Goblin Squad Member
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Some of this may be old news to some, but I had a chance to learn some new things for me about Stealth recently and thought I'd share. At the last PvP event in Brighthaven, I was able to experience the wonders of -3000 rep, and the vigorous attention of multiple Thornguards, and how Stealth can be used to cool their ardor.
So during the event my rep plummetted to below -3000 and quickly drew the attention of all Thornguards in the surrounding area - sorry Cheatle, didn't mean to disrupt the pictures, was not intentional :) . Fortunately, early in the rez/gank cycle the guards excel at, I was able to strip my equipment off, so no big harm done. I believe it was about 6 deaths in that I managed to Stealth prior to dying. Stealth skill 95 at that point. Didn't break their targeting or attacks of course, and I died again. However, when I rezzed, I remained Stealthed and the Thornguards did not aggro. I got out of there as quick as my shaded little butt could manage. Later, I went back to do some testing, and made sure that my rep remained around the -3000 mark.
For the testing, I put my stealth up to 106 and went back to Brighthaven. Could Stealth to within about 12 feet of a Thornguard before he would target me and attack. Was able to travel throughout all areas of Brighthaven and even access the bank while Stealthed. Didn't think to try to craft anything. Could click on trainers without breaking Stealth though they wouldn't talk to me due to my rep. Humph! Snobs!
After aggroing the Thornguards, usually easy to Stealth and again rez in Stealth state without regaining aggro. If I dropped Stealth at the rez site in town, 7 Thornguards would immediately aggro and kill me.
To summarize, probably most important thing I learned is that the easiest way to break the rez/gank cycle is to use Stealth, as long as when you rez all guards have moved at least 12 feet away (with my Stealth skill - YMMV). Second main thing, those planning to play a spy/assassin with low rep will be viable at infiltrating enemy settlements to scout targets, but if they initiate an attack or break Stealth, they will die quickly.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I remember Sspitfire doing some testing with low rep, stealth and attacking in Rathglen a while back. I got to be a test victim to see where the Thornguards would agro at and how close to the guards a player could kill another player without them caring.
It was interesting to see my dwarf get murdered right in front of a Thornguard and they didn't even flinch.
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Goblin Squad Member
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It was interesting to see my dwarf get murdered right in front of a Thornguard and they didn't even flinch.
That surprises me, as once my stealth broke they would aggro from quite far, the length of the training compound on me. It was a little awing to actually see so many mobilize to come after me. Was this recent? And would they then attack him?
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Goblin Squad Member
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My son did use Stealth after the OV meetup a while ago when his reputation dropped.
Sneaked into Ozems Vigil and stayed there logged in until the reputation was back up again. I felt it was an interesting place to go - but it certainly was a safe place to stay some 20 hours until his reputation had recovered.
AS far as I know, you could have done the same test with the base 10 stealth, and had the same result, Daeglin. Basically, mobs do not have a functioning perception at this time. It is simply a much closer proximity trigger than if you were not stealthed. This is something I truly hope they rectify sooner rather than later, as the current mechanics make stealth meaningless in PVE. (Also, Ser Nihimon is a Paladin-Wizard, not a Scout! He keeps stealing my job from me!)
I've personally mapped out plenty of ways to sneak into town, even getting right up to within use-range of the bank, without aggroing guards. You can actually get a LONG ways inside town without stealth at all. Stealth just makes it possible to go nearly anywhere in town.
And as Huran mentioned, low rep is not a barrier to PK'ing in town. He also volunteered to let me try shooting him while he stood by the shrine that day. I could easily get within long-bow range of the shrine and start PK'ing without triggering the horde of guards standing around there. In a group, a simple strategy would be to have PK'ers suround the shrine on 4 different sides, keeping their distance from the guards, and commence a killing frenzy with longbows and staves.
Long story short, the Thornguards need a little bit smarter AI if they are going to effectively do their jobs. But at least they don't kill us when their pet feral wolf attacks us anymore!
Edit: Also, the trigger repuation for the TG's is -2500, unless that has been changed recently.