POLL: Backstab or Sneak Attack

Remove all ads!

With the release of Heart of Winter people were given the ability to choose if they wanted their thief to backstab or sneak attack. I myself prefer to use backstab since it deals more damage. But what do you guys prefer?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 15 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Backstab or Sneak Attack (15 votes.)

Backstab or Sneak Attack (Choose 1)
* Backstab - 60% (9)
* Sneak Attack - 40% (6)

 

I go with Sneak attack, it doesn't deal as much damage, but it has other effect which IMO more than make up for that, plus, you can sneak attack multiple enemies in a fight. With backstab you can't do that (you have to wait a while to be able to hide in shadow)

 

It is possible to backstab more than one enemy in a fight. Simply give the thief a potion of invisibility or cast the spell on him.

 

Yup, but you can't always do that

 

most of the time my thieves got spotted. is there a step-by-step-how-to, how to succeed in placing such attacks. right now i will use my thieves only as artillery...

 

Backstab!!! I just find blowing up a Goblin exceptionally amusing...

 

IIRC, Sneak attacks also works with ranged weapons, is this true?

 

Playing 3rd Ed has confused me on these matters. What weapons let you backstab? and does sneak attack have the same limits?

I'm starting a new party and for some reason I want to have a few multiclass theives. I seem to remember that one can backstab with a club...go Cleric/Theif!

 

All melee weapons a thief can use can be used for Backstabbing, I think, but for sneak attack, any weapon can be used. At least in 3e, I dunno how it is in IWD.

 

In 3E rogues can make a sneak attack when the enemy cannot use her dex bonus in her AC. Each melee weapon can be used and ranged weapons work too, IIRC.

In Icewind Dale you cannot make a sneak attack with a ranged weapon. A halberd cannot be used either for example, as I've noticed. As far as I know, backstabbing and sneak attack are the same in IWD.

 

Okay. All the same except for the damage.

Level 3 thief with a shortsword backstabs: (1d6)+(1d6)

Level 3 thief with a shortsword sneak attacks: (1d6)+(2d6)

Sure, there are other possibilities when the backstab is better, but I would choose the sneak attack over the backstab any day. And if I would cheese, then I can just enter the config file and change whenever one gets better than the other one.

 

Ah, so I guess the cleric/theif needs to stick to the Club and the Quarterstaff.

In my recent game, I don't see any 3E sneak attacks from missle weapons. I guess that's only in 3E proper.