Invisibility, sanctuary, greater sanctuary and similar spells should also be used appropriately, and never used to exploit creature AI or bypass spawns when it does not make sense to do so.
Unfortunately, due to game mechanics, there's a very fine line between "smart tactics" and "abuse of AI". Picking one creature at a time out of a group because of perception limits is borderline abusive at best. Bringing the whole spawn into an ambush can be considered smart tactics. Getting creatures trapped by geographic features is abuse of AI. I think you can see a pattern emerging. The best gauge here is common sense. Or perhaps a simple question: Does this feel wrong or like cheating? If the answer there is "yes" then you probably should not be doing it.
Dremora has given me cause to go and look for any guidance on luring monsters out of a group to attack them in a more tactically sound position but I can't find anything so would be obliged if someone could post any link(s) for me to look up.
I guess this applies to hiding in shadows, Hiding in Plain Sight as well, so my question would be: when would it make sense to use these spells/abilities (q.v.)? A spell caster routinely uses invisibility to avoid combat and/or detection and the hole raison d'etre behind the shadowdancer is to hide in plain sight, so if these spells/abilities are not to be used when it does not make sense to do so, it would help enormously to know when such circumstances arise otherwise shadowdancers will be become a shadow of their former selves.
I think getting a definate, black and white, carved in stone.... "do this" ... "Dont do that" is next to impossible. Unless you want to come down with any luring, of any single, double creatures from a larger encounter is luring and therefor breakign the rules. If so you pretty much kill every chance at anyone doing anymore solo travel in the game with the intent of gaining XP.
Is luring abused? Im sure it can be abused, heck I lured things even with my EPIC ranger (cause he is too weak compared to other classes... yeah another can of worms there I know). Show me a game of this kind where people don't lure to some extent. Any i've experienced luring happens.
Now the whole other question about invisibility, g-sanc, HIPS (Hide In Plain Sight) etc only when its appropriate and not to pass by spawns..... really? Lets see... im out by myself and I see a pack of whatever that I clearly cant handle yet they are in the way of what I want or where I want to go... anyone can justify using methods to get past unseen.
These kinds of things are huge grey areas in my oppinion. I guess best answer I can give.... if what you doing feels like its wrong or cheating the system... It probably is.
Some game worlds ive seen have systems in place to help with luring.... Example- cave full of kobolds. If you shoot one inside the cave room... all of them come running. NWN kinda does this too I beleive.
Look at it from the monster side. Even the dumbest ogre is gonna see his comrade pick up his axe and run off screaming and go see what is going on..... unlike how the GAME AI works where they just keep roaming like idiots untill its their turn.
So yeah..... beats me what the answer is. Hard and fast rules or a little understanding within reason.