What is the appeal of a stealth character? How do I best go about playing as one? Browsing through Skyrim character builds, so many seem to use stealth as either a core or at least secondary component of the build. But, I don't understand - why? Whenever I have tried it, I have found the stealth to be clumsy, at times frustrating and also really slow. What's the appeal?

It's stealth, it's supposed to be slow. It is the satisfaction of creeping up on your foes and giving them a throat slash, or just firing an arrow where they can't find you.

I know, but I mean slow as in unexciting. Hitman can be slow, but its exciting. This, whenever I have done so, isn't.

I personally don't use stealth, I'd rather charge in. I'm sure the fine folk here can say what the appeal to stealth is.

Well this is not Hitman. stealth is pretty different seeing as this is not a stealth game.

sneaking around and slashing the enemy's throat that with your dagger, or firing an arrow that will trigger a killcam is fun. try it.

My sorceress love to sneak. To be able to sneak into a dungeon/cave, and shoot someone with a fireball while in sneak mode, especially when you have the quiet casting perk. The excitement of not being detected. The challange.

"Ghosting" dungeons and forts is pretty fun. You can shoot arrows to distract enemies or use the "Skeever Butt" shout to do the same more effectively.

Patience is a virtue.

Damn I'm wise AF

Stealth in Fallout makes sense though, but in this it just confuses me. Like, when I'd assume to be hidden, suddenly I'm not?

The excitement for me is sneaking through a dungeon killing everything in there without ever being detected.

It isn't for everybody,even I have a battlemage character that I play when I don't want to play my thief/assassin.

Clearly you haven't seen sneak used with illusion: http://youtu.be/Lt7-_G97hHI

Stealth is pathetic in this game and should have a much bigger infasis.

You have to work at raising your level. I have had stealth 1, Muffled Movement, Light Foot, Silent Roll, and Silence, and have sneaked through a Falmar camp un-detected. Yet dragons and other high bosses can still detect you.

the assassination animation with your weapon

I never played hitman - so I can't tell you. But I CAN tell you that a game design centered around spy/sneak things with weapons and environments designed for direct stealth-assasin quests probably has those focused and refined more. You're not going to get quests in ES where you wait in the stall for people go to the bathroom, thus surprising them where you can strangle them with piano wire.

I'm sure there's many God of War fans who say the combat in Elder Scrolls is lame too...

The only thing I can say is, well, different strokes for different folks. That's kinda the whole point of Elder Scrolls... be who you enjoy being.

So, if stealth in the game isn't for you, then it's not for you.

*Emphasis.

I find it hard to play anything that isn't a stealth character.