Why does Dexterity help you hide?

[RangerWickett]

Just an idle question. But if Dexterity helps you move, wouldn't you not want to use it if you plan to hide?

*grin*

 

[schnee]

Dexterity means control over your body. Moving smoothly, fluidly, and as slowly as you want when you want can help you from making any sudden jerks that draw attention.

It's hard to be unobtrusive when you're bumping into everything.

 

[Crothian]

You can move and hide at the same time, just if you move to fast that you take penalities.

 

[cleavthorn]

Er, cause if you used your Charisma to Hide, it would confuse other players?

I blame the Search skill.

Spoon?

 

[trancejeremy]

The more dextrous you are, generally speaking, the more limber you are. The more limber you are, the better you can crouch down

 

[Pbartender]

Because a high dexterity would also help to keep perfectly still.

 

[FireLance]

Yup, as other posters have said, Dexterity helps you move where and when you want to move, and not move where and when you don't.

 

[Taneel BrightBlade]

dex also helps you fit into tight spots

 

[jmucchiello]

(Agrees with much of above)

Besides, what would you use otherwise?

 

[s/LaSH]

Not only that, but Dex measures acumen with associated skills - thus, someone with high Dex is not only good at moving the way they want to, they know which way they want to move in order to keep a low profile. "Instincts of the cat", if you will.

Intelligence is also useful in hiding, but its primary role is to help you figure out better ways of doing so - it's not the instinctive ability to hide. Thus, the extra skill points a high Int grants are useful, just not as much as the initial Dex 'talent'. (Until you hit high levels, at which point a high Int will be far more important than a measley Dex score...)