Stealth and Shadow Cloak Issues Contd.

Sacadon · October 2014

The purpose of this thread is to track all key issues and events related to both stealth and shadow cloak (invisibility). Specifically, I think the chain of events are very illuminating in how key issues in this particular area continue. It may be due to a lack of priority and/or design. Regardless, I hope this helps both ZOS and us players keep the heat on addressing it.

I began tracking this since Aug-25 when ZOS removed the stacking of vamp passive and night silence set... Since that change a large amount of issues with both stealth (crouched/hidden) and Shadowy Cloak (both morphs) began.

ZOS has stated they have QA testing all things to figure out and fix what may break invisibility. They've also confirmed that stealth still has issues, yet ZOS still could improve upon consistently keeping us updated on when they will be done with their combing and testing of the code. In fairness, they have continued to improve in all areas communication included, but you've not reached the bar yet ZOS .

Main thread for Stealth Issue

>> Lineage <<

Aug 26 - Thread that triggered the "fix"

Aug 26 - Same day ZOS immediately responds

Sep 15 - Update 4 goes live and breaks a long list of core functionality (stealth & reticle behavior)

Sep 15 - ZOS mentions awareness

Sep 21 - 1.4.4 - Fixes stealthy passive, but stealth radius and reticle issues remain (but Fixes Night Silence, sigh)

Sep 23 - Projectiles after cloak should not take you out of cloak

Sep 24 - Eye opening design comment (reticle behavior while crouched/stealth)

Sep 24 - Overwhelming community response that stealth reticle behavior whether by design or not is significantly different

Oct 2 - Guild Summit, ZOS states that QA is going through every possible scenario to fix cloak

Oct 15 - Update from Gina/ZOS confirming we're correct in that stealth is not as it should be and/or was in addition to continued discovery as to what breaks cloak/invis.

Nov 3 - Update 5 (1.5.2)

> Potentially broken by update: Weapon swapping breaks both stealth and cloak
> Potentially resolved by update:
- You will no longer be revealed by the following abilities while Shadow Cloak is active:
Restoration Staff light attacks
Inner Fire
Cripple
-Fixed an issue where casting Force Siphon on an enemy would remove their Shadow Cloak.
- Your cloak will no longer be removed if you cast Scorched Earth (Volley morph) or Caltrops, then cast Shadow Cloak.
> Stealth - Reduced the amount of bonus damage provided by stealthed attacks against other player characters.

Cody · October 2014

they need to get stealth and cloak fixed ASAP. its getting old

Grim13 · October 2014

It's been broken for 6 months since release, and didn't even function properly during beta,...

I have such a low opinion of the developers atm that I'd be perma-banned if I told you exactly what I think about them.

seneferab16_ESO · October 2014

For me, stealth has been fixed in PvE. Invisibility (Shadow Cloak) is NOT fixed, and will frequently be seen through/broken by mobs.

I am not going to comment on PvP as in it's current state it is hard to know what is broken abilities and what is lag.

Edit:
Want to add that I am a Wood Elf support NB wearing light armor.
The eye opens just as usual when I am in stealth, and I can perform my melee sneak attacks just as I used to. Maybe it is Medium Armor stealth that is bugged?

Come to think about it, sometimes the sneak attack from bow skills won't crit and stun like they used to. This is more common if the enemy is facing me when doing a heavy attack/snipe. If I am behind it, I will always get expected results.

Is this intended?

bunnytrix · October 2014

Thanks omni..this issue needs to be kept alive.
Just a little tweak to your timeline...it was actually Update 4 itself that broke stealth..that was when the reticle changed, and 1.4.4 did nothing to fix it, but after this we got the eye opening design "explanation" from the mod, which was totally at odds to the stealth that we all knew from pre 1.4.

Before 1.4 we all know that the eye did not open at all while you were sneaking up on something if you had your stealth passives maxed. Never. Not until you used your opener ability or whatever...
And it is still broken. Still getting the "eye" opening at far greater distances than previously.
And still no word from ZoS.

GhostwalkerLD · October 2014

Stealth is still very much broken. I worry this may end up like certain other passives... that were broken by patches, ignored for weeks, then finally "fixed" by saying "Ohh, well, we ALWAYS intended it to be that way. We just corrected the tooltips to match the 'actual' value!"

Saet · October 2014

Yesterday Gina said they would try to get a statement out about Dark/Shadow Cloak by the end of the day. No idea if it would include any general stealth info but hopefully they will put it out today.

whiteshadow711jppreub18_ESO · October 2014

Gina just posted a response, Latest posts

Sacadon · October 2014

Updated timeline with Gina's latest, Thanks Gina.

I know and trust ZOS cares about their community. Just the same, we have to continue to hold them accountable to the degree in which we are able.

Curious to learn more about the stealth damage nerf.

Varicite · October 2014

I guess I'm not following how the stealth attack bonus damage changes are related to the issues of stealth itself not working correctly, or what Shadow Cloak has to do w/ the bonus damage changes at all.

But to answer the first question in the OP, it seems pretty simple: The change is aimed at raising the TTK from stealth-focused players, which is too low currently.

khele23eb17_ESO · October 2014

Varicite wrote: »

But to answer the first question in the OP, it seems pretty simple: The change is aimed at raising the TTK from stealth-focused players, which is too low currently.

The changes seem a bit over the top tho. Atm they seem like theyre aimed at changing the TTK from stealth-focused players to TTD of stealth-focused players.

Sacadon · October 2014

Varicite, agreed in the inconsistency of the OP in relation to the stealth damage nerf. So I updated the OP in hopes to clarify that I'm using the thread to track the overall debacle surrounding stealth and cloak.

Specifically, ZOS made the dev 101 mistake of making a change w/out adequate regression testing, then broke cloak more, but stealth significantly and yet continue to focus elsewhere as the priority.

To date I've observed a pattern from ZOS (sure I could be wrong) that still focuses significantly more on the business building side which gambles/neglects the retention side.

I want the new stuff too, just want them to improve their regression testing so when we get new things the existing doesn't break.

Varicite · October 2014

I think that most of the player base would agree w/ your sentiment.

Yusuf · October 2014

Cloak gets broken by physical attacks and gapclosers. I opened a thread about it to no avail

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/136709/congratulations-this-is-the-millionth-thread-about-nb-cloak-not-working-properly#latest