GameBanshee Forums

1)Can you backstab with the holy avenger when you have UAI?
2)If i give my WS 4 stars in 2H swords, will my thief be any good wielding it?

1) Nope. Two-handed swords are a bit big for backstabbing. No doubt some bearded know-all (or Xyx ) will turn up and contradict me though.
2) First, you can only put two stars in tw0-handed style, and I don't think they have a major effect on your THAC0. What they do do is double the chances of a critical hit (from 1 in 20 to 2 in 20). To be honest, I'd advise sticking with the tried-and-tested backstabbin' short sword or dagger.

IIRC you can only backstab with thief weapons. In other words the weapons a thief could normally use. This would omit two-handed swords of any stripe, or halberds for that matter, or even the staff of the Magi, since it is flagged as a mage item.

The staff of the ram, or the staff of Rynn however are dandy backstabbing tools.

As to two handed style it confers two benefits - with 1 star is lowers your speed factor by 2 I believe. With two stars is lowers your speed factor by another 2 or 3 points, and it modifies your chance to crit to a 19 or better (natural)die roll per Bobsy's post.

Hope that helps! I find that if I plan to use a 2H weapon that the 2H Style is essential.

If I were you I'd max out Long Swords or Katanas. Both can be used for backstabbing, and are decent melee weapons normally.
PoMR is right, though. If you want to use a 2H weapon then having 2H style is absolutely essential.

So what the WS/T strategy guide says is a bit silly, since I will suck at wielding the avenger?

You wont suck at wielding it, you just wont be able to backstab. Put five stars in two-handed swords and two in two handed weapon style and you will be a master.

I imagine a WS/T would be powerful with these three weapons. The primary weapon would be Purifier for magic resistance. The secondary weapon would be Answerer for backstabbing and taking down big baddies magic resistance. In the off hand I would use Spectral Brand. I would choose to dual at Lvl 21 so I have two WWs. This character would be the epitome in disabling the most difficult enemies. The timing is as follows.

First round: Spectral Brand- Armor piercing (-10 Thaco); Have someone do something to breach the baddie.

Second round: GWW- charge with Answerer

Now you have -10 Thaco, 10 attacks per round, +2 Enemy AC -15 magic resistance 10% casting faliure all with each hit. i.e. you hit every time with the insane Thaco bonuses and AC penalties, and after 1 round the enemy is -150 magic resistance and 100% casting faliure.

You can mop up with darts if you want to now.

Nice strategy, but isn't the tactic behind a WS/T to have 100% magic resistance? The Avenger gives 50% already, while purifier only gives 30% (and it's obtained much later in the game too)
Oh yes, i'm talking about solo play btw.

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: phantom_DD ]