Backstab skill

Backstab is a Thief-only skill used to attack an opponent from hiding at melee.

Backstab Ability

Weapon Choice

• Only Light Edged weapons or Medium Edged weapons may be used.
• Maximum weapon weight for backstabbing is 30 Stones.
• Light Edged weapons will do more damage and be more likely to hit than Medium Edged weapons of equivalent skill.
• Backstab damage is increased the greater the puncture value of the weapon.

Target Choice

• Target must be bipedal, meaning it has to have a back to stab.
• Backstab success is based on attacker's backstab skill versus target's perception skill. The higher the perception of a creature the more difficult it is to backstab and the more experience will be gained for success.
• The backstab move targets certain vital areas, and one non-vital area. The targets are determined by the amount of success on the backstab vs perception check. The head, neck, back and arms are the areas which can be struck with a successful backstab.

Successful Backstab

Bypass Parry and Shield defenses

A successful backstab can not be defended with the shield skill or parry skill, but can still be evaded. The attack uses the weapon skill of the thief against the evasion skill of the victim. This makes it possible to successfully backstab your target, but completely miss them with the attack.

Increase Confidence

Backstabbing is tied to the Thief Confidence system. A successful backstab against an appropriately skilled target will increase confidence while a failed backstab will decrease confidence. SMIRK [SELF] may be used to check confidence level.

Ambush

• Backstab skill is also learned when merely ambushing a creature rather than backstabbing it. This is useful when fighting on quadrupedal or other non-backstabable creatures.
• The Thief may choose a specific body area to hit. The difficulty of the spot determines how well the hit lands and how much is learned. The body targets from easiest to hardest is as follows:
  • Leg (left/right)
  • Back
  • Abdomen
  • Chest
  • Arms (left/right)
  • Hands (left/right)
  • Neck
  • Head
  • Eye (left/right).
• Backstab is also factored in some guild-taught Ambush techniques.

Training

"I began with louts outside the east gate of Crossing, then moved on to goblins. Quickly got up to 40 doing this." "Goblins stopped teaching at 60." - A prydaen teef.