I've had the notion in my head for many years now that the TES series should have stealthy enemies. Whenever I play an Elder Scrolls game, I always feel like I'm the only one sneaking around! Never have I seen other NPCs actually use stealth in the series unless you're playing FO3 and one of your companions is following you. Perhaps they could implement a stealth meter for the enemy based on their skill level and the area in which they are waiting. If they're hiding in a dark area then the player won't be able to see them without the use of a torch/spell.

I did a search of the topic but didn't really find anything so I apologize if there's already been a thread on the issue. Discuss, if you will.

That's a good idea. And It could work where you have to wach your back since the dark brotherhood could try to kill you. As an example.

I love the idea! Would we have a means to detect them, besides detect life?

Yes, I was thinking like the use of a torch perhaps or maybe just flat out swinging your weapon around in an area where you suspect they would be hiding? :biggrin:

Yes, if there is a conterpart to the dark bro faction, they could try to assassinate you.

I remember in Fargoth's quest in Morrowind, he'd sneak over to his hidden stash in the middle of the night. It was quite disappointing that no NPC ever used sneaking again after that scripted encounter.

that would be awesome and scary

AOE magic attacks, fire traps

So if you're stealthed and they're stealthed do you not see each other?

As was pointed out in Oblivion, thieves don't live very long in the city where we have psychic guards. Anyone who try to steal from you would just get hacked to pieces by the cops.

Didn't fallout have enemies that would sneak/become invisible at times?

Overall yes, but I could see it being very annoying at times.

Some say they want to be able to do everything an NPC can do, well I'd like the reverse to also be true. After all some NPCs can use dragon shouts.

i would like it but i would want it to be a every now and then kind of thing. to many people sneaking up on you and you'd be so paranoid that they wouldnt really be sneaking. if it was one every now and then, then you wouldnt know when to expect it leaving you open for more surprises.

Well, with this imaginary system I have in my head, no enemies will ever be "truly" invisible by simply using stealth. In fact, enemies may not even use stealth unless certain factors are already met; such as: lighting, whether or not the player is in combat, how many other NPCs are around, etc. I wouldn't want it so enemies aren't visible at all unless they're using illusion magic. Think of it more as they're using the environment to sneak up on you in much the same way you would sneak up on someone. Things like, hiding behind a boulder, or right around the corner through a door in a dark room. If you turn and look straight at them, then you'll probably be able to see them and you'll "detect" them.

I've always wanted enemies to use stealth, but for them, I think they should automatically get a Chameleon type of effect, or something similar based on how much light they're in. Otherwise, it's just as easy to see a crouching NPC as it is to see a standing NPC.

I've always had the idea of an NPC using discretion in these circumstances too, because there's no sense in going into stealth mode if you crouch-walk as fast as you can with an Axe in hand and screaming a battle cry. They'd have to somehow be able to deem a certain time better to attack the player than not, like if the player is looting a chest or attacking another NPC, then the stealthy NPC could come up from behind with a backstab or something similar.

In Oblivion Ive seen Ongar, Methredhel, Amusei, and I think city swimmer all sneaking around, though I've never seen a NPC sneak attack ever. I think it would be a cool idea

That would work, and the better their sneak the better their "chameleon"

I actually agree. I don't think the PC should have to watch their back constantly unless they have sufficient cause. Something along the lines of: pissing off the dark brotherhood, invading a bandit filled dungeon, walking around in the dark in areas with heavy Thieves guild activity.

there was an essential must have mod for morrowind that did just that called Horatios npc mod. it would give a chameleon effect to npcs and get them to sneak up on you. i cant describe the difference it made when i went into the darkbrotherhood headquarters in tribunal after i installed that mod. i was actually ambushed on several occasions because i didnt see them standing in some shadow or in front of a dark rock. it was awesome. i dont recall anything similar for oblivion which is a shame cause it was a great morrowind mod. im just glad that it didnt give the sneak modifier damage boost as well cause i would have been dead on a couple of occasions. :teehee:

That would make night-eye and light spells more useful, as well as torches. I never really used them in Oblivion, but if I'll get assassinated without them... they might not be such a waste of space.

The only downside to this would be being instantly killed and having to reload when you hadnt saved in awhile. Dont know about anyone else but I already feel like I have to quick save to much already and this would just make me paranoid into doing in more often ( which is I why I dislike the whole " You died , Reload " aspect of TES anymore ).

this would be a great mechanic for the sneak skill. the higher your sneak skill is the less likely someone can sneak up on you. this would actually give an incentive to increase you sneak skill instead of just relying on chameleon or invisibility spells all the time. add trap detection to security skill and you make them both viable choices again.

There could also be sneak based perks that allow you to much more easily detect other enemies that are using sneak.

yes of course.
imagine you are in dark cave, looking for hidden treasures, then suddenly battle music starts playing. you try to look around, but there are nothing but wall caves and mushroom. you try to move forward, and you encountered a mudcrab. you kill it, and suddenly something hit you from behind. you turn back and there's nothing, but you still get hit from behind. you try to use detect life spell or light spell then suddenly a monstrous dark figure appeared. . .