It really depends on the build.. Even though Drizzt's scimitars and the stupifier and such quickly come to mind, I think in the right combinations there are better options.
Longbow of marksmanship in the hands of a good ranged character, the staff +3 or staff of striking in the hands of a backstabber, those are probably the best.
Am I the only one who thinks using a staff to "backstab" is lame? If a thief can backstab with a staff, then a fighter/thief should be able to backstab with a bastard sword or even a halberd--at least they're sharp!
Am I the only one who thinks using a staff to "backstab" is lame? If a thief can backstab with a staff, then a fighter/thief should be able to backstab with a bastard sword or even a halberd--at least they're sharp!
A better name for it would be "backsmacking."
Yes you are definitely the only one who thinks so since it is completely viable:
Blunt really does win the game, and the highest-damage blunt weapon is the Morning Star, weighing in at 2d4. The proficiency is a bargain, too, because it is lumped with Flails.
I don't see the issue with the term "backstabbing". To me, it just means a surprise attack, not neccessarily bloody. You also call it backstabbing if someone you trusted betrays you, with no weapon or even a fight involved.
[...] staves are used for backstabbing. I can't wrap my imagination around it!
Sneaking up on somebody for the sole purpose of crushing their spine with a huge stick is, nonetheless, a rather weird idea.
I'd rather not imagine myself as the victim in that scenario, and it's very much impractical to sneak around with a large wooden pole, as you pointed out (no pun intended). If I am trying to blend in as a commoner and then suddenly strike, well ok. It works well in that one instance. But usually, hiding and sneaking depends upon squirming into tight spaces, and being as maneuverable as possible. And it is most beneficial to use weapons that are concealable and quick. I mean...that's the whole premise that defines the rules that governs "rogue weapons", isn't it? Rogue weapons are typically small and quick. If the quarterstaff is allowed well then they may as well allow two-handed swords, they are just as big and require just as much room to gain momentum. Even less room than the staff, if you use the pointy end of that massive sword.
2nd edition is quirky, and I love that, so forgive me if I leave quarterstaves to the monks and wizards.
How is a Long Sword easier to hide when blending in with a crowd? It's only easier if you try to blend in with a crowd of people trying to conceal long swords... The staff at least lets you pretend to be an old man using a staff to walk. It's more surprising to get hit by what you thought was a senile old man than by someone who has a suspiciously sword-shaped sleeve.
Besides the dagger, the long sword is the most popular melee weapon on the Coast. It blends out in the open. Your character has spent the first 20 years of his life in Candlekeep, so I unless your grand scheme of a rickety old man ambushing people with a stick also includes several potions of aging. Your spry young half-elf is going to stick out like a sore thumb with his beard made of goat hair and a fake limp.
@Lateralus a large part of a disguise is body language and bearing and such. The same person, wearing the same clothes, can be taken totally different by radically changing everything about how they move and act. So much so that they could actually slip persuers. So young man with limp leaning on staff could actually crack someone over the head, dash off, ditch the staff and stroll away as a young merchant lord.
Ding0's Tweaks modfor BGII/BGTutu has an improved backstabbing component that introduces modifiers to the backstab multiplier when using larger weapons:
This always seemed more reasonable to me and makes using short swords and daggers a more appealing option.
As @Lateralus said, hiding in shadows and moving silently with a staff or other large weapon with the intent of backstabbing an opponent, especially in confined quarters, isn't very plausible. However, implementing these kinds of contingencies in a computer game isn't exactly feasible. The tweak listed above is a nice, middle ground, IMO.
Besides the dagger, the long sword is the most popular melee weapon on the Coast. It blends out in the open. Your character has spent the first 20 years of his life in Candlekeep, so I unless your grand scheme of a rickety old man ambushing people with a stick also includes several potions of aging. Your spry young half-elf is going to stick out like a sore thumb with his beard made of goat hair and a fake limp.
Ding0's Tweaks modfor BGII/BGTutu has an improved backstabbing component that introduces modifiers to the backstab multiplier when using larger weapons:
This always seemed more reasonable to me and makes using short swords and daggers a more appealing option.
As @Lateralus said, hiding in shadows and moving silently with a staff or other large weapon with the intent of backstabbing an opponent, especially in confined quarters, isn't very plausible. However, implementing these kinds of contingencies in a computer game isn't exactly feasible. The tweak listed above is a nice, middle ground, IMO.
That's a nifty tweak.
@everybody else You lose certain elements of maneuverability, carrying around a quarterstaff makes a rogue a one trick pony. In theory, you can catch ANYBODY by surprise with ANY weapon. Why not carry a frying pan around instead? Or a chair? Or a ladder? Or a cow? A truly professional assassin understands that there is much more that comes into play before and especially after the strike. You need to be able to conceal a murder weapon immediately. Running away with a 6 foot bloody pole, or trying to slip into the shadows with 3 feet of wood sticking out into the light, doesn't bode well for you.
Stupifier is best weapon in BG 1 period since it's effect combines aspects of both CF (Stun) and FoA (Chance on hit, No Save). The rest are extra damage or rarely an immunity to some status effect...but that stun is pretty much 25% to Kill the target, no save.
Technically speaking, In PnP a thief can backstab with any melee weapon he's proficient with, so a F/T really could use a two-handed sword, or halberd or whatever...but on the other hand...it's also MUCH harder to pull off a BS, it ONLY multiples the weapon's base damage nothing else, and you pretty much only get 1 BS per encounter.
If you want to go that route, Wands of Fire....there's 2 available immediately after leaving candlekeep with enough charges to blow away every encounter through the rest of the game, and if for some reason you find yourself running low, you have money to burn buying more once you get to BG.
I don't see the issue with the term "backstabbing". To me, it just means a surprise attack, not neccessarily bloody. You also call it backstabbing if someone you trusted betrays you, with no weapon or even a fight involved.
What I meant was "backsmacking" would be a more accurate term for backstabbing with a blunt weapon. Those of us with minds in the gutter are probably thinking other things, too. ^.^
Comments
Longbow of marksmanship in the hands of a good ranged character, the staff +3 or staff of striking in the hands of a backstabber, those are probably the best.
A better name for it would be "backsmacking."
Yes you are definitely the only one who thinks so since it is completely viable:
I stand corrected. I see from your pic that you've tested it out in real life.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/5583/choosing-your-weapon-proficiencies-base-stats-for-all-weapons
2nd edition is quirky, and I love that, so forgive me if I leave quarterstaves to the monks and wizards.
As @Lateralus said, hiding in shadows and moving silently with a staff or other large weapon with the intent of backstabbing an opponent, especially in confined quarters, isn't very plausible. However, implementing these kinds of contingencies in a computer game isn't exactly feasible. The tweak listed above is a nice, middle ground, IMO.
As @Lateralus said, hiding in shadows and moving silently with a staff or other large weapon with the intent of backstabbing an opponent, especially in confined quarters, isn't very plausible. However, implementing these kinds of contingencies in a computer game isn't exactly feasible. The tweak listed above is a nice, middle ground, IMO.
That's a nifty tweak.
@everybody else
Technically speaking, In PnP a thief can backstab with any melee weapon he's proficient with, so a F/T really could use a two-handed sword, or halberd or whatever...but on the other hand...it's also MUCH harder to pull off a BS, it ONLY multiples the weapon's base damage nothing else, and you pretty much only get 1 BS per encounter.
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