Stealth, Awareness, and You.

Many assassins, as well as other classses, are curious as to how stealth works.
After my experiences with using and experimenting with stealth, I'm here to share with you my knowledge so far on this deadly assassin ability.

Let's start off by explaining what exactly your stealth and awareness level is by default. This is easy - your base stealth and awareness level is equal to your characters level. If you're level 30, your stealth and awareness levels are level 30 as well.

Now let's talk about skill effects.

Cat-like tread adds 2 to your stealth level each time it is leveled up. This means that at level 10, cat-like tread will add +20 to your stealth level. So if you're level 86, and you have maxed out Cat-Like tread, it will be impossible for anyone except for other assassins to see you while in stealth. How do I know this you ask? Simple math. 86 + 20 = 106. So you would have to be level 106 or above to be able to see the assassin in stealth... and we all know the level cap at the moment is 105. So it's impossible.

Sharp observer increases your awareness level the same way Cat-like tread increases stealth level. Just go back to what I said about Cat-like tread and this skill should be self explanatory. This skill allows assassins to seek out other assassins in stealth.

Now we'll talk about how stealth actually works.

We have two skills that allow us to enter stealth mode. Shadow walk, and shadow escape. These are two separate skills that affect stealth level individually. Each level of one of these skills adds +1 to your stealth level. For example, if you use a level 10 Shadow Walk to enter stealth mode, you would have +10 stealth level, but if you used a level 1 Shadow Escape to enter stealth mode, your stealth level would only be +1. So adding to cat-like tread, you can have a total stealth level of +30, meaning you can actually be level 76 and be invisible to everyone who doesn't have an increased awareness level. Leveling these skills also reduces the mana cost to use them.

Shadow walk is pretty basic - it allows you to enter stealth mode. While in stealth mode, you don't appear on anyone's screen who's awareness level is lower than your stealth level. At all. No text above your head, you don't appear in the squad window list thingy, and you're completely invisible. The only thing that would give you away is if you talk in general chat, but people still wouldn't be able to find you. Your words will only appear in the chat window. If your stealth level is lower than someone's awareness level, or if you're in someone's squad, they will be able to see you the same way you can still see your character on your own screen. You can remain in stealth as long as you can keep your mana from draining. The catch to shadow walk is, you can't use it while in combat... but that's why we have this skill -

Shadow escape is the same thing as shadow walk, except it has a 90 second cooldown, gives you 100 chi upon casting it (1 spark), and the best part - it can be used while in combat. This skill is deadly, in an indirect way. This skill allows assassins to regain the upper hand while in a fight. Or if you don't want to fight, it gives you the option of running away. If you use shadow escape while in the middle of a fight, it forces all the stealth rules to take effect. Anyone/thing that had you targeted now loses you, and they can no longer attack you (provided your stealth level is higher than your awareness level of course). Not only does this cause a major problem for your attacker, it also has a mental effect on them. Knowing that they can no longer attack you first, or even see where you are for that matter, can make anyone **** their pants. All the while you're laughing to yourself as you hide in the safety of the shadows. It allows you to stay focused, and makes others lose focus (unless they're pro and can handle the stress of not being able to see their attacker).

Now a little about how combat mode and stealth mode work together.

If you are in stealth mode, you will remain in stealth mode as long as you can keep your mana from being drained, and as long as you don't enter combat mode. How can you enter combat if you're in stealth mode? Doesn't that mean you'd have to be attacked? Well obviously you can still be attacked by someone/something that can still see you. Or an aoe hits you. Or, you enter combat mode yourself by initiating your own attack on something. The way combat mode and stealth mode work while you're casting shadow escape or shadow walk is different though. I believe there is a certain grace period during and after casting shadow walk/escape that if you're attacked, you will not be forced out of stealth. Otherwise casting shadow escape during a fight would be pointless because you'd probably be forced out of stealth again pretty quickly.

I think that pretty much sums up my knowledge about stealth mode so far.
Good luck to all you assassins out there.


Also, credit to Shade from the Raging Tide server for pointing out a common misconception about Shadow Walk/Escape I also had when first writing this mini guide. The level of these skills do indeed affect stealth level.