backstab question

FredN

I have been playing around a bit with an experimental character. A half-orc Berserker who dualed over to thief at level 7. I put 3 pips in weapon skill with bastard sword and long sword, for an APR of 2 with each. I haven't hit level 8 thief yet so I can't test it out on my own, but I do have some questions.
1) If I am hidden, and decide to go berserk before attempting the backstab, will that action take me out of hiding?
2) Since I will be getting 2 weapon attacks, do I get 2 backstabs, or does the first one take me out of hiding? If it does prevent a second backstab, will I still get a second (normal) attack from the open on the same round?
3) I can't slip into hiding wearing plate mail, so I have some studded leather for those occasions. But what would happen if I hid first, and then put on plate mail? Would I drop out of hiding? If not, would I still be able to backstab?

jmerry

Casting a self-targeted spell, such as berserker rage, will not reveal you unless specifically flagged to. It'll end your stealth mode like any other non-movement action, but it won't make you instantly visible.
Only one backstab per reveal. The first attack makes you visible, and after that you're not eligible for a backstab.
Putting on heavy armor ends your stealth mode. It does not make you instantly visible. And you can't do it during combat - if either you or the enemy has started moving to attack, it's too late.

FredN

OK, studded leather it is. I sort of suspected swapping to plate wouldn't work, but I had to make sure. The same for a second backstab attempt. Oh well, it was a nice thought. ::sigh:: I assume the second (normal) attack will still take place?

Trouveur

Thief can't use bastard swords, so can't backstab with them.

Khyron

All attacks will happen like normal but the first, while in stealth and if it lands, will be a backstab.

Worth to note:
Not all weapons can backstab.
Only melee weapontypes originally available to thieves can backstab - that's the easiest way to determine.

Since bastardswords are not available to thieves, they can not be used to backstab - even if you are now actually able to use it because of dual classing.

At least this is what memory tells me.

FredN

That's fine. The skill in bastard swords was to let me be able use Foebane in normal combat. In such an instance, I will be wearing full plate mail and wielding a large +2 shield. True, I will never be better than an average mid-level warrior, but that's a better AS/DS than most pure thief types achieve. During melee combat, I'll be able to functon decently in a group setting. There will be mages, clerics and real fighters to take up the slack. I have a +3 longsword (in which I also have 3 pips) and +2 studded leather armor for those situations where I need to go full thief mode.