Skyrim Tips and Tricks » Discussions
Field Test: Armored Stealth
Tags: #Tips and Tricks Field Tests-
I thought of this the whole day because I am thinking of how to solve the test by unconventional means...
Complete stealth is the fulfillment of two requirements, 1. sound and 2. visibility.
1. Sound only - since I am forbidden to use the Muffle spell, which would make my movement noises inaudible to others, I am left with:
- The Silence perk in the Sneak skill adds a passive, permanent magnitude of 1 (max. magnitude - nobody can hear you) to the Muffle effect which will constantly affect you; this is the second viable way of becoming inaudible while wearing a full set of Heavy Armor
- Wearing a Generic Magic Item using the Muffle enchanting effect while having activated previously the Muffled Movement perk in Sneak. The perk has a magnitude of 0.5 and the generic Heavy Armor boots another 0.5, making my overall Muffle effect have a magnitude of 1.
- Enchanting my own pair of Heavy Armor boots with the Muffle effect (custom made Muffle enchants have a magnitude of 1)
- Using a Scroll of Muffle
2. Visibility only - since I am forbidden to use the Invisibility spell, which would obviously make me invisible to others, I am left with:
- Using a potion of Invisibility, standard or crafted
- Using the special ability granted by The Shadow Stone standing stone
- Using the special ability granted by Shadowcloak of Nocturnal received at the end of the Thieves Guild quest line
- Using the special ability granted by Embrace of Shadows received if I am a vampire
3. Sound and Visibility - you can correct me on this because I don't have real facts on it
- The Sneak skill is the most obvious way
- the Stealth perk in Sneak
- apparel with the Fortify Sneak enchanting effect (unique or custom made)
- potions of Fortify Sneak (built-in or custom made)
- Blessing of Nocturnal - it has a temporary Fortify Sneak effect
I never really thought about it, but it always seemed to me that the detection rate is just slowed down as far as "detection time" is concerned with an increased Sneak skill value.
Some of the means used to carry this test are harder while some are easier. It is not a question of winning anything else than a tap on the shoulder for ingenuity and success while under the strain of more limitations. Correct? Based on this, the time limitation seems a bit overrated.
Sorry for spurting all of these out... To redeem myself, I wanted to get the conventional out of the way, to make room for the unconventional.
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Race: Nord
Armor: Banded Iron Armor, Iron Gauntlets, Iron Boots, Iron Helmet
Weapons: Long Bow, Iron Arrow 15
Standing Stone: None
Starting level: 2
Starting skills (only different from default ones): Sneak 20 (Stealth 1/5), Lockpicking 16
Ending level: 4
Ending skills: Sneak 34 (Stealth 1/5), Lockpicking 18
Completion time: 27 min 48 sec
Difficulty: Legendary
Strategy
Pinewatch
The armor makes a lot of noise and enemies hear you, but the first perk in the Sneak skill tree allows you to stay undetected while in the shadows, unless enemies bump into you. This is used to your advantage along with a few AI observations. Using slow sneaking I descended the stairs and on the last two steps change to fast sneaking and get in the corner near the stairs. The bandit turns around to the noise and goes up the stairs (always this way, AI path selection). When the bandit goes to the first floor I quickly opened the secret passage and went downwards. For the next section I jump down and move in the shadows under the wooden bridge using slow sneaking (Tip: equipping a bow when slowly sneaking will boost your speed a little). Then I climb behind he bandit patrolling the ramp and wait till he gets down. When he is out of the way there is another bandit nearby. I shoot an arrow to the ground level and that bandit runs down to investigate the noise. When he is out of the way I quickly move to the next section. Here, using slow sneaking, I get in the narrow passage under the barrels. I distracted all three bandits by shooting an arrow above the bandit working on a grindstone. When they run to check out the noise I quickly moved in the shadows along the wall to the narrow passage to Pinewatch Bandit's Sanctuary. There is a guard near the door, I moved quickly along a slightly elevated passage near the right wall and right in the end the noise I made reached his ears and he went to investigate. I waited until he passes and quickly got to the door to the Sanctuary.
Pinewatch Bandit's Sanctuary
There are three bandits discussing failed loot grab sitting near the table. I shot an arrow above the fire pit near the passage to the next area. While they went to investigate I quickly moved in the shadows on the left all the way to the barrels. When bandits returned I shot another arrow to the bone chains hanging near the entrance to the area. The bandits went there to investigate and I was able to get to the next area undetected. There is a bandit patrolling the area, I snuck behind him and waited for him to pass in the middle of the hall. Then I got to the next area with a bandit patrolling around a column with a few dead draugr around him. I waited for him to get behind the column and quickly moved to the next area. There are around 5 bandits there, I followed the right wall to the edge of the room and shot an arrow to the cupboard. The bandits went to investigate and gathered in the area with beds. When they calmed down I shot another arrow in the passage I came from and they all went into the passage to investigate. Then I quickly snuck to the next area with Rigel Strong-Arm sleeping. I didn't bother to obtain the key since she would've surely detected me and instead advanced to the next area with a Master-locked door. Picking the lock took me 2 minutes! Then I moved to the treasure room jumping over the pressure plates in the process. After looting the treasure room I highly suggest to return back the way you came as the shortcut leads to the door with a bandit right next to it who always detects you if you make even a slightest move. I got back, jumped from the log bridge to the hall with a lonely bandit, got back to the room with three bandits jumped down from the ledge near the passage entrance and moved back to Pinewatch.
Pinewatch
When you exit the door the bandit is there but is facing the opposite direction. I shot an arrow to the slightly elevated ledge along the left wall causing him to go to investigate the noise. When he moves out I moved to the small opening near the door. I waited to the bandit to calm down and when he returned to his post and passed near me I moved past him to the starting area with wooden bridges. I jumped from the bridge as soon as I can and slowly moved in the shadows to the beginning of the cave. After ascending the passage the bandit now blocks the exit. I extinguished the torch near the secret door and shot an arrow between the cabinet and the wall. The bandit went to check out and eventually got upstairs again (AI). When that happened I moved under the stairs and waited for him to come back. Then I slowly ascended the stairs and exited Pinewatch!
The most difficult part: the one right after entering Pinewatch Bandit Sanctuary. The three bandits there move irregularly and I was on the verge of being discovered there.
Mission Accomplished!
Guards killed: 0
Guards distracted: 16
Guards undisturbed: 4
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Thanks! I did use your idea with the long bow, though I tried to handicap myself even more by using a very low sneak skill. I tried to do it without Stealth perk later, but it is impossible with so small skill level. Enemies hear you from miles, even if you are sneaking slowly, and easily find you even in complete darkness.
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