Can someone give me a quick tutorial on the art of the backstab!? AND is it an effective attack option? Thanks in advance.

Just turn invisible(anyway how) that physically get behind your enemy and strike. As easy as that.

Don't worry, I didn't know either till somebody told me.

You only have to press the hide in shadows button, go behind an enemy and attack him (notice how your thaco will be reduced when you're in stealth).

I'm not the kind of guy who backstabs (cause I'm a swashbuckler), but this skill can be very usefull.

and only specific weapons can backstab. though i cant remember which. but for instance hammers cant be used to backstab. neither can arrows.
somebody else can post an exact list.

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u can backstab with dagger, short sword ,long sword & katanas
i dont know for wakisashi, scimitar and that

I think that every weapon a thief can wield can backstab (exept a missile weapon).

what about club's?
cant theive's carry those?
and if so, how do you stab somebody with a club?

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Scimitars can also be used to backstab.

And yes, it is a very useful attack.
A multiplier is used to calculate damage from a backstab, so damage will be x2, x3, x4 etc. depending on the level of your thief.
An especially good way to use this skill is to backstab an enemy mage - you can often kill them outright before they start to cast.
Another tip is you should always be prepared to run after your attack if facing more than one enemy or if your first attack is unlikely to kill outright - anything which will make you move faster is useful (boots of speed, potions, haste spells etc.)

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I heard in BGII: clubs and maces can be used for backstabing
but i never tried. I know for sure only edged weapons can backstab in BGI, IWD, TotSC, PS:T.

someone told me clubs and maces can be used for backstabing, which I suspect its truthfulness

I don't think clubs can be used. Personally I'd rather the swords couldn't be used for backstabbing too. I'm pretty sure they're slashing weapons and a Katana is really a two handed weapon. The damage a katana inflicts forces you (hypothetically) to use it for backstabbing though.

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