I think it's more of a playstyle question, than a real kit-strength question. Look, you will (and should) have more different NPCs in your group, so there will be always room for Thieving skills and your mainchar does not NEED to have them. (This, coming from an avid Thief player) Also - as most of the Thieving skills are "utility", there is a lot of NPCs that have the ability to open locks and disarm traps for you so you can focus on wreaking havoc. **
A Stalker is a very good mix of a Fighter with the Thieving ability in fight to backstab and stalk in shadows better. Played a Stalker and loved him. A bit different take on the whole "Fighter" class. Just regard them as scouts, spies and mage-killers. Damage-dealers as opposed to "tanks".
* and if you actually LIKE to open locks, look for traps, set traps and pickpocket - play a Thief kit.
I completely agree. A fighter/thief is only a better option if you absolutely love to pick locks and disarm traps yourself or if you want to play a hybrid tank in heavy armor. If I'm going to play a sneaky character then to me heavy armor and shields seems odd from a roleplaying perspective. I'd rather use some other fighter class as a tank. But if you want a lightly armored fighter that plays more like a sneaky assassin then the stalker is fantastic. The lower backstab is multiplier is plenty enough to kill most targets outright that can be backstabbed. They only get a handful of spells but I found them to be extremely useful. Finding traps helps you use the stalker as a scout. The stalker can haste himself which is ridiculously good. Minor spell deflection is also a great defensive buff. They can also get to full dual wielding capacity a lot quicker along with a slew of weapon proficiences which will allow the stalker to use a wide range of weaponry to suit his needs. Add in stupidly good THACO, fighter strength and APR, stealth, and backstab and you have a very strong and thematic single class character. I personally like specialists so a stalker is right up my alley. You get several thief NPCs anyway. Just my 2 cents.
I don't think you'll find many people who find trap-finding or picking locks to be the highlights of their gaming experirence. However, both are incredibly useful and nigh unto pivital unless you're playing the game with save scumming or a guide.
Thus, the Stalker playstyle is definitely fun, and I'd never fault anyone for playing one -- it's a great concept and a solid character. However, it lacks the very much needed skills that a Fighter/Thief can access, and has a lower strength than a half-orc. You won't be sneaking much at lower levels, but you'll have plenty of time to slaughter everyone you'd be stabbing with a Stalker. It's not that hard to fill in the trap finder slot with a dual or multi-class character for most of the game, but it does limit your options.
I don't think you'll find many people who find trap-finding or picking locks to be the highlights of their gaming experirence. However, both are incredibly useful and nigh unto pivital unless you're playing the game with save scumming or a guide.
Thus, the Stalker playstyle is definitely fun, and I'd never fault anyone for playing one -- it's a great concept and a solid character. However, it lacks the very much needed skills that a Fighter/Thief can access, and has a lower strength than a half-orc. You won't be sneaking much at lower levels, but you'll have plenty of time to slaughter everyone you'd be stabbing with a Stalker. It's not that hard to fill in the trap finder slot with a dual or multi-class character for most of the game, but it does limit your options.
Well said. The stalker is definitely a niche class. I didn't play one for the longest time until 'thespace' here on the forums opened my eyes to the awesomeness that is the stalker. So I finally did a playthrough and it was one of my favorite runs. I was fully immersed with the character simply because they are so specialized and thematic. On top of that, my elf stalker was an amazing combatant. Honestly, the stalker feels the most like an assassin to me. But again the class isn't for everyone especially folks that want more of a swiss army knife.
I think it's more about just needing to tack find traps/open locks on SOMEONE. It really doesn't matter who, but you need it, and the optimised choices are a dual-class Thief(Swashbuckler is probably better here)/Mage or a Thief/Fighter who can backstab AND have a decent THAC0. Though I can see a Thief/Cleric getting by with Call Upon Divine Might and the level 4 spell that gives them a Fighter THAC0.
It would have been nice of Find Traps and Set Traps could have been folded into the same skill. Setting traps is definitely more fun than finding them, and it would have made Bounty Hunters a better overall choice.
I understand he meant backstabbing mages while they didn't even engage you in combat.
If you can hit a mage in combat after taking down his stone skins and fire shields he is pretty much toast and you don't need a thief to do that most of the time. Maybe until ToB when mages appear in bigger numbers and you have to take care of massive fighter waves at the same time. But in ToB most enemies just don't give a damn about your little tricks so... there goes that.
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But if you want a lightly armored fighter that plays more like a sneaky assassin then the stalker is fantastic. The lower backstab is multiplier is plenty enough to kill most targets outright that can be backstabbed. They only get a handful of spells but I found them to be extremely useful. Finding traps helps you use the stalker as a scout. The stalker can haste himself which is ridiculously good. Minor spell deflection is also a great defensive buff. They can also get to full dual wielding capacity a lot quicker along with a slew of weapon proficiences which will allow the stalker to use a wide range of weaponry to suit his needs. Add in stupidly good THACO, fighter strength and APR, stealth, and backstab and you have a very strong and thematic single class character. I personally like specialists so a stalker is right up my alley. You get several thief NPCs anyway. Just my 2 cents.
Thus, the Stalker playstyle is definitely fun, and I'd never fault anyone for playing one -- it's a great concept and a solid character. However, it lacks the very much needed skills that a Fighter/Thief can access, and has a lower strength than a half-orc. You won't be sneaking much at lower levels, but you'll have plenty of time to slaughter everyone you'd be stabbing with a Stalker. It's not that hard to fill in the trap finder slot with a dual or multi-class character for most of the game, but it does limit your options.
It would have been nice of Find Traps and Set Traps could have been folded into the same skill. Setting traps is definitely more fun than finding them, and it would have made Bounty Hunters a better overall choice.
(Again, as an avid Thief player
Anyway archer or stalker is more dependent on your preferred play style than anything else. Personally I prefer archers.
If you can hit a mage in combat after taking down his stone skins and fire shields he is pretty much toast and you don't need a thief to do that most of the time. Maybe until ToB when mages appear in bigger numbers and you have to take care of massive fighter waves at the same time. But in ToB most enemies just don't give a damn about your little tricks so... there goes that.