Have you actually tested this out? I agree, the Staff of the Magi should be a valid backstab weapon; unfortunately, the game's programmers did not make it one. To make sure, I created a MU/thief, started him up in the first dungeon, cheated a Staff of the Magi into his hands, and had him try to backstab a goblin. Sure enough, I got the "Your weapon is not suitable for Backstab" message. The programmers' backstab criteria are whether or not the specific weapon is usable by a single class thief.

Carsomyr +6 is not a weapon that a thief can use unless he has use any item , and that doesn't count for backstabbing.</font>[/QUOTE]But....wait....what if the thief is, say, a frost giant and he's hiding in some really big shadows and he's using Carsomyr like a dagger ---- could he backstab then? :D :D :D

....Just remembering the item description for Joril's Dagger. Now it's time to take my meds [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 09-04-2002, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: Desuma Malevois ]

Desuma Malevois, Actually unless that particular frost giant is a multi-class paladin thief it isn't going to happen. Actually that is just why it won't happen. 1)Paladins must be human. 2)Paladins cannot dual or multi-class in any way whatsoever. 3)In short, you would have to hack up your character to the extreme to make this even a slight possibility.
In other words it is not technically possible.

The answer to the earlier question about "can a backstab be successful but still do normal damage" the answer is no. The backstab modifier gets higher with levels- at low level, a backstab does double or triple damage and at a very high level it does 7x damage IIRC.

Oh lighten up. The comment was made as a joke. If you're gonna split hairs, let's consider this:
Let's assume for a moment that we're no longer in BG-land but in DND proper. After all, that's the only way to play a frost giant.

1) Paladins can be of any race as long as they're LG.
2)Paladins can dual and multiclass just like any other class. The only class I can think of that requires total devotion is the Monk.

Ask a funny rhetorical question, get a straight answer :D

Of course, one could also say that it would be impossible to play a frost giant thief because there is no way he'd fit through the doors of the first dungeon. He'd probably starve to death. :D

Thank you for your reply, Firestormalpha; I truly appreciate your spirit of helpfulness [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 09-04-2002, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Desuma Malevois ]

<font color="lightblue">AFAIK, that is in 3rd Edition. 2e Paladins must be human, and can`t dual or multi.
I *think*- don`t quote me on this ;) </font>

I just stuck with a shortsword and a shortbow with my assasin and had no trouble killing/backstabbing. Poison blade works on the arrows too so you can deal with mages easily.

Warby

Illumina just back off already. When you respond to my posts it's like a disease has entered the area. You're are infectiously grumpy. My own posts are hardly ever serious, and usually are intended to match the mood. I just happen to use my own cynical humor sometimes. Get over this little personal vendetta you seem to have against me.

yes, there is more proof that only single class-thief usable weapons can be used to backstab, Valygar's sword will not allow a backstab, as it is not usable by a single class thief.

about the backstab multiplier, assassins are the only subclass of thief that can get a x7

otherwise it is x2 for lvl 1-4
x3 for lvl 5-8
x4 for lvl 9-12
x5 for lvl 13+

also, if we were talking about standard AD&D, and not BG, then paladins CAN dual-class, as long as they have 15 in strength and charisma (17 chr is minimum) and they can go to any class allowed by their alignment, ie no bard, druid, thief, etc., or another class can dual class into a paladin (usually requires special dm permission, and judgement as to whether the character has acted in a consistent manner with his alignment throughout his entire adventuring career), as long as he has a 15 in the primary attributes of his previous class, and a 17 str, and chr, although strictly by the rules he could not dual class from a fighter-type class to another (he couldn't go from a ranger or fighter to a paladin, despite what Salvatore allowed Drizzt to do) His powers would remain usable in either case as long as he stayed true to his character's code of honor that the paladin class held on to, but breaking from it would have the normal results. and yes according to the rules the monk is the only class that cannot dualclass at all.

also interesting to note is that one Faerun(forgotten realms) rangers and druids are compatible for multiclassing by 1/2elves, and elves. And in Krynn(dragonlance) elves and 1/2elves are allowed to become paladins, but not solamnic knights.

just one more before I go... according to AD&D 2nd edition rules holy swords (ie Carsomyr) CAN be used by any class, but they are only +2 weapons in the hands of non-paladins, so even a thief with use any item would only have Carsomyr+6 as a +2 two-handed sword without any of the spiffy zestiness that makes it sooooo much fun.