Thread: How Stealth Works

Stealth is one of those things that you see pop up in stats every once in a while, but seems rare once you get higher.

Forgive the guy who's never rolled a Burgler ... but do we know generally how "stealth" actually works?

Does it lower the radius of some sort of "conspicuousness" circle around the character --- ie, something that the aggro radius of a mob has to intersect for it to notice you?

Or maybe increases a "failed to notice" % chance every X seconds in a polling cycle that's done? And how does it interact with the "don't move" Elven racial skill and other notifiers?

K, AFAIK this is how it works. Say, you're level 75. You're a burger and you're in stealth. Your base stealth level outside of stealth is 75. When you enter stealth, it becomes (79? I dunno the exact number.) Now, you can sneak past most on- and slightly above- level mobs. You can NOT walk over them. If you're trying to sneak inside a place with mobs EVERYWHERE, like, you will be right next to a mob at any given moment, you'll be seen. If you're 10 levels above something, you will always see it, even if it's stealthed, and not near you. You can raise your stealth detection with LM buffs, BA buff (creepside), and items I think. Don't kill me if I'm wrong, that's what I think it is :P.

Stealth is an opposed level versus level check, apparently adjusted by proximity. I have no idea what the pulse rate for the check is - every five seconds? every ten seconds? every twenty seconds? - but the result is either no detection, the detection of a stealthed presence, or seeing through the stealth. Items and skills that offer +X stealth levels / detection levels are literally level adjustments, they raise your apparent character level when checking for detection or against being detected.

If you are burglar, you base stealth skill is your character level. When necessary each opponent close enough to you will make a "Do I see the you?" check. The check is made based on the difference in your stealth and the level of the opponent. It is modified for:

1) Is your opponent looking in your direction? It is easier to stay hidden if you are behind them.

2) Is your opponent alert? Knows you are there but has not found you.

3) Is your opponent good at finding hidden characters? Wargs are good at finding you. Often they are stealthed. You do not know they are looking in your direction.

4) Is your opponent close to you? The closer they are the easier it is for them to detect you.

5) Is your opponent running, walking or standing still. Penalty for running. Bonus for walking. Big bonus for standing still.

Trying to sneak past the nose (in front) of an alert warg that has the level adjustment in the warg's favor does not work.

The detection check is made whenever you or your opponent(s) move. Not sure how many seconds between checks. There is not a long cool down for a detection check.

You see the ! appear over a mob. They know you are there. They will freeze in place. Start looking around. Moving at all while they are looking around. They will probably see you. Worst case, you got an opponent on alert. Here comes a warg doing a walking patrol. He headed right for you. You move - the guy on alert going to see you. Stand still and the warg going to see you.

If your stealth level is couple levels above your opponents. You are not walking in front of them. You will be OK unless you step on a warg. Use distraction to turn an opponent that is looking in your direction. Walk behind them before Distraction expires.

Stay away from opponents that have damage auras like undead. The first damage pulse will break stealth.