So, I don't really hold much hope for these suggestions, but I thought I'd throw them out there.
Aside from the potential for abuse that resides in spamming HiPS (something which I'm assuming is no longer feared quiet as badly since the restrictions on Shadowdancers were adjusted a bit,) there was always the issue with the fact that, with one level of shadowdancer, a character could have HiPS by level 6. I agree that something like that is particularly problematic, to the point that in my own PnP games I tend to disallow the class/enforce levels of the class being taken to a certain point.
With that said- while I agree level 6 is too soon, I think level 13 and level 17 aren't particularly unreasonable. In line with that, I present the following information;
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/assassin.htmHide in Plain Sight (Su)
At 8th level, an assassin can use the Hide skill even while being observed. As long as he is within 10 feet of some sort of shadow, an assassin can hide himself from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind. He cannot, however, hide in his own shadow.
ANNNND
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/ranger.htmCamouflage (Ex)
A ranger of 13th level or higher can use the Hide skill in any sort of natural terrain, even if the terrain doesn’t grant cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex)
While in any sort of natural terrain, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
I figured since many of the classes and spells have been 3.5-ized, I might throw this out there as a suggestion. I'll go ahead and admit it outright- part of it has to do with the fact that a long time ago I submitted a character for shadowdancer and they were turned down, and they are now approaching their 8th level in assassin. The other part has to do with the fact that pure rangers, while by no means crippled, tend to generally be agreed upon as one of the classes least taken to pure epic levels, and that assassins always have seemed to me the sort of person you SHOULD expect to just pop up out of nowhere, slit your throat (or try,) and vanish.
As for the ranger's ability in particular, I know they get a feat that only provides bonuses in said natural terrain- perhaps some sort of check could be written where if they're getting the woodland stride bonus (I think that's the feat,) and have level 17, HIPS = yes.
*Puts on a blindfold* Fire when ready.
