I don't really play stealth characters a lot, so I started up my first assassin-type character in Skyrim. All was going well until I got a contract from the brotherhood which took me to a Dwemer ruin. I took out the mark with no problems, but when I decided to poke around further I ran into some automatons. I saw a spider dinking around, so I tried to sneak up on it and get it with my daggers.Before I could get close enough to strike two spheres came out of the woodworks (metalworks?) and took me out. On the reload, I tried using my bow, but as soon as I took out the spider worker a completely different sphere popped up behind me, at which point I just said "to hell with it" and took off back to the sanctuary.

Is there any way anybody has figured out to take out automatons via stealth (considering they can just pop out of the walls), or is it just a matter of having a really high sneak skill?

I've never had trouble "assassinating" them (good thing constructs and undead aren't immune to sneak attack criticals in TES ), i usually leave the spiders alone though. If you sneak all the time, most of the wall reinforcements don't even get alerted.

Sneaking usually works really well against them, If you have a high sneak skill it's easy to get past them or get a critical hit.

You can spot the places where automatons might appear, just keep notice of youre surounding to avoid any suprises.

The only time I alert them when I'm sneaking is if I accidentally bump into them.

i think i know what place you are talking about, the first time i seen the spider i went "aww a cute little dwemer thingie, lets see if i can kill hug it !!" and followed it only to be attacked from behind by a sphere (i promptly ran past it and out of the ruin, lest i get ambushed by a ton more)

Stealth (sneaking) is my favorite way to deal with automatons. It works well, particularly against Centurions.

Sneak needs to be maxed and perked effectively. Enchanted items make it even better

Never had an issue with them but I prefer to take them out with archery as their patterns can be random and they will suddenly flip around for no reason. If your archery is high enough it only takes one shot to take out spiders or spheres.

thier level in relation to you probably gave you up... try goin back after yu lvl up a bit.

I use a Staff that shoots Electrical Elemental Damage. That cooks them right up.

Easy peasy. Use the aura whisper shout to find them hiding out. Then 9 times out of ten a steathly dual-wielded (I used axes 99% of the time) attack to their little hatches will one-shot spiders. They'll pop out in bits and pieces.

Oh cool, I had no idea you could attack them in their tubes. Thanks for the tip


And yes, this is my preffered method as well, but one does want a little variety now and again

They follow the same rules as other enemies for detection (light, in field of vision, sneaking without armor or muffled, etc). Difference is their sudden appearances. A staff of summons or cast summons (or even a raised dead rat) can make a useful sacrificial scout to draw them out. I've also fired arrows ahead of me into new areas before entering and caused sudden appearances while still hidden.

I know the ruins you are talking about, Raldbthar. I went in there a good deal under the level of those spheres first time too. Here's a real fun bit of variety for you. What I did the first time I decided to explore further in and realized that they were in fact a bit much is run. I ran, but not back towards the entrance. I rushed further in full speed ahead. I had a small army of them chasing me, but wanted to see what was further inside. Not too far inwards, there is this slope with a groove up the middle.

Oh yes, that is an evil grin I have recalling the first time I started up it and skidded to a fast stop upon two huge fan blades springing to life. With all those robots closing behind me, and massive spinning death in front of me, I did what any crazy psychotic person does when facing lopsided odds. I put everyone in equal danger. I watched carefully and Mario hopped the blades, both of them, to reach the top. I died once trying it, but had saved just before. Next attempt, at the top, I stood and watched as sphere after sphere came rolling after my poor, weak little lowbie only to entertain me with a little dungeon baseball. Every one died, violently. It made me grin.

It seems that proximity triggers them coming out of their tubes; however, this doesn't necessarily mean that you have been detected. As stated, Aura Whisper is invaluable. You can often just avoid them. I had no idea that you could attack them while they are in the tubes. i will have to try that if I ever make another rogue.

best.idea.ever. honestly, how did i not think of this!! iv used other traps to my advantage (i dragged every bear trap i seen in a dungeon to a single spot before because the mob ahead of me was much stronger and larger than whatever i could do [and my follower got stuck on something, so no help from them], iv used pre-setup runes, iv done all kinds of things) and my style is all about using dirty tricks, but iv never even though about attempting to jump the blades!

Highly dangerous. But you can time it. If they are there, you can just step into tiny alcoves to the side on some of these slope traps. At least one of them I found had several pressure plate triggers. Firing arrows onto them can activate them from a distance if that's the case. I don't recall, but I don't think the one in Raldbthar had either, so it was take your life into your own hands. What's even funnier is to be undetected in shadow and knowing an enemy or enemies are near, fire an arrow up into a trap area. Nothing like watching them waltz up to their death to investigate a strange sound.