Need some pointers...besides the obvious. Need help with: What do i do if they have stoneskin? Do i need to dispel it before backstabbing, or does backstabbing ignore combat protections? What type of enemies can i backstab? I know you can backstab human-like characters (elves, humans (duh.), dwarves) but what else?

Hey. Usually wizards and such don't cast protection spells until you are detected so that is not a huge concern.

I don't backstab a whole lot cause I usually only have Imoen as a thief so I couldn't tell you which monsters are immune... I'm pretty sure almost all humaniod size creatures are suceptiable (Use it on Illithids all the time ;) ).

Here are some tips for backstabbing (some may be obvious) =)

-Have your thief equip a strength increasing item such as Girdle of Hill Giant str.. Not only do you do more damage (considerably more) but you hit more often with better Thac0.
-This is pretty obvious... make sure you are behind the enemy. If you didn't already know that.
-A cool trick with a hasted backstabber is backstab and run away! Into a field of traps of course. =)
-Be prepared for retaliation (I like to backstab to kill mages and then have my thief run back to my party real fast so (s)he doesn't get owned ;) )

is it true you get a +4 to THAC0 when backstabbing?

Yes. But thiefs have such terrible thac0 that +4 is not always enough... you definitely need good weapons and str enhancing items too.

My piece of advice:

Get Valygar.
-He's a ranger stalker.
-Can cast few mage spells.
-Can backstabb x4.
-Has Warrior THAC0 (doesnt miss often-great for backstabbing).
-Has already proficents in dual-wielding and katana (Celestial Fury).
-Has a very nice family blade (katana +2) for disrupting spellcasters - bleeding damage each round

He really is a great all around character. :D

I heard that Assasin's backstab has additional bonus as he progress up to higher levels, anybody has the list? Like stunning opponents etc.

Anyway, to your answer, u can backstab almost anybody except dragons, beholders(...if i'm not wonrg), barbarian... Might have more, but till now i only stumble across this annoying fellas.

Some mage'll cast true seeing even before u get near for a good position, i either use ranged weapon to wear off his stoneskin or backstab him anyway. Then come back later for him.

For backstabbing strategies, see previous post. Mine's a solo assasin, its rather different as u need to do everything yourself. Good things thief needs is meatshield and distraction, backstab while yr fighter keeps'em busy.

Another good tactic is to pull people away from their party, make sure u have haste. Go in backstab, runaway, fighter and rangers might follow u, abbandoning their fellow mages :D U can let the traps handle the fighters or come back as u have finished the mage, one by one.

Don't think Assassins get any bonus specifically to backstab other than the x7. But their posion weapon ability can do some intresting things like slowing target, and adding the posion damage onto any traps you lay. More info at Ragusa's Why Thieves Rule...

http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/thieves.htm

Backstabbing wont go through defenses but as stated before, most mages are totally "naked" before they see you, and have such low hitpoints you can kill them in a single backstab before they get a chance to put up their defensive spells.

Oh, always have haste or the boots of speed on your backstabber, otherwise you wont be able to close in before they cast true sight. And pause often.

Unfortunately however, many mages seem to 'notice' you even if you are hiding in shadows/undetectable, so automatically put up their defences before you could backstab them. However they still can't do anything against you, so you could just retreat and wait a few minutes for some of them to go down - if they're going to cheat, so will I :heh:

You can often avoid the "noticing" problem by wearing the cloak of non-detection or having that spell cast on your thief.

As far as I can tell, Cloak of Non-Detection is useless. Doesn't protect against True Sight, and that's the only spell mages or priests usually cast to dispel your invisibility. Same goes for the spell "Non-Detection", I assume.

There are a few creatures like demons that you cant trick with invisibilty though, but the majority of mages are humanoids or liches, and I dont think they possess this ability.

I had no problem with the Cloak of Non-detection protecting me from True Sight. My Ranger used it all the time to spy on mages while hiding in shadows. Before I had it I'd be discovered, afterward, I could walk right up to them.

i don't think cloak of non-detection protects you from scrying and stuff like that. But it does stop mages from casting detection spells before you've gotton into position for a backstab...i think?

No. My ranger has been hidden in shadows with the Cloak of Non-Detection, the mages still cast True Sight, but I remain unseen.

My F/T had the same ability as BTA's ranger: lurk in the shadows with cloak on, wander up to the mage (with him casting all those useless spells trying to find me), stab, one dead mage and a bunch of angry henchmen.

Try backstabbing Melissan then. Even with what so ever spell, she stil can see u. Now i'm wondering how's assasin gonna win her... it'll be a hamper to the party...

I notice some important and minor bosses can still see though your hidden... unfair, so how r u still gonna perform a backstab?

I've been thinking hard... any suggestions?

[Please spell out the words "are" and "you" - BTA]

[ January 16, 2003, 05:04: Message edited by: Blackthorne TA ]

Well, im thinking that considering if the enemy doesnt have stoneskin, you can always send another character in, initiate the script, run out, then send the backstabber in after.

Hmm, maybe it protects you when you're hidden in shadows, but not via invisibility spell? Cause I've tested it on Ribald with Invisibility and it didn't work. And for the record, with latest patch and ToB installed.

[ January 16, 2003, 07:58: Message edited by: Lord Sarevok ]