OK, just bought the game today. Rather confused about the whole thing, been playing BGII (2nd Ed) for almost 3 years now, so the switch is rather dis-orienting. Basically my question is this:
Is a sneak attack like a backstab? As in, do you have to stealth, walk behind them, then hit? Or does it do it auto-matically? The reason I ask, is because when I'm attacking kegs (love that "smug looking keg") I always get the sneak attack, but when I'm attacking goblins, I have to move behind, then hit.

Thanks in advance.

I'm not certain but it may be do to the fact that kegs are non sentient. This makes it easy to sneak up on them. :)

Your FIRST successful attack on the back (flank?) of an enemy is counted as a Sneak Attack. So you don't necessarily have to be Hidden to do this. Of course, it's just about impossible to maneuver to outflank an enemy without him facing you unless you're Hidden or if the target is busy attacking somebody else.

MY KEG THEORY: While some monster (oozes or slimes) have no backs, I think a keg is ALL BACK, so a rogue's first hit on a keg is always a Sneak Attack.

A loophole that I think works is Backstabbing enemy A, switch and Backstab enemy B, then attack enemy A again. This should count as a new Sneak Attack and you get to deliver extra damage again. Try it and see if it really works or if I just misread the combat feedback.

Sneak Attack is more useful than backstab IMO. You cause more damage, you can sneak attack easily, damage multiplier is higher. At level 9 you got 6-30 sneak damage it's a big bonus. Mostly, I let my tanks attack enemies. While monsters are fighting with my front line fighters. I hit them from left right and rear! I'm very sneaky [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sneak attacks happen in two ways. The first is when you come up behind an enemy while in shadows or invisible and strike. The second is when an enemy is already busy fighting someone else, and your rogue comes up from behind and attacks; this is known as "flanking the enemy".

<center>Nightowl2</center>

Kinda three.

Flank while invisible
Flank while they are busy.
Attack while they are asleep or comatose.

Thanks guys, that clears it up heaps.

Also you can sneak attack if they're stunned - I've had a nice 1-2 punch once already with my new group that has a monk and a rogue, both very stealthy guys. They sneak to the back of enemy ranks together, the Monk attacks first with a stunning attack, then the rogue gets all sneak attacks on the guy the monk stunned - very sweet ;)