1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Quick question about backstab.

Discussion in 'BG2: Throne of Bhaal (Classic)' started by spetznaz, Mar 28, 2009.

  1. spetznaz Gems: 13/31
    Latest gem: Ziose


    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2002
    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Haven't played rogue in a long long time, I usually go with Jan.

    I was thinking about going dual class Fighter/Thief in order to get *** in Dual Wielding and still be able to backstab (thus not playing Swashbuckler). Is it possible to backstab while dual-wielding, if so I guess that your main hand is hitting.

    Anyone knows?
     
  2. Splunge

    Splunge Bhaal’s financial advisor Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2003
    Messages:
    6,815
    Media:
    6
    Likes Received:
    336
    You can backstab while dual-wielding.

    However, I think that the weapon with the fastest speed factor is the one that backstabs, so if the off-hand weapon has a better speed factor, that's the one that backstabs. I'm not totally sure about that, though, nor am I sure what happens if the weapon with the faster speed factor isn't a backstabbing weapon.
     
  3. spetznaz Gems: 13/31
    Latest gem: Ziose


    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2002
    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, I was planning on either Long Swords or Scimitar so they'll be viable for backstabbin.
     
  4. The Magpie

    The Magpie Balance, in all things Veteran

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2005
    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    25
    Gender:
    Male
    Backstab is always done with the on-hand weapon. Just make sure that - as a Fighter/Thief - you're using Thief-usable weapons, or you won't get a Backstab multiplier (i.e. no backstabbing with the Flail of Ages or Lilacor). Clubs and Quarterstaves are fine though - even if it's more a backsmack than backstab!
     
  5. pokeyloki Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye


    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    1
    Also, I'm emarrassed to tell you how long it took me to finally figure out that you have to stand BEHIND your enemy to backstab him. I musta missed that lesson at Rogue U
     
  6. Sir Rechet

    Sir Rechet I speak maths and logic, not stupid Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2003
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    68
    Is there actually any good reason for the backstabber to START the fight by backstabbing?

    I'd assume that sneaking behind the enemy mage, sending in your fighters to gather the attention of the group and THEN backstabbing would be better in that your thief doesn't gain the initial aggro that way.

    Anything obvious (game mechanics wise) that I'm missing?
     
  7. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    9,765
    Media:
    15
    Likes Received:
    440
    Gender:
    Male
    I found a backstab could often kill the bad guy when you get to high enough level (especially with the Staff of the Ram). Often the backstab will hit prior to the mage getting defenses up -- which can be a good advantage (the mage contingencies kick in as soon as an enemy is seen).
     
  8. Sir Rechet

    Sir Rechet I speak maths and logic, not stupid Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2003
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    68
    Ah, contingencies! I knew I was missing something in the picture. :)

    In other words - you'd better be prepared to manage the aggro of an ENTIRE group of enemies with your backstabber, or else..
     
  9. olimikrig

    olimikrig Cavalier of War Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2004
    Messages:
    1,876
    Media:
    472
    Likes Received:
    21
    Gender:
    Male
    That's what potions of invis are for :p.
     
  10. Sir Rechet

    Sir Rechet I speak maths and logic, not stupid Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2003
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    68
    Too bad that potions aren't unlimited in number.. :(

    How long does it take to activate a (Sandman's) Ring of Invisibility / Ring of Gaxx, and can those be interrupted?
     
  11. Raven_BWL Gems: 2/31
    Latest gem: Fire Agate


    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    3
    Well... with the Alchemy HLA they are.

    They are activated pretty much immediately; there is a short delay though (unlike with a potion). They can't be interrupted as such (not like a spell anyway) but conceivably your character could be petrified/killed/otherwise disabled in the instant before the item is activated. Not likely though.
     
  12. olimikrig

    olimikrig Cavalier of War Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2004
    Messages:
    1,876
    Media:
    472
    Likes Received:
    21
    Gender:
    Male
    There's more than enough to get you through the game though, in my experience :).
     
  13. Fly2tHeSkY

    Fly2tHeSkY Southern Comfort Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2005
    Messages:
    1,880
    Likes Received:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    Unless you use like 10 per fight you should be fine :p
     
  14. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,017
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    I wish that was true. My experience has been that the rings work just like casting the spell. They can be interrupted just like casting the spell. I'd backstab a mage or tough fighter, only to get swarmed. I'd try to use the ring, get disrupted and be forced to drink a potion or get pummeled.
     
  15. Boy at a busstop Gems: 5/31
    Latest gem: Andar


    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2006
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    1
    And that's why you haste you thief :)
     
  16. Sir Rechet

    Sir Rechet I speak maths and logic, not stupid Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2003
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    68
    Lol, love the internets. So now we have two conflicting reports on the (un-)interruptability of the invisibility rings. :D
     
  17. Raven_BWL Gems: 2/31
    Latest gem: Fire Agate


    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    3
    Well... that's not how it works in my game. Several times I've seen characters take damage in that second between being ordered to use the ring and it being activated and never had it interrupted. Same goes for abilities/spells from scrolls or items in general.
     
  18. nior Gems: 24/31
    Latest gem: Water Opal


    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2001
    Messages:
    1,778
    Likes Received:
    11
    There's really no need to put your thief at the mercy of a group of enemies. If I know the group of baddies would be too much for my thief, what I do is turn off the A.I., position my thief (invisible or hidden in shadow) behind the intended victim. March my other members into the room. And just as my other members are within the sight of the enemies, I turn on the A.I. My thief gets to backstab and reinforcement is right on the way. Or you can let the fight begin, then do the backstabbing. Just make sure your thief is undetectable by magic... the Cloak of Non-Detection comes in very handy with this tactic.
     
  19. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    9,765
    Media:
    15
    Likes Received:
    440
    Gender:
    Male
    You actually use the AI? I always direct my characters.
     
  20. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Messages:
    10,140
    Media:
    63
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    Using the AI offers advantages with backstabbing. It's been years, so I may be wrong ... anyway, iirc the advantage is that with the AI your thief will approach the enemy stealthily and decloak when he stabs. When you attack manually iirc you leave the shadow and can screw up much easier. nior's tactic is practical.

    When I was lazy I found it useful when waiting for enemies to appear to set my troupe on 'guard' and trap the place. Sometimes the enemies were already dead before they became fully visible. Aah, the scent of cheese ... :shake:
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.