Sneak: Completely useless until level 70 perk? : V - Skyrim

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:18 pm

Also if you cannot sneak attack with a dagger, there is no shame in sneak attacking with a bow and arrow at the start.

That what I did to get to about level 6 or so. Yep, definitely going to go try my sneak guy again after these threads.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:11 am

Btw in case this has not been mentioned. Weapons have sound levels. Daggers are the quietest and Two handers the loudest. One handed weapons other than daggers make a decent amount of 'noise' and bows are very quiet...which is funny because bows are not quiet at all lol.

I've often wondered/noticed this. Does that meant that swords are quieter than axes, which are quieter than maces? Or is it a "dagger > 1h wep > 2h wep" thing?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:49 pm

Btw in case this has not been mentioned. Weapons have sound levels. Daggers are the quietest and Two handers the loudest. One handed weapons other than daggers make a decent amount of 'noise' and bows are very quiet...which is funny because bows are not quiet at all lol.

Some bows are not quiet. Some enemies "hear" me as my arrow is released before it hit them.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:32 am

At low (25-50) level sneak, you can stay still (in relative dark) and enemies will walk right up to you and not detect you. But the instant you move, they know.

As long as their backs are to you, or they are asleep, you can creep up on them. Key word "creep." Don't run up to them like they are giving out sweetrolls.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:26 am

Post 50 skill without armor and no spells or perks in a dark environment like well almost every dungeon I was borderline invisible for ranged attacks, I had to make sure I stayed out of line of sight if I wanted to stab them but that kind of makes sense given how close you are, 70+ you are a freaking ninja.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:36 pm

I find a sneak to be a skill that needs a lot of early practice and a lot of perk points to be “really” useful and I agree that 70 is where it starts to come into its own for use with melee weapons. It’s simpler to just use it with archery early on. This is particularly true if you are impatient.
However, it is the easiest skill to level up in the entire game…

When I am starting a rogue type character that will use sneak heavily, I train it up to 70 at the start of the game while escaping Helgen by leaving my character sneaking near the bear while I do other things for a while. It doesn't take long and after perking it out you can backstab everything you want.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:14 pm

Oh, and by "entering line of sight" I don't mean with them facing me...even if they're facing AWAY from me, the little eye indicator immediately starts opening the instant I break cover if I'm not at extreme bowshot range and yes, strictly walking speed, wearing full Thieves' guild light armor. (Though there's actually no sneak skill on that stuff..but I have an amulet with that enchant on it.)

And I'm a Thief/Rogue, staying away from a heavy investment in magic spells, so no muffle.