So I'm having trouble telling between enemies and friendly folk in the wilderness. Playing an assassin type I don't know whether they are friendly or not until they are attacking me, and by then I've lost my sneak attack. Is there a simple way to see what sort of enemy they are, from a safe distance?

I know, I have my bow drawn not sure whether to shoot or not. I'm an assassin as well so I have the same problem as you

If they aren't already dead by your steady hand, might as well hear their story.

Well one way is to sneak till they "see" you. If they start to get close to you, or make noises like "who goes there", then they are an enemy.

Though yeah, would be nice to know beforehand whether they are an enemy or not.

I suppose in many ways it's more immerssive not knowing friend from foe. The game has a shade of grey that way rather than being black or white. There is no reason to assume a bandit should attack you all the time.

Just makes it annoying not knowing who to kill

Same issue. Usually I save the game, and then run up to them. If they're friendly I keep playing, if they're bad I load the game and take them out via bow and arrow. Pretty inconvenient.

No kidding. That is a big problem. I have the same build. My character almost sank an enchanted dwarven arrow with x3 sneak damage into M'aiq!! Only the unusual detail that the distant figure had a tail saved M'aiq from a "hunting accident". I would have been pissed if I had run off my easter egg.

I also almost killed a guy praying at his family tomb. The populace should be notified that the Dragonborn requires them to wear bright and prominent color-coded armbands . . . .

This would be a very nifty option to have. I also have a bow/stealth character and sometimes I just don't know whether to attack or not. I don't want to miss out on potential questgivers or something important. Sometimes it's pretty obvious when they are talking to other NPC's, some of the dialogue gives them away.

Yes, it's a whole lot more immersive, I was hoping perhaps for a perk that would show up on your compass like Fallout et al.

Oh well, if in doubt, shoot first.

I don't know. I've encountered over a half dozen bandit groups so far that held long and detailed conversations with each other. There just is no sure way to tell. Though I have started killing anyone in black robes just on principle now. Thank goodness they color-coded themselves for me.

I think, if I remember correctly, that Detect Life spell distinguishes between enemies and normal people by colour.

Shoot them.

If they attack, they are an enemy.

A Knight's Templar once said, "Kill them all and let God sort it out."

erm I think you are joking.... even if they weren't an enemy they would be after you have shot them

Is this true I must look into it.........

Great advice

I'm dead serious.

u could always shoot an arrow close to them . that way they react to it and them show up red on ur compass then wait till they settle again and stealth kill away

"
erm I think you are joking.... even if they weren't an enemy they would be after you have shot them

Is this true I must look into it.........
"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KRdE4C_aY You are already dead, 'cause you missed your sneak attack/shot.


"
u could always shoot an arrow close to them . that way they react to it and them show up red on ur compass then wait till they settle again and stealth kill away
"

Too late man, Stormbird wanted her dead.

Lol fooled by the poker face!

Nah seriously though - I haven't got the game yet but as far as I'm concerned my Rules of Engagement will be:

->If they're in a dungeon, they're probably going to be hostile and hence worthy of an arrow.
----------------->When they approach me, I'll put away my weapon. If they continue attacking, it's FUS DOH RAH time.
->If they're on a road, they are probably legitimate. If I doubt that, then I will track them until they meet a guard/other traveler, and see how that encounter goes for them. Otherwise I'll approach and engage in conversation.
->If they are obviously hostile, they get an arrow to the face.
->IIf they're in the wilderness, they are fair game. Doubts will be treated as above.

What I've been doing is firing a bow at a target BEHIND them... this "wakes them up" enough to paint their name on the HUD (i.e. "bandit", etc.) but they will turn away to investigate the noise, leaving you free to either fire again (from Hidden) or sneak up real fast with your melee weapon. If you'e too far to reach them, you can fire at a wall or something past them, then wait for them to say "I must be hearing things (shrug)" (despite the arrow quivering in the wall or the tree... LOL) and then go back to their patrol route. It works for me anyway.

-Matt

OK, if you pay attention to your compass, enemies show up a red dots! The problem is, the range is too short to be useful! In Oblivion, there was some skill or something that extended that range, but damned if I can remember what it is!

Detect Life also shows a difference between aggressive and non-aggressive NPCs.

Oblivion's compass didn't show enemies at all. However, what Oblivion did tell you was the name of the target within your crosshair, which, not surprisingly enough, was a great help in target acquisition.

I've experienced much of the same that people describe here. I felt bad about the farmer walking the road. I even ambushed a patrol from a local city thinking they were bandits (since the last group I didn't attack WAS bandits). I had the first two "bandits" dead before the 3rd patrol guard got to me. At that point, I figured with the first two dead, what difference does it make if I add a third to the list. A bounty was placed on my head, then about three seconds later a wolf ran around the corner and after its death the bounty was removed (can't have a murder without a witness right?).

I like the idea about saving before approaching. I've done the "wake up shot" to see reactions. So far I believe I've had 5 hunting accidents. I just hope I don't kill someone important.

Sairen

P.S. If that spell mentioned below actual does help show friend or foe that could really be useful.

AHHHHH!!! You know, you are right! It is Fallout that has the enemy indicator, and there is a skill that expanded that range!

It is really helpful in games to have a good indicator oh WHO you are looking at. One guy in armor looks very similar to another, very hard to tell the difference.

Someone said you could press T to wait, and that if a hostile is nearby it will say something to the effect that you can't rest when enemies are nearby. I don't know if that will work if you are far away enough that you haven't been detected yet though :/ I haven't tested it myself yet, and I am a stealth archer as well...so have had the same issue. To kill or not to kill!