Game Mechanics: AC/Level Mitigation & Backstabs

[Aadill]

http://www.thesafehouse.org/forums//...ad.php?t=17686

The link in this thread would've been perfect, so if someone can find a way to wayback this (I couldn't get it to work)

Kavhok, an EQ designer, has finally posted the actual formula for determining base backstab hit. He does so in this thread but the link doesn't work because this is an old post and the internet wants to make my hair fall out so if you want to try to waybackmachine it click on the link above.

In any case, check these two things out:

Originally Posted by Some Dude

- Backstab multiplier. The backstab multiplier is 2 + (skill * .02). A level 70 rogue with +12% backstab skill has a multiplier of 7.26. With an 18 damage piercer, the backstab skill has 130 base damage.

Note that they don't call it minimum damage and instead refer to it as base damage (this is important and I'll mention this further down my post), but further down the page someone makes this exact same reference to minimum damage as we are discussing here:

Originally Posted by Some Dude

As any rogue knows, your minimum hit is a function of your level, nothing else. A level 70 rogue has a minimum hit of 130 with a rusty dagger as well as Soulskive.

At level 70 you do 10 more damage for your minimum backstab. 10 damage. In your smoothed curve I would expect a much higher minimum backstab for level 70.

That 59 to 60 jump doesn't sound so crazy anymore, because EQ really doesn't follow any logic.



NOW: MORE IMPORTANTLY: there is the modifier for backstab that should treat your backstab as a completely different weapon simply based off of your primary dagger. They mention, and this is why it's confusing, 130 BASE damage, which is calculated by using the rogue backstab skill modifier and some other nifty calculations including your weapon damage. The higher damage your primary weapon the more likely you are to hit way above that minimum damage mark. As of right now it makes no difference if you use an SCD or Crystalline Spear to backstab because you always hit for minimum, but it seems like the spread should be further out. Maybe that calculation is off?