So, I was under the impression that being in crouch mode increases your chance of stealthing past an opponent.

However, the only times my stealth skill seems to get successfully checked is when I'm standing and walking. ust so we're clear, you know stealth was a success when your enemy is frozen with his or her back to you, right?

One time, I hit a zombie in that state and it said "backstab successful" or something like that. But I never saw that message again. So, is backstab only a thing that happens by chance, too?

Guess that's a stupid question, knowing the mechanics of Daggerfall. Anyone, if anyone could just clarify the way stealth works, I'd really appreciate it.

Allright, here it is. stealth is a skill right? if you make it one of your main or major skills, than you are more likely to succeed. like all skill it increases with use. now every time their is a enemy near your stealth skill is checked (yes, luck helps) and if you have high enouph stealth you succeed, and he is staying still, not knowing your their. but backstabbing is a skill in itself, so if you get to their back with stealth the game runs another check if you hit them, this time on backstabbing. understand?

yes.

But does crouch mode increase your chances of checking stealth successfully?

If not, what is this sneak mode people speak of?

I remember having a stealth button, go to the controls page and map it to whatever you want. I used ctrl.

Really?

I've consciously looked over the list of controls a few times in search of a 'sneak' or 'stealth' button. There's crouch, defaulted as D I think. It makes your line of view lower and you walk more slowly. And it's impossible to move up stairs.

Every guide online I read talks about sneak mode or stealth mode. I wonder if it's something with the downloaded version, maybe.

http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=761&tab=controls
It says Alt is the default sneak key.

There is a crouch key (mine is bound to A) and a sneak key (mine is bound to ALT). I never use that sneak key and my stealth goes up anyway. No idea how much more stealthy it makes you. I think even the crouch key might help with stealth just because you move slower. If you want to know the sneak key, look in the lower right of the controls. It's definitely there.

There is a Stealth button, but it only appears if you are in Mouse View mode. If you are in Mouse Cursor mode, then simply clicking such that you move very slowly does the trick. In fact, it is possible to move more slowly in cursor mode than in view.

Here's the deal: stealth is always checked when you approach an enemy. It is checked whether you are running, walking, sneaking, crouching, jumping, dancing, whatever. It doesn't matter how you approach, it will be checked. HOWEVER, your movement speed is what greatly affects how well you do--obviously, walking toward an enemy is more stealthy than running. The only thing--only thing!--the stealth button does is make you move slower. That's it. But, moving slower means you are better at sneaking, so it's a good thing. And yes, you now you're successful because they don't turn around to face you. And with a high skill, it is possible to sneak up on someone while running full tilt.

Backstab is also a check, and it is checked each time you hit an enemy from behind. It doesn't matter if they are aware of you or not--you can often backstab someone when they turn around to negotiate a corned they're stuck on.