Poll - Stealth: What do you think about the "Hidden" animation?

Korozenn

This is something that's been on my mind for a while now.

I used to solely use third-person view for everything in this game, but when I go into stealth, my character suddenly becomes darker as I go into the "Hidden" state. To me, this is a major eyesore in the game because, whereas I use to be able to still feel immersed in the environment I was in while I was stealthed, now my character become as dark as a shadow when moving through completely open and sun-lit areas like the Alik'r Desert. I didn't notice this until I came back post v1.2.X after a small hiatus I had from the release of the Craglorn update.

So, I'm curious: what do you all think about the way your character darkens when you go into the "Hidden" state? Do you think that ZOS should change it back to how it used to be where you were just displayed as being in the "Hidden" state and not have the darkening animation play on your character and his/her equipment, or would you prefer it to stay the same, or even see an option made to prevent it from happening?

Feel free to voice your opinions below!

Korozenn

Yes - I think ZeniMax should change the "Hidden" animation that plays to be either not as dark or remove the animation altogether.

I think ZeniMax should at the very least change the animation so that it doesn't darken your character 'as much', but I really don't think anything other than the word "Hidden" and the eye-shutting on your interface needs to be seen to know you're hidden. To me, it just really hampers those stealth moments where you are supposed to feel immersed and take in your environments around you while playing in third-person view.

ThisOnePosts

No - I prefer how it looks now, and/or didn't even really notice the difference. It doesn't affect my play experience while in third-person view.

I prefer how it is now. I understand what you are saying, however I think it's best left as is and is not something ZOS needs to even look at right now.

Ser Lobo

No - I prefer how it looks now, and/or didn't even really notice the difference. It doesn't affect my play experience while in third-person view.

I would have liked to see stealth turned into something more meaningful that what is traditional in TES games. Any class or character can stealth, and thus the use of stealth should (in my mind) require more skill and effort.

Using shadows, line of sight, and camouflage. I would have loved if the stealth mechanics in this game had been more involved, allowing for alternate, hard to reach paths in delves (some requiring creative jumping maybe), extra entry points in buildings, torches and direct light reducing stealth efficiency, being able to use disguises (both magical and mundane) to infiltrate enemy groups, etc.

And then I would have spread the skills along a variety of line. Urban stealth skills, including blending in with crowds or being able to climb and walk on roofs, would be in the thieves guild line. Blending into tall grass or trees on a bright day, or tracking local wildlife (and keeping them from being spooked and running away at your approach) would have been something available to a hunting guild. Being able to find secret passages in caves, or hidden paths that avoid patrols, or even disguise yourself as a goblin or undead would have been something available to Undaunted.

Then, make normal stealth almost completely useless to the average player, unless they are sitting completely still in a dark corner or are far enough away and not moving.

Korozenn

Yes - I think ZeniMax should change the "Hidden" animation that plays to be either not as dark or remove the animation altogether.

To be clear, this topic was just about the animation that plays in third-person view, though I can get where you're coming from @ruze84b14_ESO‌ .

I miss the aspect of having to take refuge on moutaintops or slowly sneak behind enemies to avoid being seen a la Skyrim, whereas you can seemingly be stealthed in plain sight in this game. However, I realize it's just one of the quirks we have to deal with as the game itself is structured as an MMO would be (i.e. not having hordes of enemies notice you the moment you walk into a room and bombard you). It's an aspect of this game that shares a love-hate relationship with me.

I love that the game flows well together while keeping in mind that the game is both TES and an Online RPG game, and it accounts for both sides I think fairly well. Probably as well as it can find technically feasible. What I don't like is that idea of somehow becoming a dark figure stealthed in a place like the desert or other open areas, where the sun is scorching down on your back, and you're looking like a shadow. That just cuts immersion for me in third-person view, and seeing that that view is where I feel immersed in combat situations, stealth mechanics took a hit for me when that animation was introduced because now I go into first-person view so I don't have to be bothered by it, switching between the two (it gets annoying when you have groups of enemies to deal with).

Hoping we can at least see some sort of an option to remove that visual animation, either through ZeniMax or the use of an add-on, in the future.