Stealth more fun?

CitizenKane said:

Stealth certainly can be a lot of fun. But I wouldn't be keen to base an entire character around stealth to the detriment of warrior skills. I can't think of many quests where you don't end up having to engage in direct hand to hand combat at some point, in which case high Sneak and Archery skills won't be much use to you?

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Tell that to my level-48 archer who uses absolutely nothing but a bow. No other weapons, no magic but for Restoration. She's defeated Alduin, Miraak, and most dragon priests, completed the Stormcloak side of the civil war, done a handful of Dawnguard quests and Daedric Prince quests, destroyed the Dark Brotherhood, escaped Cidhna Mine... all on master difficulty. Also, about halfway through I decided I wanted her to wear better-looking armor, so I switched from full light armor to a mix of light and heavy, which dropped my armor rating way down as my heavy armor skill was non-existent and some of my light armor perks no longer applied. Now, of course, she probably dies more frequently than a warrior, but the fact remains that you can play the game with Archery as your sole method of combat. A challenging build is challenging, but not impossible.

One thing no seems to mention is how useful the bow can be for sneaks. Not killing, but distraction. A simple example, in dawngaurd when you go into dimhollow crypt there are several times where your path is blocked. I just shoot the near by wall and wait, then as they go to investigate you shoot further away. Path cleared.

I agree, I've never been more tense that when sneaking -- listening for footsteps, etc..

I always keep a set clothes handy for when I need to be super quiet.

Stealth characters are my specialty, that's all I ever play which probably explains why I suck at playing a warrior... a true Nord never backs down style warrior. For me, sneaky characters keeps me on the edge of my chair waiting to scream at the tube when it goes wrong. I've always like that type of character in any game I've ever played.

I'm more about Shouts, Runes and slashing with Mehrune's Razor personally. Stealth is highly effective but blowing things up and creating carnage is more fun.

It's fun and useful early on, but it gets a bit boring and overpowering at higher levels, even on legendary. I'm more of a head on, slash n' block character.

I definitely wouldnt be able to have a high level character who uses only a bow and nothing else. I play on master and all I have when I'm trying to sneak are bandits charging at me left, right and centre. Maybe because I'm in heavy armour and I am a low level sneak and a high level character. However I don't really care because I'm more of a smash first, think later kind of guy.

I think a stealth character will work, as in some areas of the game you have to plan what you do or you could die easily and try and see what the enemy is doing and see the movements and time the attack. I reckon in a crowd of people no one notices you kill someone if you are quick, and most times they panic over the body and there is panicking everywhere going on while you make your escape. I have taken out thugs with a crossbow, and the others are stupid sometimes as they are just standing and do not notice their comrades have been slain.