How to sneak around?

[Marijn]

I just started a new game of Fallout 3. I build a character with the following playstyle in mind; in want to sneak around and shoot targets in the head before they even know I am there.

I'm at level 5 now, and just left that radio station to fetch the satellite disc for the DJ dude. I went into the metro and a little bit further I went above ground again. I'm now in an area that is basicly a square surrounded by some houses. The place is crawling with raiders. Whatever I do, I always seem to get detected before I am even in firing range. This ends up in a firefight with 3/4 raiders which my character isn't really build for.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I don't think that I'm in the field of view of a raider when I get detected; do they hear me or something? Or is my sneak skill stat simply to low? It's at 50 points now. I think that's pretty decent for level 5, but maybe I'm mistaken. If it's too low; what is a decent number?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Troyas]

Did you press caps lock while sneaking?
That will make you more sneaky, however you will also move slower.
Having your light on will also make you way less stealthy, if you didnt know :P
Im not sure if 50 is good or bad, however i managed just fine with way less than that, so that shouldnt be the problem.
Sorry if you already knew those things. :)

[PrinzEugen]

I think your problem is that your level is way too low for that quest, unless you more or less maxed out on stealth - like skill 80 or so, but that would leave you vulnerable in all other respects. I've not yet played a real stealth character, you would have to be very careful in choosing the right perks as well I guess. Are you using any mods, like Fall Out Wanderer's Edition? That one in particular makes stealth a lot more realistic - and hence more difficult.

[EolSunder]

Your way to low for your stealth skill to be any level that makes you that hard to detect. Level 5 is just starting out, you have way way to go before you can become that stealthy assassin that you want to be. You won't have high stealth skill plus even if you buff your stealth way up you still won't have high guns skill to be able to hit steadily if you are shooting at something.

if you really want a shooting stealth character you are going to have to max out your stealth and guns skill before you become any sort of sniper assassin that you seem to be wanting to make. Other things make stealth better, such as it being dark, hidden behind stuff, etc. Personally unless your a vet player dont' worry about trying to be such a stealth sniper so early on, plenty of game left to play before you need to worry about that. Now, once your stealth and guns skill start to hit 60+ you might be able to start sniping stuff with a longer range better rifle though you still won't be able to get too close, but then again you don't want to be too close. Silenced weapons help also. The good thing is, even with a pistol if you are stealthed you can shoot something very far away (though without high gun skill the chance of hitting stuff is low). I've personally had fun just "sniping" stuff at the far range of my vision with a 10mm pistol. You can blow up cars etc at max range if you actually hit something. You'd be amazed what you can do with a silenced 10mm pistol.

[BenWah]

you can use stealth boy item to temporarily raise your stealth ability a ton

[Marijn]

Thanks for the help, guys. I leveled up a bit more and put a lot of points in sneaking, and everything seems to be going fine now.