Question about stealth

[nintura]

I just started the game, and am playing a Halfling Rogue with 22 cunning and 20 dex, plus 5 points in stealth. I was wondering if I'm doing something wrong as I'm getting seen clear across the screen when in stealth and have never managed to sneak up on anything yet in the game, but it just seems that I should be ahead of the curve at lower levels since I maxed it out first. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Sradac]

stealth really only gets strong mid to late game, once you have the tree close to maxed. Stealth is one of the few "all or nothing" trees in the game I feel. Before level 30ish, stealth just really dosen't do too much beyond giving the occasional really big hit, and is an easy way to unlock the marauder with shadowstrike + lethality + venemous strike

[ooli]

Mobs always SEEMS to go for you.

In fact they actually always walk toward you.
BUT most of the time they do NOT see you.

When your mouse is over a creature at the botom ot the information tooltip, you can read
"Target : *CharacterName* looking in the North-east" (or north, or west.. etc)
As long it is not
"Target: *character Name*"
(without the "looking" part) they wont see you and NEVER hit you (or only with area of effect spell).

And even when they spot you, you can walk around a bit and they might lose you again (if you're still stealthed).

It take me a long time to learn that, but it's very valuable when playing a sneaker.

[themuffinthief]

Stealth for players and stealth for enemies works the same way. Think of how you see enemy rogues. You catch glimpses of them every now and then, but usually don't know exactly where they are without inspecting open space looking for a creature. The AI will catch glimpses of you every now and then, and walk towards the spot they last saw you while maybe throwing aoe in that direction. Stealth early on is kind of hidden op...it's hard to tell how much it actually helps you. Stealth isn't perfect until mid-late game, when it becomes god-like.