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Message: <blockquote data-quote="airwalkrr" data-source="post: 5491030" data-attributes="member: 12460">How do you backstab an ooze? This is an age-old question really. It goes back to the original D&D thief and his backstab ability and what exactly you are allowed to backstab and when. Starting in 3e and continuing further into 4e, this became more of an abstract principle wherein rogues (thieves) were good at catching their enemies when and where they were vulnerable as opposed to literally stabbing them in the back.So to answer the original question, no you can't really backstab an ooze. But you can wait for an opportune moment to hack away as much of its ooziness as possible, and that is what the rogue is good at, being a striker. You'll also notice they don't call it "backstab" anymore. It is now sneak attack. And a sneak attack is a skilled attack at a vulnerable point, which rogues are good at exploiting.I like the idea of giving each player center stage for a short period of time. But as it turns out, combat is usually not the best place for that. A combat encounter is supposed to take about an hour, if you go by the core assumptions described in the DMG. If you take away your striker's primary means of dealing extra damage then you have just increased that time. You aren't actually giving someone else center stage, you are just wearing on everyone's patience.4e is a good system insofar as it gives everyone a chance to take center stage within the same encounter. Everyone gets to use powers that make a dramatic impact on battle. Some powers might be better than others in some situations, but the game is designed to reward clever tactical play more than dumb luck (i.e. just so happening to have the right tool for the right job). When it is the fighter's turn, he gets to make a difference by drawing the monster's attention. When it is the wizard's turn, he gets to make a difference by hampering the monster's progress. When it is the cleric's turn, he gets to make a difference by keeping the fighter healed while he sets up a good tactical position. When it's the rogue's turn, he gets to make a difference by stepping in to flank and deal massive damage with sneak attack. Center stage is passed around the table fairly evenly in this manner. In my humble opinion, it's a much better way of doing things than giving one player the center stage for an entire battle just because that player happened to have a flaming longsword to cut off the heads of the hydra while the rest of the party basically sits on the sidelines and cheers.</blockquote>

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