Design Overview
Entry Last Update:
March 28, 2026
Source Doc:
work_in_progress/general/skills/stealth_system.md
Tier:
wip
Last Synced:
March 28, 2026
Summary: Stealth governs hidden-state retention while moving, separate from Hiding's in-place entry roll.
Notes:
Preconditions: you must already be hidden and have stealth on active.
A stealth retention check runs on each movement action using Stealth/Hiding and AGI/PER against room/combat/perception penalties.
Moving into a non-hide-allowed room removes hidden state immediately.
Player Overview
Description: Stealth is the ability to move within the shadows from room to room, without being seen. This can be accomplished moving freely or by following another adventurer around.
Who Can Learn It: All classes of Spur can learn this, although it is perceived as primarily reserved for less-honorable classes. It is an important skill to many Guilds, including Thieves and Hand Clerics.
What It is Supposed to Do: Stealth allows you to more effectively stay in the shadows when following someone or walking throughout the world hidden from view.
What it Does: Keeps you hidden from sight when entering or exiting a room alone or when following someone.
Activation: While hidden, move from one room into another to trigger stealth retention checks. To follow someone from the shadows, use follow while hidden. If a check fails, you are revealed. You remain in follow mode until you leave the group or stop following. You may also change ranks while hidden if your stealth check succeeds.
Usefulness (Low Levels): Stealth can be an infuriating skill at level 15 and lower. You will reveal yourself often, and will be lucky if you can even follow someone successfully or leave a nearly empty room alone. It is also a heavily fatiguing practice.
Usefulness (Mid Levels): Stealth gains much usefulness between level 16 and 30. It will still be just as fatiguing as always, but you will be successful much more frequently. You may be able to stay hidden stealthing between many rooms, or follow someone for quite a long time before being revealed.
Usefulness (High Levels): After level 30, Stealth becomes a very powerful skill. You will very infrequently reveal yourself from the shadows, even in very crowded rooms. At high levels, you'll find that following someone from one end of Aradath to the other will be almost effortless save for the fatiguing effect of stealthing
How to Practice: Find a safe area with non-violent NPCs or a friendly PC, hide, then move room-to-room or follow a target to generate repeated stealth checks. Training loops between two nearby rooms are effective at low and mid levels.
Tips: Practice in the dark. Learn a vigor spell or carry many vigor potions.
Unconfirmed Rumors (May or May Not Be True): Hiding around people with higher PERception is much more difficult.
Notes:
(May or May Not Be True): Practice in the dark. As a note to practicing with one other friendly PC: If they also are practicing stealth, you'll gain no skill if you are hiding and stealthing at the same time (while both in the shadows).
STEALTH
In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.