How do you backstab?

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I figured it out in BGII, but in BGI, if I try to attack when I'm hidden, I get a message saying that I'm coming out of hiding or something, and I never get a backstab. How do you do it?

I've got Coran, and I think he'd be a great backstabber for me. His Stealth skil is ungodly with the shadow armor and boots of stealth!

 

I had trouble getting Imoen to backstab until she reached level 4 or 5. Maybe the thaco is too high at lower levels?

 

I think you can only do it to enemies (red ringed ones). If you click on the weapon (as is necessary to make someone attack a neutral party) then you leave shadows before attacking (hence no back-stab).
If you just siddle up behind an enemy and click on them then it should work. (Best not to have AI turned on)

 

You've got two chances I think to make a succesful backstab but it depends on your thaco. In the endgame you'll almost alway hit your enemy.

 

In order to backstab you need to be hidden in shadows and exactly at the enemy's back when your character hits. If you try to backstab an enemy in front of him/her, or on the side, it will just perform a normal attack.

You also need to be able to hit the enemy. Some enemies can only be hit with magical weapons, some other's AC may be too high for your thief's THAC0.

Also, you can only backstab with thief-only weapons. in BG1 the valid weapons for backstabbing are:

- Dagger
- Short Sword
- Long Sword
- Club
- Staff

Coran is a Fighter/Thief, so perhaps you are using another weapon, like a bastard sword, a mace, or an axe? If that is the case, you may be able to hit the enemy, but you will not get the backstab's exta damage.

 

I believe in one of the early versions you didn't have to be behind the enemy ot backstab, although this was corrected later.

 

My problem has been hiding with the longbow equipped, and trying to switch to a longsword, I guess.

I'll make sure my sword is equipped before hiding next time.

 

Not entirely the case. If (and I presume that you do) pause the game, it won't matter. If you're standing behind an enemy, and is currently using a bow, then it SHOULD work, even if you have to switch to short sword before you backstabb. You will be leaving shadows when you click the alternate weapon (in this case the short/long-sword) but it usually takes a second or two, so that should not be the problem.