I backstab for how much?

Vakarian

A question for those who understand backstab mechanics better than I do...

I'm running a stalker in BGEE (2x backstab) with an 18/35 strength (+3 dmg bonus), using a short sword +2, specialization in short swords (+2 dmg), and wearing legacy of the masters (+2 dmg) bracers. Damage range listed on the character screen (unbuffed) as 10-15. I just critical hit backstabbed Centeol for 62 damage...

Now Branwen had cast chant, so that does provide an extra +1 to damage (which apparently gets multiplied), but there were no other spells active that affect damage. I didn't think that the strength bonus got multiplied for backstabbing (only for the critical hit). So, from my understanding, the maximum I could get would be 58.

So, am I missing something? How was this crazy backstab possible?

JLee

This is the formula I refer to:

((Base damage + Proficiency bonus + item bonus, bard song etc) x backstabbing multiplier + strength bonus ) x critical hit + additional weapon damage

Edit: My apologies, I come up with 58 also...

elminster

Forgive my crude writing out of math here I'm not much of a math person.

Ok so you are doing 3-8 damage + 2 (proficiency), +2 (bracers). That's 7-12 damage (not including strength). However, Centeol is actually unarmed (meaning thats another +4 damage). So 11-16 damage prior to multiplication and strength bonus.

Based on the description of it adding to your damage roll (and not to your damage overall) I'd be more inclined to think that Chant wouldn't impact the maximum amount of damage you can do.

So 11x2=22 and 16x2 = 32.

22+3 (strength) = 25, 32 +3 = 35.

Meaning prior to critical hit you'd do between 25-35 damage. The critical hit makes that 50 - 70 damage. So basically you rolled a 4 on your 1d6 damage roll.

14 (damage roll of 4, +2 damage from short sword, + 2 damage from specialisation, + 2 damage from bracers, +4 damage from attacking an unarmed opponent) x2 (backstab multiplier)=28, +3 (strength bonus) = 31. x2 (critical hit) = 62.

Gotural

Backstab is pretty messy in this game. I won't spoil where but yesterday my Blackguard was hit by a quadruple damage backstab for 1 damage.

Yes you read it right, 1 damage.

qwerty123456

elminster said:

unarmed (meaning thats another +4 damage).

wrong

elminster

qwerty123456 said:

elminster said:

unarmed (meaning thats another +4 damage).

wrong

Half-orc level 1 Kensai, 19 strength, specialized with bastard swords. Only wielding a bastard sword and wearing no other items. Maximum damage is 17 (as reflected in the following screenshot).



Half-orc level 1 Kensai with 19 strength, etc, takes swing at Tutor in Candlekeep's Inn. Tutor is unarmed and no critical hit occured.

Gotural

@qwerty123456 Never says wrong to Elminster ...

Vakarian

Ah, I had no idea there was a damage bonus to unarmed opponents. Thanks @elminster

qwerty123456

Right. I'm wrong.

SCARY_WIZARD

Gotural said:

Backstab is pretty messy in this game. I won't spoil where but yesterday my Blackguard was hit by a quadruple damage backstab for 1 damage.

Yes you read it right, 1 damage.

what
i
what?! Ahh, that made me smile.
alsooo thanks for the heads up on unarmed opponents, @Elminster! I thought there was one...

booinyoureyes

That doesn't apply to monks right?

YozZzZz

booinyoureyes said:

That doesn't apply to monks right?

Right. The game doesn't consider them unarmed.

CTKnightOwl

Wow Elminster, thanks for teaching a 15+ year BG vet something he never knew.

elminster

CTKnightOwl said:

Wow Elminster, thanks for teaching a 15+ year BG vet something he never knew.

Sadly apart from watching commoners (or Centeol in this case) take on obscene amounts of damage its not knowledge that provides a lot of practical use.

Vakarian

Just had another one of these crazy backstabs- apparently Dezkiel at the end of the Shandalar's island dungeon is also unarmed.

elminster

Dradeel is another one as well. Mages are probably going to be your most likely candidates for finding this.