A lot of you have probably had this situation where you're in a dungeon, running for your life from some mean baddie but keeps chasing you when you finally get out of the interior cell. Sometimes this happens, but not every time. My experience with this was also exactly the same in Oblivion.

I'm just curious if anyone here knows how this mechanic works and what determines that they will actually follow you. I've just had a couple of bandits stand right next to the exit door but they refuse to set foot outside, while in another bandit fort close to Whiterun they were very eager to chase me all the way.

I usually just run until I find a place to sneak. It almost always works.