Sneaking question.

Mimik

Do you level/get points in sneaking the more you use it? It seems to be a passive amount, I assume level based. My Templar has not done much sneaking but I am wondering if I need to be using it just to "skill it up"?

Inversus

There is no way, currently, to get better at sneaking.
Sneaking gives no experience - for now it is just useful.

You can use it for sneak attacks, and staying hidden - that's about it.

Mimik

Inversus wrote: »

There is no way, currently, to get better at sneaking.
Sneaking gives no experience - for now it is just useful.
You can use it for sneak attacks, and staying hidden - that's about it.

I thought as much, Thanks Buddy!

Honn

Sneaking can only be improved by passives, for example a Khajit has a passive sneaking boost. You can also use medium armor & put points into the sneaking passive to improve sneaking.
You don't have to wear all medium armor, just enough to give you the benefit of the passive.

Dragonetti

Can I tack on a question about sneaking here:

Does the mechanic work the same as in other MMOs as far as players and/or mobs seeing you? I guess the lack of a *poof* animation puts me off but am I invisible out of a certain radius (obviously level difference and skill dependent)?

Inversus

@Dragonetti
Sneaking works on a radius around other players/NPCs.
If you are a far way away from an enemy, they can't see you.
If you are within their radius, you are suddenly visible - you'll know they've seen you when the eye cursor opens fully.

The radius can be reduced in a few ways - for instance I believe nightblades have access to better sneaking.

Dragonetti

So when the eye opens fully, I am effectively out of stealth for all enemies?

elfindreams

Does field of view affect it... i.e. can I sneak right up behind an NPC or is it purely radius based. How about lighting?

One thing I have been disappointed in is the lack of stealth based solutions to quests... there have been a couple where you needed to get into an area that I was able to sneak up to a door without the guard noticing and was put off by the fact that I couldn't pick the door and go in... it seems like actual sneak gameplay is missing... makes me wonder about the thieves guild questsline when it comes out.

Honn

Field of view has a great impact on your ability to sneak....you will not be able to sneak in front of someones FOV, whether its an NPC or player.
In PVP, you have to break Line Of Sight for the stealth to kick in if you are in view of other players. Not too sure if NPC's can still detect you even after you do this....

Stealth in general is radius based, but with the Field of View rules in place. So you can get closer from behind than you can get from the front.

Maybe the stealth gaming will be improved a little when/if they incorporate the Thieves Guild.

elfindreams

Honn wrote: »

Field of view has a great impact on your ability to sneak....you will not be able to sneak in front of someones FOV, whether its an NPC or player.
In PVP, you have to break Line Of Sight for the stealth to kick in if you are in view of other players. Not too sure if NPC's can still detect you even after you do this....

Stealth in general is radius based, but with the Field of View rules in place. So you can get closer from behind than you can get from the front.

Maybe the stealth gaming will be improved a little when/if they incorporate the Thieves Guild.

Thanks I hope you are right about the thieves guild.

Inversus

Dragonetti wrote: »

So when the eye opens fully, I am effectively out of stealth for all enemies?

Closed = hidden
Half open = about to be found - be careful
Fully open = everyone can see you

I'm not sure how much FOV affects it - it's mostly radius based but I expect it's better to stay out of FOV.

elfindreams

Inversus wrote: »

Dragonetti wrote: »

So when the eye opens fully, I am effectively out of stealth for all enemies?

Closed = hidden
Half open = about to be found - be careful
Fully open = everyone can see you

I'm not sure how much FOV affects it - it's mostly radius based but I expect it's better to stay out of FOV.

Actually not true. Fully Open means /someone/ can see you. Stealth is factored on an enemy by enemy basis as far as I can tell. Just because one enemy can see you doesn't mean they all can... for example you can stealth attack an enemy with the eye open provided the one you are attacking isn't the one that detects you.