How do I get Imoen to backstab? I have her equipped with the "Short sword of backstabbing," I click on the stealth icon but nothing happens other than the message "hide in shadows failed? Is anything else required other than to be behind the target?

[ 11-26-2004, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: Elfin ]

Hide in shadow's failed..

Well, you need to hide in shadows first, you can try again and as long as you can't be seen by an enemy you should be able to, though it might take a few trys.. when hidden imoen will turn slightly transparent, then all you have to do is move up behind the target and attack.

Keep in mind that Imoen isn't much of a thief (other than traps and lockpicking), so this could take a few (dozen) tries.

ED: I just checked her exact stats - her Hide in Shadows is 25, while her Move Silently is 30 (without enhancements). Not too good. Not too good at all.

[ 11-26-2004, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: Feral ]

Use the ring of (or a spell) invisibility.

Don't expect to be very impressed with Imoen's backstabbing.

If you want backstabbing, you want Yoshimo, Jan, or Valygar.

[ 11-26-2004, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: krunchyfrogg ]

I have to agree. I rarely even use Imoen with a dagger. I'd rather have her behind the party and safe from enemies, so I equip her with a bow (Gensen is a good one actually throughout the game) when I'm not using spell attacks. As time goes by Imoen gets quite a lot of protective spells so she can go in closer and is safe from hits and spells, but by then you'd be better off going in with a maze spell and screw the dagger. [img]smile.gif[/img] But maze is one of a very few spells wherein the mage has to get right in front of the enemy to get the spell going, most she can do from far away. Good spell though when you have a crowd, especially strong, but dumb, ones! [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

You can use potions to increase her hide in shadows skill temporarily. Or you can use a spell or invisibility potion. Then creep up behind an enemy and attack.

Or a L21 PC assassin with Crom Faer in the off hand wielding Quietus +4 from the item upgrade mod...

... or you could just use Ctrl-Y. Now, that's a sneak attack! :D

... or you could just use Ctrl-Y. Now, that's a sneak attack! :D </font>[/QUOTE]LOL! -- great reply!

Re: Dace: Of course a protagonist, if built that way, will be the best backstabber. Your guy sounds nasty!

I was never able to backstab with a thief (Jan). I don't know why, it just didn't work. He always just stabbed them normally... so there was no extra damage or anything. :(

Spelca, did you position Jan to the back of the enemy? I think in Baldur's Gate you could backstab them standing right infront of them, but in BGII you have to get right behind the person. Maybe that was your problem.

Were you hidden Spelca?

And question no. 3 for Spelca: were you using a legit backstabbing weapon (a weapon that a pureclass thief can use)? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

[ 12-08-2004, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Feral ]

Aside from the SotM, are there any weapons that Imoen can use that can't be used to backstab?

Not flaming, I'm serious.

Didn't take it as a flame (but thanks for the reassurance). To be honest, I don't know the answer. I'll check, though I suspect someone knows the answer off the top of their head and will beat me to it (please). I also don't know what the answer is for Jan (about whom Spelca was asking).

So, all in all, this isn't much of a post.

Well there's the obvious stuff, like bows and darts and slings. But no one can backstab with them, so it doesn't really matter.

He hid in shadows while he was a bit away from them, then he walked behing them, and tried to stab them with a dagger of backstabbing (though he tried others too). I also tried it as invisible a few times. But it never worked. I made him go directly behind them, and then stabbed. Or should I have positioned him a bit away from them, behind their back, and then click so he'd go there and stab?

I don't know why it never worked. I got sick of trying after a while. I might try it again the next time I play the game again. [img]smile.gif[/img]

It sound right to me. Did you had all the patches?

Yup, I was all patched up. But I played this game a while ago... Have there been any new ones?

Or maybe I just thought I did it correctly, but I really didn't... Maybe I didn't go straight behind them but a bit at an angle. How much straight behind them do you have to go? I mean, if you approach them sideways and then go behind them...? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

You might simply be trying to Backstab creatures that are immune to Backstab, such as Golems, Beholders, Barbarians, Dragons, etc.

Actually, I'd go:

Assassin L25
Dualled to
Fighter L26

Which IIRC is attainable and makes for a VERY mean character indeed. Bear in mind that your ToB HLA's (in this case, use any item) carry across to the new class.

Maximise STR, DEX and CON and keep boosting these stats whenever possible. Do not duplicate weapon proficiencies (plan ahead) and if you are going the Crom Faer offhand route and get the choice, increase DEX rather than STR.

i.e. Go to Watcher's Keep sooner rather than later.

Dace, would not you be better off being a fighter first? or is your goal the higher backstabbity goodness (sorry Black Mage).

Hey crunchy... thats one funky frog!

EUREKA. I found the "boots of stealth" which raised Imoen's "hide in shadows" to 45, then found the "Cloak of Elvenking" which raised her stat to 95. I then hit an enemy and did 40 points of damage.

*nods*

Yeah, the point of getting to a high level as an assassin first is simply to get the 7x backstab. We can boost strength throughout the game, so we are looking at a STR 19 +1 MOLTM +1 DOMT +2 SOA END GAME 23 strength character waltzing through ToB.

If we went the fighter/thief dual I would choose the Kensai kit (though, wouldn't we all :D ). I think a L24/L28 dual is possible in this case, which makes for a very nasty opponent. This character can easily get 200+HP by the time s/he has levelled up fully.

I still think multiclass is better.

a fighter/thief multi will gain HLAs from both pools.

For an interesting read,

http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...c;f=5;t=002353

Wow. Nice. Very. Nice. Makes me wish I had a kensai/thief, and BTW what happened to your old sig? Also your pic is a scrolling marquee for some "Handy Kult". Just a head's up. But cool nonetheless

It's quite an old post. The server that hosted the smilies shifted.

Well, 24/28 is possible, but you'd be at a slight disadvantage through all of SoA and some/lots of ToB. Seems a pity. And by the time you get that uber backstab, there are hardly any opponents to use it on.

The cheddar-cheesy option is to use SK and create a Multiclass Fighter/Assasin, with some evil backstab. Or a Kensai/Thief for Celestial Fury kai backstab. KAAAAAAAI-splat.

The CFury is not the best backstab weapon, and not even the second-best.

I can't wait to see my Assasain->Fighter backstabb with SotR. [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img]

It's a shame that the best NPC's are evil.

Not for me though - since I loooove being mean! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Well, I've inspired myself.

I've just started a L1 Kensai in BG Tutu... I'm 50/50 on whether or not to solo him.

Feel the pain anyone? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<20 minutes later>

Evil Kensai chops another Candlekeep guard into bits and hits L4.

Not quite as difficult as I thought :-P Some of the characters in Candlekeep are worth LOADS of experience points.

Black Talon Elites. There goes your solo. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Dude! Keep us posted! Somehow I found a renewed interest in the game by reading other people's run-thru's :D