Wow. I just died in the stupidest way.

I have a new character, I wanted to start a warrior that resembles the Dovahkiin as much as possible. So I have a nord guy in iron armor, the basics. I like it.
Anyway, he's still level 5, and just got to the Valtheim Towers (the big ones near Whiterun with the bandits). I kill a bandit or two, and then have to deal with these archers.

There's on on the top of the tower that I'm in. So... I figure I'll rush her, bash her, and FUS her, trying to just knock her off the tower. So I did. I ran straight at her. Then she darted to one side, I missed, and ran straight off the edge.

Everything went in slow motion. As I fell, I thought, "Man, I haven't saved in a while."

As I hit the ground, I thought, "I'm pretty sure that bandit just played me... I just got owned."

Lastly, as my body skitters down the hill and into the river, I thought "That was random, but it sure did seem like a good move to me. Well played Combat AI."

Reminds me of a time when something similar happened, except with a dragon. I was stubborn and climbed a sheer cliff face to get to a word wall, and when I reached the top the dragon flew up as I shouted dragonrend. Problem was I forgot I still had whirlwind sprint equipped, and flew about 70 feet and then fell down the cliff face to the word wall and my death.

But more on topic, the combat AI in skyrim does have more tricks than you would think.

I love Valtheim towers - you kill everyone in there, and return thinking its an easy way of getting loot. Then you see your body fall from the tower ...

Not as catastrophic as recent handling of the posters site. Guess they just became too big and greedy. Sorry, just had to say it. Hoblak signing off...

-confused-
What's wrong with the OP's site? Or are you trying to talk about the forums here?

I had the exact same thing happen with falling off the bridge, although I saved before entering the tower.

I don't have a site. Must be this board he means.

the only trick i've seen them do is the dodge the arrow they didn't see coming from the guy they can't see shooting it, side stepping faster than the arrow itself flies...neat, as in pisses me off sooooo much.

i know i hate that i have shot a few arrows at peoples heads and some how they move over just enough to not get hit and then they find out i'm there and attack me. and i'm just like what the [censored]

I've been knocked back of the bridge by an archer, fun but potentially deadly battle site.

I've never seen them do this on the first shot. Once they figure out that arrows are flying at them, however, they engage a "random dodging" routine. I would too, and so would you I'd wager.

Makes a lot less sense for them to just stand there and get shot at.

The combat AI can come up with some pretty awesome tricks actually and the NPCs can really quite vicious in comabt.
I love that.
It is sometimes unfair and it doesn't make it easy and that's exactly as it should be.

But yeah, Niamh has died plenty of times through sheer impatience and consequently being wrong-footed by an NPC in combat mode.
Awesome stuff.