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*How effective is Backstab in Single Player mode?

*I've got a Wylvan L12, Adapt/Rogue/Hunter/Monk with Ninjitsu 7, Backstab 4, Sneak 6, Steal 4...and I wonder if Backstab actually works when you cannot actually sneak around the opponent. I do over the head flying chops and it seems to do more damage. (You know when you jump at an enemy and do the chop attack). Those attacks seem to do higher damage usually between 10-14 consistantly...while regular grounded attacks only do 5-8 normally while occasionally getting the 10-14. Is that Backstab's effect for when the minimum damage is higher...or is that because of the Chop Attack. (I read somewhere...maybe it was my manual that the Chop attack does more damage...and I never really noticed this with any of my builds before and I had never used Backstab...so I'm really puzzled to as if it is working at all). It seems like it might be, but I'm not sure.

*And do we know how much extra damage Backstab deals out?

*Also, if when the sneak skill functions...if your strike is lets say 99...and your sneak skill is 6...will that put your strike at 105...where you would then incur the strike bug wraith?

*Also, before I get my 3rd tier (was going to get Shaolin Master for 3rd tier)...is Shadow Lord a good class for its Shadow Mode skill? Does Shadow Mode make it better to use the skill Backstab or can I still use Backstab effectively in Single Player with my projected Adapt/Rogue/Hunter/Monk/ Shaolin Master build? Is Shadow Mode any good? Do you have to flip that skill on quite frequently (meaning short durations of being invisible)?

Is Shadow Lord any good at all for any class combinations?
My thought is that it only seems good for the Backstab skill...if I have the right information for the Shadow Mode skill. But, then again...if I went with Shadow Lord...my Ninjitsu would suffer a bonus from the 'learning bonus' from not getting the Shaolin Master class.

Any thoughts...suggestions...comments?

-Planet_Guardian

While I don't know the answers to all those formula calculation questions I can still tell you my personal ideas on backstab. I'm working on a Fighter/Rogue/Marauder/Trickster/Deathlord build, who of course has backstab available. Obviously it's rather hard to get behind an enemy when you're by yourself, but that's where summonings come into play. Sneak will help the enemy focus on your summon rather than you so you can get right up behind the enemy.

-Ganthan

Yeah, but I hate having to use summons for something so petty as to get a backstab damage bonus. I hate the Nether spells as they don't recharge and I always seem to not have the right nether katal materials to mix enough spells. Also, the Celestial summon is too damn powerful and I feel that it clogs up my pc's memory if I just leave that summon alive when I wander around the game map while it still exist and doesn't follow me around. I end up just killing that summon off by myself. Not too happy with the summons in this game. I prefer the Necromancer's magic system and summon system from Diablo 2. Or at least have 1 mercenary to follow you around. Those were nice features.

Nether katals are limited and run out...and you need to stock them...and the nether spells just aren't any fun in the long run. A hired mercenary would liven this game up and made Backstab/Sneak very interesting. Of course you would have to make enemies harder. But, at least it would be more fun (unless all those extra features would clog your pc up...then I guess it would suck). lol.

Thanks for your input.

-Planet_Guardian

Aside from the collection of spells that don't even work, I've never really had issues with Nether Magic. Of the spells that DO work, they're pretty handy. True, it's weird that Nether spells don't recharge like others, but you can help apothecaries get a full stock of nether katals by selling to them and then you can buy back unlimited amounts. With enough Bargain and Influence, making money through buying and selling isn't hard and you can just make sure that you have lots and lots of charges of the Nether spells you plan to use before heading out. Another really good money making method I've found is to buy katals for some basic spells, make the spells and then sell the charges back for a profit.

Through stocking katals, buying and selling to make money, then buying the katals you need, you could get over a hundred charges of whatever monster summoning you need within minutes and come out no poorer.

Even the most rudimentary Nether spell Fear has helped me survive more times than I can count by giving me breathing room when whole mobs of enemies attack me.

Ganthan wrote:True, it's weird that Nether spells don't recharge like others, but you can help apothecaries get a full stock of nether katals by selling to them and then you can buy back unlimited amounts. With enough Bargain and Influence, making money through buying and selling isn't hard and you can just make sure that you have lots and lots of charges of the Nether spells you plan to use before heading out. Another really good money making method I've found is to buy katals for some basic spells, make the spells and then sell the charges back for a profit.

Sorry, that's one of the Major reasons I hate the spell system in this game. I despise being able to have a God character with infinite spells. And even if I don't do it while I can possibly purchase/sell and make tons of money...I feel tempted to do this...and when I do...I begin to hate myself and abandon my character never to play it again. I could have lived with Heuristic Park's, Wizardry 8's setup of getting more magic spell capacity, the more you level up. Hell, it would have been nice to have that...and by putting points into respective magic skills (Arcane skill)...you would gain more Arcane spell slots. That would have been a good efficient setup. It would have been limiting, but fair as to not become God-like.

But, this is just me...I feel that if you take the mystery out of the questing/character building in the games and make everything into God-like things, the quest of romance is gone...and there is no need to ever make any more video games for ppl to grow (spiritually, mentally, emotionally)...or to have any entertainment. Being a God gets boring quick. It almost makes you want to kill yourself...but, then again, I guess that's just my feelings on that matter. Once again, this is my honest bull****e.

I guess, Backstab has no real purpose in the Single Player mode of DL when the only diversion we have is crappy summons, who don't follow you around like Diablo 2's Necromancer's skellies/golems. Tis a shame.

Thanks for your input,
-Planet_Guardian