More of a humorous gripe, than an actual complaint; but 5 years later (in the remaster no less), and NPC's still have that magical ability to sidestep my arrows, even though I was undetected.

It happened six times in one dungeon.

Ugh.

If you use mods there is a mod that fixes it. It's on PS4 so I'm guessing it's also on pc and xbox. It's called Fix your aim and no moonwalking.

Yeah, I noticed that too Kane. Gonna have to go find the mod.

[Can't seem to find it on nexus. I refuse to use beth.net, so if that's the only place to get it.... Found it!]

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1763/?

On the opposite side, one of my mod's (PerMa or Archery Overhaul I believe) makes enemy archers much more accurate to the point where they often hit me while both they and I are strafing.

So what's actually happening?

My arrows hit when I shoot people.

Not all the time because the arrow has to travel and the target may be moving.

What's happening here in this case?

This goes all the way back to the beginning of Skyrim, 5 years ago. You fire off an arrow at an NPC while completely undetected, and just before it is supposed to hit them, they strafe out of the way super fast.

I think it may be caused by one of my mods, but what I find unnerving is animals... Yep, I'm invisible and muffled, and they can't see me apparently, but the second I change from defensive spells like "stoneflesh" to ranged offense, they run like hell and hide behind boulders or trees...

Skyrim has the smartest animals I've ever seen.

But this doesn't happen.

Well it must be happening for you.

Why is this?

Not mods, it happened on vanilla 360 all the time.

Been happening for years.

It's also been not happening for years.

What platform are you on?

XBox ONE will let you record it.

Can you do that?

On PC now, but don't have a recording software yet.

It's always happened for me too, Azrael. On PC since release.

It's not just me, either. There are threads buried here at gamesas about it. And here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/182gde/arrow_dodging/

Well, it's a magical world, Kane. Why shouldn't half of the population have a psychic anti-arrow side-leap talent?

On the plus side, stealth archers would be even more overpowered if it weren't for this little AI cheat. And usually they don't manage to actually detect you when this happens.

That's one way of looking at it!

It's really irritating when bears and sabrecats do it. Although I could believe the sabrecats.

Hmm I've had it happen to me on occasion when firing up on NPCs, but never on animals. Weird.

Happens all the time.

My assumption was, that the engine thinks the potential target is too far to interact, so instead of a fresh calculated image, an old one is shown.

In the moment the arrow is fired, the real position will be calculated. Then, it is to see that the target has already moved, and the arrow goes completely wrong.

I'm on PC and it has been happening since I got the game in January 2012. You've never seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=704XlavJJo4 (YouTube link) happen? The first NPC does not, but the second does get a dodge in

Bingo.

Not very often. But I just had it happen recently with both species. I think in both cases they were aware of me. Which didn't make their dodge move look any less improbable.

I've had it happen when shooting at an NPC who was sitting in a chair. The NPC suddenly leaps to the side, to a standing position, just in time to avoid the arrow.

Yup. Me too. The guy in the chair in the hideout above Riverwood is NOTORIOUS for that.

The enemy is searching for the player.

The eye is open.

No wonder he's jumpy.

Not seen this on the XBox 360 or the ONE but just because I've not seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

so is it a glitch or not?

has been playing for years now and thought it was a natural thing for opponents trying to duck for cover or doge an arrow

is this not a natural behavior? ........in real life it would be very natural to try to avoid a incoming arrow alto you would not have a NINJA's speed to do so but instinct would make you react, unless your frozen on the spot by fear,

so why is it so strange that NPC can doge arrows? .... its not like its a special ability its just movement .....who wants to hit targets that don't move anyways....

why should it be looked upon as a glitch? (might be but this is one glitch that gets it right)

OK..........if a saber-cat doges arrows may be a little over the top (that I would call a glitch) .........its not natural