewhere, but I couldn't find it in EotE, AoR, or FnD. Thus, I do apologize!

How do you handle stealth in combat? I'm asking because of some NPC's I've got coming up that are more stealth oriented. Specifically, my questions are:

Is stealth only meant to hide the person? And is this always an opposed check?

Can you make an attack roll using stealth? And does this add in any bonuses to damage? I was thinking that I would take the stealth ranks and cross it with the melee or brawl ranks to determine dice pool, if stealth attacks are made at all.

In the game I'm in, my character is an infiltrator spec and I get a boost die or two, depending upon how well I rolled stealth, to attack with. The extra boost dice add to the damage automatically. Stealth is only meant to hide the person. It is always an opposed check.

Stealth could be used to set up an attack, use the same bonuses from the combat table for advantages and triumphs. Or you might use stealth to gain cover. But stealth is still an action, so you shouldn't use stealth and combat in the same turn.

Oh right, how do you roll a backstab from stealth in this game? I mean, you are most likely stopped by target's soak or something.

Well that all depends typically active defenses like dodge and parry won't work if the person is unaware of the attacker.

So pretty much if someone is using stealth to sneak up or ambush someone the target would need to roll vigiliance or Perception against the opponents stealth so like for my sniper its 4 red 2 black to notice me hiding out. If they fail then I can attack them and they can't use parry or dodge to avoid my attacks. Once I attack them they can make another roll to figure out where I am if ranged possibly with bonuses from the sound or the muzzle flash or light reflecting off my scope.

Oh right, how do you roll a backstab from stealth in this game? I mean, you are most likely stopped by target's soak or something.

Closest thing to a "backstab" mechanic would be the Quick Strike talent, which can be described as you getting the drop on your target before they notice you're there.

Otherwise, it's just a normal combat check.

Also, if boost dice are supposed to represent environmental factors and other circumstances working in a character's favor, a boost die or two to the attack roll would be the way to deal with the situation.

If nothing else, hidden character should be able to get a boost die or two to an attack via aiming.

Oh right, how do you roll a backstab from stealth in this game? I mean, you are most likely stopped by target's soak or something.

Closest thing to a "backstab" mechanic would be the Quick Strike talent, which can be described as you getting the drop on your target before they notice you're there.

Otherwise, it's just a normal combat check.

Ah, well that's kinda lame, considering if your character needs to take out someone unaware REALLY fast and it doesn't seem to be possible.

It is possible, the infiltrator in my old party ganked minions all the time. Even got the occasional rival. Trying to sneak up and solo one shot a Nemesis, would be more difficult.

There's no inherent bonuses, besides those already mentioned.

The character would do best with 'Sorry about the Mess' 'Quick Strike' and a bunch of 'Lethal Blows' talents combined with a good Skill/Char, a vicious 2 or 3 and even some True Aim if you can get it.

Basically aiming for more than +100 to the crit roll on that first attack... If you do you have a 50/50 chance of an Insta, and a 100% of that NPC having a really bad day.

Oh right, how do you roll a backstab from stealth in this game? I mean, you are most likely stopped by target's soak or something.

Closest thing to a "backstab" mechanic would be the Quick Strike talent, which can be described as you getting the drop on your target before they notice you're there.

Otherwise, it's just a normal combat check.

Ah, well that's kinda lame, considering if your character needs to take out someone unaware REALLY fast and it doesn't seem to be possible.

Well, not every character is going to have the kind of skill set needed for a perfect "backstab." After all, not every D&D character has levels in Rogue, for whom the backstab ability is their primary means of inflicting damage; fighter-types make do with big weapons and mages simply unleash the arcane fury.

As ghost warlock noted above, it's not out of the realm of possibility for a PC that successfully sneaked up on someone to get a boost die to their combat check to account for the PC having the element of surprise.

Remember also that your average guard is going to be a minion with a wound threshold of 5 at best, so either walloping them with a lot of damage or inflicting a critical injury is going to take that minion right out. If it's somebody with a name (be they a Rival or a Nemesis), then it shouldn't be an easy thing to simply dispatch that NPC with a single check.

Mechanically speaking, PCs with Quick Strike are simply better able to take advantage of that sort of opportunity, the same as a PC with Skilled Jockey is better able to deal with difficulties that might crop up during a vehicle chase or a PC with Technical Expertise can finish up computer-related tasks with greater speed than PCs without those talents.

Well there's a few ways really, first and most obviously is I rule you need to beat the highest enemies perception (since they can communicate) and if you do they obviously can't attack you but unless you're shooting from a concealed point (something that prompts enemies to know someone is somewhere hidden but they still need to make checks to find you, usually with some boost die for the shot) then they can't attack you. Second when you attack opponents who are unaware of you can't respond with active defenses i.e. No dodge, parry, reflect, etc and lastly in some instances I might throw a few boost die to the player if their stealth check generated advantag/triumph and that's what they spent it on.

As far as I understand the RAW Stealth has no specific effect on Combat, ie. it's does not have a stated bonus. The way I run it is as follows:

Stealth is an Action and as such cannot be initiated in the same Turn as an Attack.
A successful Stealth will allow:
1) a PC to reach any point of cover without being noticed and the PC will remain unnoticed until they act in such a way as to expose themselves (Attack) and/or move out of cover.

2) a PC to reach a target unnoticed to make an Attack. Basically they remain hidden until the last moment (end of Turn) then move to the Target to allow a Stealthed Attack in the following Turn.

A successful Stealth in itself does not give any bonus other than being unnoticed (and not targeted or reacted too), however any Advantages/Triumphs generated by the Stealth roll can be applied as a bonus to the following Attack.

Because of the length of a Combat Round I don't penalise the Target unless the PC chooses to spend Advantages to do so.