What, specifically, do you get when you put points in Sneak? I figure it dampens sound in sneak mode and makes pickpocketing more likely, but does it also reduce enemy sight range?

Basically, it means you can more effectively sneak. However, detection of sneak is based on multiple factors, such as time of day (or light sources), how much your armor weighs, and perks.
Also, based on your sneak skill. Ofc.

...

and if your pip boy light is on or not.

Is a pip boy not a light source........?

It affects pickpocketing, sneaking (Yes your pipboy light is a light source), smuggling guns into the casino, unlocks sneak dialogue in some conversations, there may be a few others Im forgetting as well.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Sneak#Fallout:_New_Vegas knows all. (just read for F3)

Thanks for the responses, but this doesn't really answer the question. I've read the wiki, and I understand what the factors are behind successful sneaking. You'll note, though, that these factors are all things that a player can control by being careful to move slowly, stay out of sight, turn off the light, etc.

So, what I'm asking is what PUTTING POINTS into the Sneak skill actually does. HOW does it make you sneakier than you'd be if you were just following the above guidelines? Does having more points in Sneak...

• Reduce the sound you make when moving in Sneak mode? (Yes.)
  
• Improve your chance at pickpocketing? (Yup.)
  
• Reduce the range from which an enemy can spot you in Sneak mode? (Beats me.)
  
• Reduce enemy visibility of you even in increasingly bright conditions? (Probably, dunno though.)
  
• Narrow enemy line of sight, so you don't have to be directly behind them to be out of sight? (Unsure.)

If you're a developer or you're able to peek into the guts of this game, I'd love to know what these points actually do. Thanks!

I'm not a dev, and I seriously doubt you'll get a reply from one, but I do wish to help you so I'm going to give you my opinion on sneak.

It is really one of the worst skills in the game, because you can make good use of it without putting any points into it at all. With a sneak of 7, you can still get a fair amount of sneak attacks in if you're playing a ranged character.

Sneak only really becomes worth the slow movement speed and high detection rate of enemies with 100 skill, silent running perk, and a stealthboy or invisibility suit (not sure if NV has one of these).

NPCs move around sporadically and jerkily, they're highly unpredictable and their movements don't make a lot of sense (think Cazadors). You will encounter more NPCs walking in circles than in straight lines back and forth (such as in a metal gear solid game). The reason this is bad is because light or dark, if they come into line of sight with you, you're most likely going to get a [CAUTION] label, at the least (meaning they'll search for and likely find you, more so if you try to run away as you make noise).

Furthermore, in the Xbox 360 version there is a bug where putting points into sneak beyond 50 has no result on effectiveness of the skill. Pickpocketing can be reliant on sneak, but I you're still going to be spamming save games, I just find pickpocketing to be not worth the frustration, maybe if we could quickload on consoles.

In short, with a skill of 7 in sneak you can still get sneak attack snipes when exploring the wasteland, but even with a very high skill, you're going to be detected often in close quarters (dungeons, caves, buildings etc.) Most players find it time-consuming and ineffective to be worth all of the skill points, but the choice is up to you. Most of the fun in these games is discovering what works best for you on your own, despite what other people say, everyone plays differently. Personally I find that I don't need the critical hits that they provide unless I see an enemy really far off, then I go for it.

Do whatever you want to do, you can always start over again

Hope I was of help!

What? Crap!
Do you remember where you heard this?
Thanks!

Really?! :cryvaultboy:

I am a fan of sneak and I play Fallout NV on my Xbox 360. I know nothing of this sneak bug. I have 100 sneak skill and silent running and just last night walked into the Silver Rush and with all the guards in there, I was still able to sneak behind the woman and steal ALL of the stuff on the counter in front of her as well as the stuff on the shelf by the front door. I had my companion (Boone) with me and I would just walk up to him, load him up with what I stole and went for more. There is also a locked door with two guards on either side of it and I was able to pick it and go in undetected and loot the weapon supply closets on the second floor and I got out unscathed. Note that all my stealthing in those scenarios was WITHOUT a stealthboy.

+++++POSSIBLE SPOILER++++++
Right after that, I had the mission from the NCR to take out Pacer using energy weapons to make it look like the Van Graffs did it (hence the reason why I cleaned out the Van Graffs prior. I hate having to pay for things that I can steal). All I had to do was hide in the doorway a little ways away from Pacer and lob a plasma grenade at him. He died and not one Elvis in the place so much as blinked. I then proceeded to pickpocket the king in the next room and used his key to opene the locked door in that room to do some more looting. Again. All done, Unscathed in a well-lit area. Again, WITHOUT a stealthboy.
+++++++END POSSIBLE SPOILER++++++++

Right from the beginning of the game (Sneak was one of my tagged skills), I was sneaking around stealing stuff right in the doctor's office when the game first started. I pickpockted everyone in Goodsprings LOL.

Sneak is awesome. Its one of those skills that you either fully invest in or leave alone. The trick is to stay ahead of the curve so it is effective throughout the game and not just until you get it past 50. My sneak was 50 by level 2.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas_bugs

Go there, the Fallout wikia page and use your explorer's find feature to search for the word sneak, it's the first option listed.

Gotcha, thanks.

Thanks again for the replies. I guess what I most want to know is this:

If I put more points in Sneak, will it ever make it less likely that a Deathclaw will see me (in sneak mode) in broad daylight, with a clear line of sight, when he's close enough to appear on my radar?

I think so but, sneaking has so many factors it's hard to say for sure.


:cryvaultboy: :banghead: :swear:

P.S. I guess the Wiki does not know all.

Use a sniper or gauss rifle. Stay in sneak (make sure not to run if you do not have silent running yet) and just pop them in the head a few times. Smaller ones go down in one shot the larger ones can take a few rounds. I cleared the quarry like this. Not once did I get attacked. You just have to perch in high points along the perimeter or run up near the top of one of those conveyor belts. If using Sniper rifle, use AP rounds and your relevant skill (guns/energy) needs to be at 75 or higher.