Questions on backstab

[Snaggles]

Rogue weapons (generally) favor melee dps or backstab dps. The latter being most important in groups unless you can find stuff to solo that casts. If you have HoH or raid weapons, disregard the rest of this [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.].

Given the cost of a rogue epic and ability to get it at level 46, I would spend more time rushing to 46 with a seb dirk and less time optimizing your MH/OH setup pre-epic. For the price, the seb isn’t a bad offhand either. For that early level range, a fungi tunic is doing most of the heavy lifting if you are picking smart solo spots (and it isn’t even needed if grouping).

You can spend the next 14 levels pondering what to MH and OH.

[Jimjam]

Specifically regarding backstab: How does DMG get capped by level (if at all)? Do we know how it worked in classic?

[Goregasmic]

Alright thanks!

Yeah I got a rabid chokidai fang from deathfang and I just tossed it in bank. I was wondering if croaking dirk would be better due to better ratio and damage bonus but if the fang wins due to BS damage then I'll go with that. But yeah, for soloing or OH croaking dirk would obviously win. How long can you solo with a fungi until it becomes a chore?

For the rest of the gear people go full str glass cannon with hp/ac wherever sensible I guess since you assume a pure dps role as a rogue?

[Snaggles]

If you have the Chokidai fang I’d keep it on the rogue. Good to have multiple options. I’d likely use it in a group even if to see those big numbers [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]. Replace with the epic and keep going.

[Cecily]

Dirk is my favorite leveling weapon. I think anything slower than 25 delay is real unfun to use mainhand. Fang does have stupid high backstab damage. Just remember backstab isn't the whole picture. And, yes, Fang will be pure aids for soloing. Curious how the two differ in agro management at lower levels.

Rogues can solo to 50 - 52ish with a fungi pretty easily. 60 is doable though. I stack AC and STR with AC+HP pieces leveling. Crystal Chitin gloves, boots, and SCWBs with 6 65 rings will carry a lot of weight for your time soloing a rogue/ranger. Lodi shield is ridiculously good for leveling / raiding, too.

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Specifically regarding backstab: How does DMG get capped by level (if at all)? Do we know how it worked in classic?

How I look at it is if STR capped, then backstab damage is capped at max skill for level.

[Jimjam]

Originally Posted by Cecily [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How I look at it is if STR capped, then backstab damage is capped at max skill for level.

What I'm trying to ask is whether at lower levels the dmg statistic on a piercing weapon subject to a cap for backstab hits, like how there are by level caps for weapon damage on normal swings (at lvl 10, 20, 30, whatever)?

[Goregasmic]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What I'm trying to ask is whether at lower levels the dmg statistic on a piercing weapon subject to a cap for backstab hits, like how there are by level caps for weapon damage on normal swings (at lvl 10, 20, 30, whatever)?

225 in the formula is max backstab skill so it is somewhat level capped until 40. Even with a 15dmg weap you won't be stabbing max hit right out the gates.

[Jimjam]

Originally Posted by Goregasmic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

225 in the formula is max backstab skill so it is somewhat level capped until 40. Even with a 15dmg weap you won't be stabbing max hit right out the gates.

I mean will the 15 DMG weapons be treated as 10 DMG weapons for backstab below level 10?

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I mean will the 15 DMG weapons be treated as 10 DMG weapons for backstab below level 10?

Backstab can't be trained until level 10. The weapon damage cap becomes 14 at level 10. So it doesn't matter too much either way. As far as I know the weapon damage would be capped at 14 for backstab though.

Here is how you would calculate max backstab damage for a level 60:

RoundDecimal(Weapon Damage * ((Backstab Skill * 0.02) + 2)) * 2 * 2.85 = Max Backstab Damage.

As an example:
15 Weapon Damage * ((225 Backstab Skill * 0.02) + 2) = 97 Weapon Damage rounded down. 97 weapon damage * 2 * 2.85 percentage multiplier cap = 552.9 Max Backstab Damage. That is 553 rounded up.

Notice that I put the 2.85 number in bold. This 2.85 multiplier does change based on level. From levels 1-50 it is 2.10 rather than 2.85. So max backstab damage at lower levels is still capped at a lower number compared to level 60, even if you could somehow get 225 backstab skill at level 10.

My DPS calculator shows a max backstab damage of 181 when using a 14-15 damage weapon with 255 STR and 200+ ATK at level 10.

379 damage should be the max backstab damage when using a 15 damage weapon with 255 STR and 200+ ATK at level 40.

[Cecily]

Maybe. You can't backstab until 10 though [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

1-9: Base weapon dmg cap of 10
10-19: cap of 14
20-30: cap of 30

So it comes down to whether that cap gets factored into a 14 dmg or 15 dmg weapon for purposes of backstab calculation, which is only possibly an issue until 20. It just frankly doesn't merit thinking about. I see what you were asking though and it is a good question.