Not a rant about how something that's blind can find me.

I'm curious as to whether Falmer are actually worse at visual detection of sneaking characters (if there's an actual mechanic tied to their blindness). Is it actually harder for them to see you than it is for other enemies? I know it's also said that their other senses are stronger, but I highly doubt this would be implemented (i.e., their visual detection is worse, but sound detection more sensitive).

I can't test this with any reliability; my only running stealth character is maxed sneak so most things can't see/hear me in absurd situations anyway. It also tends to be darker where you're going to find Falmer anyway, so I don't know if any difference is actually due to their blindness or that it's easier for me to hide in the dark.

I started just sprint-rolling through Falmer dungeons since it's faster than killing them.

My stealth character could kill most Falmer without alerting them.

Yeah, I think so. Maybe their hearing detection is better, but I have the Illusion spell and enchanted boots (not bothering with most of the sneak perks - Silent Roll is the only one desirable. I have muffle, so Silence perk is useless. I wear mage's robes, so reducing sound of armour is useless. I don't use daggers or bows, so Assassin's perks are useless (('cept for the first one)) mainly Illusion and Destruction magic with a bit of dual wield maces.)

Yeah, I honestly haven't really noticed any huge differences. My stealth character can get around/behind them with ease like a common bandit, my mage/warrior characters get spotted as soon as I turn a corner.

I remember walking in front of Falmer and them not seeing me.

Thats because they're blind. They can hear though, very well too.

Which still makes me marvel at how many are marksmen.

I can confirm Falmer will not detect you visually but detect by sound better then others. I've sat crouched in plain sight directly in front of more then one of them and not been detected. Conversely ice found it a bit note challenging to actually move past them due to noise. With muffled boots you're basically a ghost in a Falmer dungeon, just watch the Chaurus they can see.

I honestly haven't noticed any difference between stealthing past falmer compared to any other race. Light level still seems to be a factor, even though they're blind, but they do seem to have a higher chance of noticing you if you're moving quickly or in armor that impares mobility (Ebony mail is highly recommended for your follower should they use heavy armor and you need them to be sneaky.)

I can confirm total blindness, but improved hearing. I tested it by using candlelight and walk right in front of them with a sneak character. When I used my sword, they heard it from a mile away. Very nice implementation me thinks

Yeah I think its the only feature in SK that got thorough QA

Then something is wrong in my current save, as I can be in sneak mode and staying absolutely still while having 96 in sneak and nothing but light armor and still be seen if I'm not in shadow. Must have hit a bad trigger somewhere while playing the game and corrupted the stealth feature vs. falmer. Or someone is yanking chains. Either or is just as likely as the other.

Odd, I've literally been face to face with them and been fine as long as I didn't move. Maybe your avatar is wheezing lol

And you were crouched while still exposed to light? Maybe it's my horrendous werewolf breath. I haven't flossed since that last horse haunch, and I haven't eaten horse in about a month.

I've been in a tent, had one walk inside stare me in the face and turn around. I've sat in a circle around a fire with them. Even went through the big Falmer dungeon in the TG line with two npcs in tow with only one detection and that place was packed with them.

As has been said, they are completely blind so they are sooo easy for a good stealth build since they can only hear you.

Ways to avoid being heard:

muffle boots-
1. Silent casting - if you are a casting type.
2. Arrow misses- dont miss with arrows, use blades if you can.
3. Power attacks! normal swings do not make noise (if they hit and kill for sneak attacks) power attacks do make noise.
4. Blade whiffs- they "hear" you miss them if you whiff a sneak shot at them.

Funny thing is: invisibility once again can instantly cut combat with them, which should not be the case since they are blind, but it does nonetheless.

You get a lot of in game "lore" people talking about the great evil subterranian race that could rise up and destroy all the surface dwellers. The emperor could hire about 5 good theives and kill every single falmer in the world though.

I am impressed by this.

Also this. Bat sonar?

At the end of a Falmer battle I'll have arrows sticking out of my face (recently Ebony arrows, which sting a bit).

Well, I was positively amazed too, when I saw that the description actually matched them completely
And i think, through the fact of how heavy your step is, and how far it comes from, it's quite possible. But that's just what I think ofcourse.