Cyrodiil - why can't I sneak around enemy towers/flags?

GrimMauKin · July 2014

I'm pretty new to Cyrodiil but have built up a fairly useful VT1 Nightblade. Generally crouched stealth works well but there are several instances around enemy towers and flags when I'm instantly spotted, when crouched, from great distances by any enemy NPCs with line of sight.

In the first instance I was working my way around a tower from the rear in crouched stealth mode; the instance I rounded the tower giving the Honour Guard in the distance (scaled I would guess about 40-50 feet away) giving one of two of them line of sight to about half of my body, I was visible.

In the second I was working my way along a cliff ledge in crouched stealth mode with the cliff between me and the tower, as I passed by a cleft in the rock (again from a distance of about 40-50 feet) I was spotted by someone on the tower, who I don't think that looking in my direction, through branches.

Is this by design?

It's a bit tough on a Nightblade on a scouting mission if they can't employ crouched stealth mode! Shadow Cloak made me completely invisible in the same sort of situations but lasts under 3 seconds.

GrimMauKin · July 2014

Any thoughts?

dsalter · July 2014

the "elite" guards can see through stealth

GrimMauKin · July 2014

Thank you, I didn't realise that.

It's another kick in the teeth for Nightblades though as I've put a lot of effort into a stealth build which is now useless in these particular situations.

Maulkin · July 2014

GrimMauKin wrote: »

Thank you, I didn't realise that.

It's another kick in the teeth for Nightblades though as I've put a lot of effort into a stealth build which is now useless in these particular situations.

Not really....

Keeps and resources are supposed to be safe havens for the alliance that owns them (until taken). People being able to sneak past guards in or around these locations would lead to massive abuse by stealthed groups. Not to mention that people would stealth-camp the keep door and gank whoever exited.

If you're talking about the daily scouting quests, the reports can be completed from a safe distance. Far enough that you don't even have to be stealthed.

If ganking is your game, then you just have to move to a safe distance from the keep and bide your time. Sooner or later you'll spot a lone traveller going from A to B and you'll get your chance at ganking them. Loads of NBs do this already with a good degree of success. There's a lot of choke points where people have to pass through that give you this opportunity, you just have to find them.

GrimMauKin · July 2014

I can see the reasoning against stealthing, but why not just redress the balance by decreasing stealth range or increasing the chance of discovery rather than negating it in its entirety? With the various medium armour and Kahjit racial passives chosen, in addition to the basic stealth skills, to create a stealth build there are a serious number of skills points completely ignored (wasted) in these situations; tanks or other build types don't seem to be equally penalised. A stealthless stealth build is pretty vulnerable and potentially useless.

I do think that a moderated reduction in stealth ability would be best rather than a total wipe out!

GrimMauKin · July 2014

Just to clarify though, it's specifically crouched stealth that the elite guards can see through; stealth as a result of Shadow Cloak does work (albeit briefly).

Merlin13KAGL · July 2014

GrimMauKin wrote: »

Thank you, I didn't realise that.

It's another kick in the teeth for Nightblades though as I've put a lot of effort into a stealth build which is now useless in these particular situations.

@GrimMauKin‌ , No, it's a kick in the teeth to everyone.

Seems to be a right of passage to try to peak over the horizon at the (Ha) safe distance, only to be greeted by a face full of Magicka and sweet death's embrace.

I can understand it, to an extent. I just hope those NPC's guarding are getting paid well. (The honor guard are completely unaffected by Dragon Leap, too, if that makes you feel any better...That ended well.)

smeeprocketnub19_ESO · July 2014

mike.gaziotisb16_ESO wrote: »

GrimMauKin wrote: »

Thank you, I didn't realise that.

It's another kick in the teeth for Nightblades though as I've put a lot of effort into a stealth build which is now useless in these particular situations.

Not really....

Keeps and resources are supposed to be safe havens for the alliance that owns them (until taken). People being able to sneak past guards in or around these locations would lead to massive abuse by stealthed groups. Not to mention that people would stealth-camp the keep door and gank whoever exited.

If you're talking about the daily scouting quests, the reports can be completed from a safe distance. Far enough that you don't even have to be stealthed.

If ganking is your game, then you just have to move to a safe distance from the keep and bide your time. Sooner or later you'll spot a lone traveller going from A to B and you'll get your chance at ganking them. Loads of NBs do this already with a good degree of success. There's a lot of choke points where people have to pass through that give you this opportunity, you just have to find them.

picking off the stragglers in a zerg force is so rewarding, as well.