How to do stealth kills?

[Jivebot]

Whenever I manage to get close enough for a stealth strike it NEVER results in a kill. I do about half damage, then everybody aggros.

Even Fayth can't seem to pull them off and she looks almost explicitly built for them. What the hell am I doing wrong here? Or are they simply not implemented?

[HuggyBear]

They are implemented. A successful stealth kill means your takedown value (see character sheet) is higher than their awareness modified HP value. You should see when you mouse over them something like 65/45 for a low awareness target or 65/70 for a high awareness target.

You can see their awareness as a colored bar above their head, as it gets more full and redder their effective HP increases.

Generally you need a stealth feat like prowler or ghost to get close enough while they still have low awareness to silently take them down. The cloaking field gadget can also help.

Also note that frogs can't be taken down currently, only people.

[skaudus]

Yep! The Takedown skill is affected by both their awareness and by your Critical Strike. You're going to need at least 3-4 to be able to perform kills with ease.

Some feats also increase the Takedown skill, such as Critical Thinker and Faythe's special Assassin feat. However, these are currently bugged, and don't provide their bonus. Still, a couple of levels in Critical Strike never hurt anyone.

Also, a bit unrelated, [Tunnel Runner], while it can be an amazing feat to pick up late for a dedicated sneaky assassin build, it will make your life extremely difficult if picked alone or too early.

[skaudus]

Also, armour penalty affects your sneaking skill by quite a lot. Make sure you're wearing light clothing with 0 penalties to sneak!

Also, which encounters were you trying to do? And how high is your sneaking skill? Just for posterity, so we know what specific advice we can give ;)

[HuggyBear]

Also, check out skaudus' post on sneak mechanics, it's a pinned topic: "Sneak mechanics explained"

[AA622]

As an aside how do you unlock Faythe's assassin/thief feats?

[Pink Eye]

You need to have streetwise 2. Then, when you do her quest. You have to pick the option that lets you distract the enemy. This will allow her to assassinate the leader. When the quest ends. Go talk to her. Based on how you interact with her. She will get access to either Assassin or Thief.

[Jivebot]

Originally posted by skaudus:

Also, which encounters were you trying to do? And how high is your sneaking skill? Just for posterity, so we know what specific advice we can give ;)

I finished the current content a few weeks ago so I aint played in a bit. The one that comes to mind was that guy who wanted me to clear goons out of his shop.

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

Go talk to her. Based on how you interact with her. She will get access to either Assassin or Thief.

The tone of dialogue should be obvious in this scene. The "tough" reply gives her Assassin. The more moral reply gives her thief.

[AA622]

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

You need to have streetwise 2. Then, when you do her quest. You have to pick the option that lets you distract the enemy. This will allow her to assassinate the leader. When the quest ends. Go talk to her. Based on how you interact with her. She will get access to either Assassin or Thief.

I guess I've always gone right for the kill! Thanks