Inefficient backstab?

[Butterfingers]

There is something peculiar about backstabbing in this game, that's for sure. Something not quite right, can't put my finger on it. Valygar for example, does huge amounts of damage for backstabs, but, he is only a stalker, while I have watched thieves (Like a PC or Yoshimo) get piddling sorry results. Some times, it's almost like Valy gets assassin like bonuses for backstabbing.

I still can't quite put my finger on what it is.

But I agree. Somebody with 19 str should get a wicked kidney poke, not some weeny kidney prick.

BTW, I have seen Valygar backstab for over 100 damage.

[Imrahil]

In most cases, Valygar will be using a weapon with a greater damage range (say, 1-8) than a Thief will be using (say, 1-6). Which means he can roll a higher number, which will then be multiplied. He's capable of getting an 8, multiplied by, e.g. 5, while a Thief can only get a 6, multiplied by 5, just based on the weapons he's able to use (& backstab with).

All the extra stuff, like the +X damage from the weapon & your/his Strength, gets added on at the end, so you're really just looking at the base damage that he can inflict vs. what a Thief can inflict, & his will generally be higher.

(naturally, there should be times when he "rolls" low, & your Thief does more damage - if he is always getting more, at equal backstab multipliers, particularly with the same weapon equipped, then it may be a bug)

- Imrahil

[rhapsody407]

read the long sword description, it says that it is slashing damage, not piercing. it does less damage against targets with armor. Try this: find a mage. backstab with both characters several times (using quicksave+quickload)...see who gets higher dmg.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Armour does not affect your damage unless it confers physical damage resistance. A 1d6 slashing weapon will deal as much damage as a 1d6 piercing weapon.

[rhapsody407]

is that in the 2nd edition rules? i'm not all that familiar with them, but i think slashing does have some sort of an armor mod... (mb 1st or 3rd?)

[Dundee Slaytern]

I am not referring to any D&D rules at all, I am explaining how it works in the game.

[Baros]

Different weapon types (slashing, piercing etc) are different only in that the target will have AC mods (chain is +2 AC vs crushing IIRC) which affects your chance to hit, not damage. Individual targets *could* have resistance against specific damage types (10% against missile for the Orc Leather, for example), but this wouldn't cause the poor backstabbing effect seen. Personally I think the backstab is a bit screwy at the best of times and just live with it.

[rhapsody407]

it's only fitting that some backstabs do a little less damage than expected. Kai+backstab+critical+celestial=100+ so...someone could hit but just garble...

in some games, enemies gain resistances to elements and physical as the difficulty level. could this be responsible?

[Alson]

Originally posted by rhapsody407: in some games, enemies gain resistances to elements and physical as the difficulty level. could this be responsible?

Not in BG2.

[Zarr]

Originally posted by Imrahil: In most cases, Valygar will be using a weapon with a greater damage range (say, 1-8) than a Thief will be using (say, 1-6). Which means he can roll a higher number, which will then be multiplied. He's capable of getting an 8, multiplied by, e.g. 5, while a Thief can only get a 6, multiplied by 5, just based on the weapons he's able to use (& backstab with). All the extra stuff, like the +X damage from the weapon & your/his Strength, gets added on at the end, so you're really just looking at the base damage that he can inflict vs. what a Thief can inflict, & his will generally be higher. (naturally, there should be times when he "rolls" low, & your Thief does more damage - if he is always getting more, at equal backstab multipliers, particularly with the same weapon equipped, then it may be a bug) - Imrahil

What your forgetting here is that the highest backstab multiplyer a stalker(Valygar) can get is x3 so I find it very strange he does more damage than a thief with a x5 backstab multiplyer. In one of my previous games were I had Yoshimo and Valygar, Yoshimo always did more damage with a backstab than Valygar who's backstab's in all honesty were not that impressive usually about 30 something damage.