I played a were-bear once, so yes I understand your concerns.
1.
Everyone on the server what's not a monster is stronger than an AMPC. Even Dumitru the Beggar can stick his knife up your rear. Exception are maybe the vampires. They can build up a nasty reputation, because no matter how hard you try to flesh it out in rp, it the Heroes get the smell of your blood and that you are a weakling in combat, they will not whispers in the corners of the taverns at night how dangerous you are.
2. There's that AMPC tool that helps to locate ppl, but then again. Those who leave the safety of the taverns at night usually either are in packs, or very strong, nothing an AMPC can scare. I ended up running more times, than I managed to scare people. It was awkward. (let me add even though I rarely attacked, just emoted and tried to build up an infamy mauling goats from the barns - I still got chased down. One times I was running for many RL hours from a monk, who simply put wanted to make a bear rug of my were-bear and he was real persistant in it
)
3. Yes, the atmospheric emotes can be the only chance to spook people - since once you reveal yourself you'd get the " Oh hey, it's just one lousy werewolf, let's maim it". But through the emotes, one can really spook people. And yes, I got spotted many occasion, when I was trying to stalk (AMPCs are not so high levels, not to mention were-beasts who cannot even use equipments). Would be nice to have a tool, to 1. check where people are exactly to assess the situation, 2. an ability to Athmospheric emote on the same map, with a larger area of effect without the need to move the 'Monser' into line of sight. - which raises the chance of being found and whacked badly. There were many times I Emoted without seeing the targets, only hoping they are on the same map, and later turned out that they either did not hear it, or was not on the map.