backstabbing

[The Lilarcor]

When attempting to backstabe and your hidden in shadows, do you have to be directly behind them to get the backstab multiplier? Because in the temple, to draw out the priests and Veerbugs (or whatever) one at a time, I had my thief hide in shadows with his bow (proficient in it) and shoot them.
So that raises another question, do you actually have to stab them?

[Stratos]

But if you're shooting them with a bow your're not backstabbing them, you're backshooting them.

Seriously, I believe you can only backstab with melee weapons that a thief can be proficient with.

[ 08-07-2003, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

Originally posted by Stratos: But if you're shooting them with a bow your're not backstabbing them, you're backshooting them. Seriously, I believe you can only backstab with melee weapons that a thief can be proficient with.

yep ur correct

[moiraine sedai]

I'm pretty sure you have to be behind them....It is BACKstabbing, not FRONTstabbing.....

A handy thing to do is to get your mage to cast invisibility on your thief (or have a mage/thief) so you can have enough time (8 hours game time, I think) to get yourself into a perfect position.

Just watch out for those Static Charge spells the priests cast. My thief got fried, one time ages ago.....

Hope this helps,

Moiraine Sedai

[NobleNick]

This is something I could use some instruction on: I have two thieves in my current parties. One is a mc thief(level12?)/illusionist and one is a dc fighter/thief (currently thief lvl 11, with fighter 10 skills reactivated).

One character has backstab active and one has crippling strike; but I have never gotten either character to successfully carry out a successful attack with these skills. Admittedly, I haven't tried too hard, since I use my mage/thief mostly as a mage in battles; and my fighter/thief mostly as a fighter. But still, I have tried a few times. I know to hide in shadows; but still have have no luck: not even a message that I suspect might go something like, "Backstab unsuccessful."

Is there a trick to successful backstabbing? Does weapon proficiency affect the outcome? Can you backstab with a short sword? Is there a different technique to use for crippling strike?

What's a party,
without a song?
Bards ROCK!
Party on!!

[Stratos]

I don't use backstab much but I'll try to help the best I can.

I believe you have to be behind your target to backstab but a short sword should work fine. You also have to actually hit the target to backstab and that's where proficiency and THAC0 comes in. Your fighter/thief should have more succes in backstabbing than the mage/thief since the F/T probably have better THAC0. Don't forget that you can only backstab with weapons a (plain) thief can be proficient with.

As for the Crippling strike, here's from the manual:

Sneak Attack.Sneak Attack is an optional ability that can replace a thief ’s Backstab ability;if you wish your thieves to use Sneak Attack instead of Backstab while playing the game,the option can be switched in the Config program.When Sneak Attack is in effect,any time a thief attacks an opponent from a flank or rear position,he or she can do additional damage once (and only once)on that opponent.The additional damage is plus +1d6 every 4 levels of experience (i.e.,an 8th level thief could do +3d6 damage,and a 23rd level thief could do +6d6).A Sneak Attack does not require the thief to be hidden or moving silently in order to work (although these skills can help a thief to get into position).Critical hits do not double Sneak Attack damage.

Crippling Strike.At 5th level,thieves gain a feel for how to hamstring their enemies in unpleasant ways.This allows thieves to cripple an opponent with a successful Sneak Attack,reducing their chances to hit and damage.This crippling effect is in addition to the normal Sneak Attack damage.A Crippling Strike improves with the thief ’s level.At 5th level,a thief ’s Crippling Strike causes the victim to suffer a -1 to hit and damage rolls,at 9th level,-2 to hit and damage,at 13th level,-3 to hit and damage,and so on,with an additional -1 penalty to hit and damage for every four levels of the thief.A creature hit with a Crippling Strike will regain their normal to hit and damage rolls one turn after being crippled.

I've never used it myself, but it seems that you need to have Sneak Attack activated in the config program to use Crippling Strike. The Sneak Attack will appearantly replace Backstab.

[ 08-11-2003, 06:32 PM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

[moiraine sedai]

It does [img]smile.gif[/img]


Moiraine Sedai

[browns1977]

Did you ever get your backstab or sneak attacks to work? If so how? I have been trying to get my thief to do it but it doesn't seem to work. Is there a message that says Back stab (X) damage?

[NobleNick]

Browns1977,

No, I haven't; but, honestly, I haven't tried. I got the above answers just before starting HoW, and have only gotten as far as Burial Isle. My tactics there don't allow for leading the group into battle by trying out backstab on a Drowned Dead in the middle of a group of Barrow Wights while being serenaded by a Wailing Virgin.

What's a party,
without a song?
Bards ROCK!
Party on!!

[browns1977]

Noblenick,

Well I am sure it is nice being serenaded by a Wailing Virgin. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Though it could be a little distracting I would think. Where is your sense of advendture? Back stab them all!! I am going to try to get it to work. If I have any success I will let you know.