Post:Backstab - 01/24/2013 - 08:41

Re: Backstab · on 01/24/2013 08:41 AM CST	1256
As for the ability, let me explain how it works... You hide, get to melee and backstab. First a series of stealth and backstab checks are performed to determine if you succeed with the backstab. If this succeeds, you get several bonuses: 1). Large to-hit bonus 2). Large damage bonus 3). Higher damage-cap than a normal attack Subsequent backstabs lose part of #3, but continue to see the bonus from 1 and 2. Assuming the backstab is successful, that attack's experience route to backstab with an added bonus. Last I heard this bonus was 5000x what it should be, and folks were locking backstab in 3 hits. Not sure if that is fixed (I don't do much exp work), but it was left in to give folks a chance to catch-up who had difficulty training this past week. A failed backstab is just a THRUST. Nothing else. Now, I tested for 2 hours last night with a player who was frothing mad over how overpowered BS was. In his case the backstab was hitting harder than a claymore due to a combination of variables and manipulation of the data to support his argument. Leather armor that is 60% damaged, a 100% damaged shield, no defense buffs, capped offensive buffs, etc. These combined to make a bad day for the defender. I am going to fix headsplitters tonight. I've posted repeatedly they are a bad creature for comparison because they have such poor defenses and no armor. Just about anything can kill them in 2 hits, and for some reason everyone uses them as a comparison point because its easy to get the data they want off of them. Now, if you could post the stats, ranks and weapon appraisals for what you are using, along with what abilities are up (in an email if you don't want to post it), I can duplicate your test and see what is going on.
This message was originally posted in The Thieves \ All About Backstabbing, by DR-KODIUS on the play.net forums.