Rangers, stealth

[Myrddin L'argenton]

Originally posted by Legolas: The most effective use of the stealth ability for rangers is the usefulness in a hit and run attack (basically: grab a bow, hide, move forward until you find an enemy, shoot, run around the corner and hide again, then reposition and repeat). Even large groups of tough enemies can be totally decimated in time using this tactic, especially when you are using boots of speed as well. It's mainly reserved for rangers and thieves, and since thieves may not use longbows, and the ranger is a warrior class, rangers are better at hitting and dealing damage (although crossbows hit harder than longbows, and are even better suited to the task). Thieves often have the advantage when it comes to the hiding though, as a ranger's stealth ability increases only a little per level and it takes longer to reach a reliable hide in shadows percentage.

Thieves can only use weapons that are sharp (swords and daggers) to backstab really. They can't use blunt weapons, though this might be that I was using Montaron and in that case it is weapons that thieves can't use.

[Vedran]

Every weapon that a pure, single class thief can wield can be used for backstab.

[Dron_Cah]

what about back-wacking with a tief -cleric?

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Myrddin L'argenton: Thieves can only use weapons that are sharp (swords and daggers) to backstab really. They can't use blunt weapons, though this might be that I was using Montaron and in that case it is weapons that thieves can't use.

Incorrect. As stated in my Guide, you can Backstab (or Backwhack) with ANY melee weapon that a pure-class Thief can use, the list of which is:
Daggers
Clubs
Short Swords
Long Swords
Staves (which includes the Staff Mace and Staff Spear)
a very special pair of Scimitars (and the only reason you can use them is because the game think they're Long Swords)

In BG2, these weapons are added to the Backstab list:
Scimitars
Wakizashi
Ninja-To
Katanas

Cleric/Thieves can still Backstab, they simply are limited by their Cleric restriction. They can use any weapon that a normal Cleric could use, but they can only Backwhack with weapons usable by both a Cleric AND a Thief.

[Armen]

Originally posted by Legolas: The most effective use of the stealth ability for rangers is the usefulness in a hit and run attack (basically: grab a bow, hide, move forward until you find an enemy, shoot, run around the corner and hide again, then reposition and repeat).

my first run (nearly) through i did this a lot (halfling thief with sling) but i've avoided it completely this time and i'm having lots more fun [img]smile.gif[/img]

i'm only using stealth for features that seem to justify scouting (bridges, openings etc.) and if i hear something

undeniably effective though

PS: Swords for everyone!!

[ 04-10-2003, 06:29 AM: Message edited by: Armen ]

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by Jan: Is backstab = death all the time?

backstab is a multiplier on your base damage due to a thief's knowledge of where to hit someone, at low levels it's only a x2 modifier, at higher levels it can reach as high as x5 (x7 with a bg2 thief kit)

backstabable thief weapons include the staff and club, and magical variants that count as either such as the staff/mace SoS mentioned.

Scimitars were added by the TotSC expansion as buyable items, similar to hide armor, however by the time you can get them you will undoubtedly have better, mainly added to give druids a their melee sword, but usable by thieves (with some leeway from the players handbook)

Thanks Morgeruat. Great info.

Have never used backstab so I had no idea about it.

[InsaneBane]

Time to give Coran a long sword instead of Spider Bane

[img]graemlins/greenbounce.gif[/img]
Insane