Ranger hide-- bug or feature?

[keithor]

Well I'm the proud new owner of a ranger but I can't seem to get him hidden.  I get a "you are looking for a hiding spot" type message but then no response, no matter how long I wait (5 min+).  So, I'm just curious why this is so? Reasons I've thought of and discounted include:
- terrain (tried all but grey forest so far, haven't made it that far north yet)
- armor (removed it, no improvement)
- encumberance (easily manageable right now, I believe)

The only reason I'm coming to the boards for answers, instead of learning it myself, is that I've played shady characters before and they seemed to have no trouble hiding in 3-5 seconds which is kinda what I expected...

Thanks in advance for any help I recieve  

[Larrath]

Are you sure you have the skill?  Check your skill list.

[Dracul]

Answer: You suck.

No really. Not you as a person, )although who knows, maybe you do) your character.

Keep playing around with it that you just aren't able to get hidden, and when you have a couple days playing time you might have it down.
And remember, you don't get a magickal "You are now hidden" echo.

[Gaare]

From http://www.armageddon.org/general/guilds.html

Exceptional rangers are able to move silently and remain unseen in the wilderness, detect sounds from far away, work with poisons, and parry enemy blows.

Rangers need some time to become exceptional.

And ... rangers are one of the most important food sources for some beasts of Zalanthas.. so good luck.

Edit: Grammar.

[keithor]

Are you sure you have the skill? Check your skill list.

Of all the reasons that occured to me, this was not one of them!

I just assumed that sneak/hide were some of the first skills because they are in most other games.  I should have learned already that Arm isn't like most other games!

Big thanks to all of you for your very quick replies.

Keithor who will try and become even more exceptional.

[Angela Christine]

Some skills, like hide and search, can be attempted if you do not have the skill on your skill list but it takes a looooooooooooong time to finish -- like an hour.  It might not have been a whole hour, I got distracted by the TV.    But my point is that if you wait long enough you will eventually get a response back from the MUD.

Angela Christine

[Maybe42or54]

There are also a mount(s) that can sneak hide.