Assassins

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 2:59 am

Recently decided to try out the assassin. But which are the real stats of this kit. According to Planetbaldursgate, the assassin uses another backstab multiplier than the other thiefs. The multiplier continues after level 13, giving the assassin a x 6 modifier at level 16 and a x 7 modifier at level 20. Is this correct? Also, according to Planetbaldursgate, the poison acts faster at level 10 and 15 respectively. True?

Finally a question about dualling. I really want the poison, the hide in shadows/move silently and a decent backstab multiplier. The other thief skills don't really interest me since I also got Jan in my party. Therefor, I decided to dual to fighter after level 9. This gives me a 100 % in the desired thief skills, 3 poisons per day as well as a x 4 backstab multiplier. Also, I will hit the Exp Cap as a fighter. I dual wield to long swords (for the moment Daystar and a Flame Tongue) and use a short bow every now and then. Did I dual at the right moment? (Of course, the answer to this question might be linked to whether the information from Planetbaldursgate is correct or not.)

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:50 am

yes you are very correct in all you statements. you have really given this a lot of thought and I am sure you will be succesful with your new thief/fighter.
you could also wait untill lvl. 10 so that the poison is inflicted twice as fast 3 sec. or so I think, it all depends what you want.

good luck

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 4:01 am

So the information from Planetbaldursgate is true? These features are not mentioned on this site, are they?

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 4:31 am

two sec. just checking

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 4:34 am

yes and no they are here they are just not that specific as on planetbaldur.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 5:19 am

Damn! That makes the Assassin much more powerful than I thought. Maybe I shouldn't dual at all (no extreme need of another fighter in my party)... Garcia, who do you think makes the most efficient assassin - my dual-class character explained above, or a pure Assassin? The Assassin/Fighter will get a much lower THAC0 and thereby be (almost) certain to hit when backstabbing. Also, should the ennemy not die on the first hit, the Assassin/Fighter will get a second hit with the off-hand weapon (of course without the multiplier) before any Iron Skin or such goes off. Then, being a fighter, there is no need to immediately run hiding before getting cut to pieces by ennemy fighters. On the other hand, the pure Assassin will still be able to hit mages when backsstabbing, due to the high AC of these. After all, backstabbing is best used for those bloody mages. And on a succesful hit with a multiplier of 6 or 7, with fastworking poison added to that, what's the need of an off-hand attack? Still, my favourite assassins from the FR books are expert swordsmen (Artemis Entreri, Arilyn Moonblade). The pure Assassin will never become one...

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Fri Feb 23, 2001 5:51 am

he he this is some dilemma
I would go with a pure assassin for that awesome x7 backstab go to the sewer and buy/steal all the strength potions that Roger the Fence sells. Just imagine x7 backstab and a Potion of Storm Giant Strength (24 strength) all humanoids will die before they know what hit them. If you dual him early to a fighter (say lvl 9 or something) mages still wont be a problem they may not die in the first blow but the can't do any thing when they are poisoned. Really what I think it comes down to is the THACO and your love for Artemis Entreri, Arilyn Moonblade

but still a pure thief doesn't have a bed THACO and they get +1 to hit and damage every 5 levels.
It's a tuff call.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Sat Feb 24, 2001 3:22 am

Many thanks Garcia! I really appriciate you help. Anybody else got an opinion on the "best" assassin? C'mon, ANYbody?

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sat Feb 24, 2001 3:40 am

Wow, my territory!

All this gets even more fun when there are multiple mages.

I like the pure assassin. I enjoy using those thief skills and there isn't another good thief NPC in the game. If you're going for sheer power, the Thief-fighter is probably stronger in combat. If you're going for role-playing, pick the pure assassin. But, assassins get so few points to their skills that a 10th or 11th assassin dualled to fighter won't have great skills in other areas (other than stealth, most likely). Your call.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Sun Feb 25, 2001 4:40 am

Finally, I went for the pure assassin. Guess I simply won't be Entreri or Arilyn... Maybe next time - I really favour playing rogues, so...

Sethir · Post by **Sethir** » Sun Feb 25, 2001 9:14 am

I think,that BARBARIANS are immune to backstab.Try fight with Wulfgar (-:

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Feb 25, 2001 7:40 pm

Are they immune to traps?

Doh!

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 12:20 am

Really just think of that how do one become immune to backstab??
Assassin: "Hii yah!!"
Barbarian: "no sorry dude couldn't feel that, try again"

Tain · Post by **Tain** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 1:15 am

Lol, some of this stuff really goes fictional if you come to think of it. How does a 20th lvl monk get immunity to normal weapons?!?

Enemy: "Hey! I just stabbed you five times, yer supposed to be dead!!"
Monk: "huh? you were attacking me?"

Siike · Post by **Siike** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 3:24 am

Just to correct some things, strenght bonus is applied AFTER backstabb-multiplier, so strenght doesn't have much effect.

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 3:47 am

Yes it does even though it's after the multiplier it's a great deal of damage. A normal thief's strength 14 or so and then up till 24. it's simple really why do a fighter need strength? To Carrie more items? No to deal out more damage. Try drinking a potion and see what happens there is a huge difference.

KN · Post by KN » Mon Feb 26, 2001 12:53 pm

Originally posted by Tain:
Lol, some of this stuff really goes fictional if you come to think of it. How does a 20th lvl monk get immunity to normal weapons?!?

Enemy: "Hey! I just stabbed you five times, yer supposed to be dead!!"
Monk: "huh? you were attacking me?"

I have seen a documentary on Shaolin priests that have tuffened there stomachs up so much with calluses that you can stab them with a sword and it will bend and not hurt them.

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"Four thousand throats may be cut in one night, by a running man."
- Klingon Crewman "Day of the Dove"