Viable backstab/sneak attack rogue build..

Infiltrator · Post by **Infiltrator** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:38 am

Hey, I was looking for some tips for a viable backstab/sneak attack rogue. As far as I can tell, you can no longer kill people instantly by backstabbing them like in BG2?

I was thinking of making a drow, pure rogue that relied on sneak attack, str 10 dex 20 (keep pumping dex?) and weapon finess, with 2 shortswords as weapons.

What do you guys think?

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:16 am

IWD2 isn't BG2, natural high strength isn't useless, it's essential for doing physical damage.
The damage dealt with sneak attacks is the sum of normal damage and sneak attack bonus, if normal damage is disappointing the total damage dealt will be disappointing too, just as if your rogue had 10 levels less.

The most important stat for a sneak attacking rogue is strength, max it at creation and raise it at level ups.

Optimal starting stats for a drow rogue are (str-dex-con-int-wis-cha) 18-20-16-18-3-5. Int can be lowered if you don't want to dump the almost useless stats that low.
Useful feats are dash, dodge, rapid shot, power attack and improved critical, if you want to dualwield add 2-weapon fighting and ambidexterity.

Infiltrator · Post by **Infiltrator** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:36 am

Hey, thanks for the response. I wanted to dual wield, yeah. Would 2 shortswords still be the best for this purpose?

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:55 am

No need for restricting yourself to use only one weapon type, keep flexible, rogues have several weapon proficiencies, just use what you find during the game.

Infiltrator · Post by **Infiltrator** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:43 am

Alright, I just seen that the 2nd bonus isn't even that great, and I can't get the 3rd, good one unless I'm multiclassing a fighter anyway.

Infiltrator · Post by **Infiltrator** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:22 pm

Bump - is it just me or does everyone and their mother just turn around after I try to sneak attack them, even before the attack takes place?

Do you suggest I use some spells to make targets bound in place or something?

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:08 am

Do you have your game patched ?
Do you get the sneak attack bonus to damage ?
Did you try if non-detection helps ?
Is it different if you use only 1 weapon instead of dualwielding or even a 2-handed weapon which allows backstabbing from the distance ?

Infiltrator · Post by **Infiltrator** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:21 am

kmonster wrote:Do you have your game patched ?
Do you get the sneak attack bonus to damage ?
Did you try if non-detection helps ?
Is it different if you use only 1 weapon instead of dualwielding or even a 2-handed weapon which allows backstabbing from the distance ?

It's fine now. It appears it was a few isolated cases.

Question though, is dual-weilding always the best case scenario for sneak attacking? Does the bonus apply to both weapons (it doesn't seem like it from what I'm seeing).

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:33 pm

Two shortswords do more damage than 1, even if you don't get 2 sneak attacks you still get the normal damage for the off-hand weapon.
Most damage is dealt with big 2-handed weapons like greatsword, greataxe or halberd, but which weapon is worth it depends on what you find and your other characters' weapon choices.