Backstab vs. Sneak Attack

[JRRNeiklot]

Sneak attack is one of my pet peeves. I don't object to the rogue getting an extra damage mechanic. I just wish they'd rename it or make sneak attack, well, sneaky, and not just available by flanking. Or both.

 

[Felon]

I prefer the more restricted use of the old Backstab ability. I think Rogues/Thieves ought to have to get the drop on someone to use it, and generally not in melee.

Which was how it worked in 2e, and it contributed heavily to making thieves very unfun to play.

And it didn't make sense. The arguement that 2e's rulebook proffered was that even the most incompetent combatant has enough sense to watch their back in a battle (that's not far from being a direct quote). But it turns out that people actually get stabbed and shot in the back in battles all the time. Seems that it's actually quite possible to get the drop on somebody in a big noisy fight, because a big noisy fight is pretty distracting for a lot folks.

 

[Felon]

Sneak attack is one of my pet peeves. I don't object to the rogue getting an extra damage mechanic. I just wish they'd rename it or make sneak attack, well, sneaky, and not just available by flanking. Or both.

I think there's a real identity crisis for the rogue in the current edition. They don't want the rogue to be a skulker. They want him bounding around like a jumping jean.

Then again, isn't stabbing a guy when he's looking in the other direction at least kind of sneaky?