Fri, 11/10/2017 - 15:23
#1
Rogue backstab damage
I’m new to this (played AD&D ‘79-90s) but upon fresh read through of 7th Printing, it hit me that I wasn’t clear on Backstab.
What is “double damage.” I’ve done full double damage, ie roll, add mods then double. But in various games/editions - seen only double raw weap roll, weap plus weap bonuses doubled then single strength/dex bonus, etc as different rulings, iir.
Thanks!
Btw, is there a forum search option?
I would need to go back and do a TLG forum search on this since I know it has been discussed at length in the past. However, I believe that the intent is that it is x2 total (all adds/mods included) damage.
I have seen it played where just the weapon and magical bonus were doubled pre-modifier add in and it really neutered the rogue's attack. Almost to the point that it wasn't worth the effort to make it.
Hallo and welcome to the Knights. We intentionally left this ambigous to allow CKs to run their own tables. By and large I think everyone follows Googleplex's suggestion that all bonuses (attribute, magic and other) are doubled with each back attack. Personally, at my table, I only allow the weapon's damage to double.
But I tend to rule rather harshly.
I also rule that when a ranger is using 2 weapons against a giant class they do not add their bonus to both weapons, but rather only one weapon. Most would not rule this way.
Hope that helps!
Steve
In 1e I went with Googleplex’s interpretation. There was a lot of setup in most cases and if it worked (it can miss or be detected) it was usable really only one time.
This is in contrast with some later games/editions where one merely needed to be behind or have someone in melee range to get extra bennies damage wise.
Now, that said... Mr. Chenault, you ain’t right. That’s evil, I bet new rangers have tried selecting “Troll Lord” as their “Favored Enemy” after getting THAT ruling ;). (More the pity for them...)
I ran it pretty much the same way as Steve with Rangers with one caveat after the S&P books came out for 2e. If the character purchased the ambidexterous ability we let them use their STR bonus for both attacks but the Enemy attack bonus and all that for just the first one. Not seen too many C&C characters dual wield yet in my games so it has not been an issue to date. :)
I hope you at least let them add the magical bonus to their weapon damage on the back attack Steve. (chuckle)
In general back stab happens oh so rarely, set up is forever and you have to hit. Roll add then multiply by two. I like to let them choose 2x the dice roll or two dice rolls, but I double all normal bonuses.
Same for rangers, rarely get to fight their favored enemies and focused folks, so have fun with it!