NPCs Dodging Arrows?

[Seanpasu]

While playing today, I have consistently seen enemies slide to my left -- no matter which direction they are facing -- when I shoot at them. Even if I'm sneaking. I'll fire an arrow, and before it makes contact they move about 5 feet. No animation, just movement.

It's annoying to miss shots for no reason. Is this happening to anyone else?

[Tyler]

They did that in Vanilla for me. They love the sidestepping.

[Judgement020]

I'm having this same problem. The NPCs are effectively warping to the side (almost like rubber-banding in online play in other games) just before arrows hit them. I have been perfectly hidden, behind the target, and would otherwise land a perfect hit, yet the kung-fu master I'm shooting at will warp out of the way at the last moment then will suddenly draw his or her weapon because they heard the arrow hit the wall behind empty air. In one instance the NPC was standing idle and without his legs moving warped about five feet out of the way of my shot.

I'll add I never saw this behavior in vanilla. I know that NPCs, when you're no longer hidden, will occasionally dodge an incoming arrow. This isn't that.

[ULTRA]

This always happened. Yes. It's true. The NPCs dodge your arrows. This happened in all editions of the game.

[Robotkisser]

i think that happens more often when you're shooting from further away
but i'm not sure

[Shrapnel]

Is it not THE most annoying and immersion breaking things you ever seen?

[Robotkisser]

nah... if you're good hidden, it doesn't matter

[bogeyshooter53]

If your are playing a ranger do not neglect leveling up your sneak perks. I have come to the conclusion that in the SE game enemy bandit rangers and some higher level mages have an innate ability to "sense" an oncoming ranged attack. I try myself to dodge incoming arrows and spells especially when the attacker is at a distance, why should the AI behave differently? Use stealth and tactics, cast a flame or frost atronach for a diversion, or adjust the difficulty settings down....it's up to you the gamer to have a fun experience. Play in GOD Mode if thats what you like.
Heck fire in this playthrough I'm at level 30 and I have to avoid most Vampire "gangs" that await along the open road at night. It makes the game fun and the day will come when I am strong and skilled enough to wreak havok on those bastards!!!

[cronic0_0]

There is a mod that stops the Jedi NPC magic Jesus doging

[Emrys]

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3609/?

I think you mean this one.

[Amon Ra]

This mod works in a similar fashion.

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

[Arasteele]

Originally posted by Amon Ra:

This mod works in a similar fashion.

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

THIS ^^^

I consider that mod or any like it to be a FIX, not a mod. There should not have been any sort of "magic auto-dodge AI move" put into the game in the first place. Bethesda's devs were utter jerks to do it.

Even if you've got 100 sneak, muffle and the invisibility spells working for you, plus 100 archery, you'll take an arrow shot and there's a great chance that the enemy --- without even seeing you thus no way to know you're attacking --- will somehow slide over at the last second and move out of the way. Fact is it's the GAME ITSELF moving the enemies, and those who've said it's immersion-breaking are absolutely 100% spot on. Not only that but it's dumb and it's wrong on every level.

Even when the enemy is fully engaged in fighting with others or your follower and you are completely hidden from them, they will dodge your attack at the last second before your arrow hits. Why just now I was having this fight in Blackreach and a Falmer dodged my bow shot not once but FIVE TIMES IN A ROW.

Enough. It's mod time.

[Longhaul]

Holy necro

[DrNewcenstein]

It's an old problem, it deserves an old thread.

And it appears that some people could not comprehend the concepts stated clearly, i.e. it happens when you have MAXIMUM Sneak skill. It happens when you have ridiculously high enchanted Sneak ON TOP OF MAXIMUM Sneak. It happens when their back is turned to you and thus have no way of seeing the attack.

You can sneak a Frost Troll in broad daylight and let them bump into you and they never acknowledge you're there. As soon as you fire a shot at a distant enemy, they magically slide to dodge the attack.

It's annoying, to say the least.

I had thought it was the Use Advanced Avoidance box in the Race property sheets, but I'm seeing it both checked and unchecked on various races, and they all do the magic side-slide, so it's not that.

[Perplex]

Damn Necro!

It usualy happens every second or third shot. And that is total shots in "combat" so if you shot a NPC then switch to another the second one will dodge etc.

[Repomeister]

Originally posted by bogeyshooter53:

why should the AI behave differently?

It's been specifically mentioned that the AI does this even when you are perfectly hidden. Do you somehow warp to the side when you have no idea an arrow is headed towards you? No? Then why should the AI act any different?