Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Why "Backstab" and not "Advantage"?

Has anyone else noticed that, when pincering an enemy, you only get "Backstab" percent added, rather than "Advantage" percent?

And from what I've noticed, it only applied to the character behind the enemy, and not your character in front of them.

An enemy being flanked should be flanked. You don't just focus on the guy in front of you and let the guy behind you take free swings; you try to combat them both as to not die.

Is there a reason why we're doing it this way?
One one hand, sure, it may mean ganging up on a target is the best and most efficient way of taking down a threat, but on the other hand, we only have four characters. It's not like we can do this all the time, to every single enemy.

Please consider providing genuine tabletop "Flanked Advantage" and not just a "Backstab" bonus.

Word. I've been trying to say it for days: https://www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/j8sdxt/please_remove_backstab_it_makes_no_sense_and/
Flanking should be in and backstab should be out. I detest the way the game forces any melee char to jump and backstab, it makes fights dumb and repetitive.

Rogue traditionally get backstab dmg since a long time. Its make sense that you can do a lethal strike easily from the back, but that I'd be impossible from the front (because the ennemy is defending, or see it coming). Its also make sense that its harder to deal a critical from the side than from the back, because the opponent can still see you with his peripheral vision if you re flanking him, but he is defenceless if you go from behind.

Nevertheless, I personnally don't mind a flanking advantage as long as it not op. Just my 2 cents.

Flanking is an optional rule, backstab doesn't exist in 5e at all - neither should be there as there are plenty of ways to gain advantage already.

'Backstab' is now 'Sneak Attack'.

sneak attack doesnt even work on ranged attacks from hiding. I click sneak attack from crouched position and have advantage and still do 1d6+ modifier. so stupid

if we use it so can they. normally we are also outnumbered, at times significantly. could be this is a way to keep your melee characters from dying so quickly to sudden bumrush of enemies.
just food for thought, and discussion.

I've used ranged sneak attack. So long as you have Advantage, it should work. Can't remember if you need to be within 30ft still.

I would have no issues with this, though.
Right now I don't really find myself needing to put a ton of thought into positioning. A lot of stuff can be brute-forced, though at least with Flanking Advantage being a thing, your casters would have more of a reason to cast a wider variety of spells.
On Shadowheart for example, I don't cast anything but her Healing spells a lot of the time, but this could put more use into other spells like Shield of Faith, etc.

At times I find myself needing to think about positioning, but I don't use alot of the other methods, the swiss, or cheddar ones (I leave it to others). The bigger fights is where this limitation turns ugly, and I find I have to worry about positioning. Not just do to fact of all the surface effects raining down, mostly do to this, but also the sheer number of enemies. If 3 hit with arrows, and six hit with surface effects all my ac isn't really important. Currently if they jump in on my fighter they are doing less damage with the backstab (not 100% on this) then what they would if they had straight advantage on the 3 that were flanking me. I'm not one for pulling numbers out of my arse, but I'm not going to. 3 people with advantage is far better then 1 perhaps with advantage and 2 without.

Just FYI, that is not correct.

Rogues in 5e get "Sneak Attack" damage, which happens when they make an attack at Advantage or when an Ally is within 5 feet of the target. Having Disadvantage on the attack roll removes all Sneak Attack options.

That rule is partially why Rogues exclusively have Cunning Action Stealth and move. Giving everyone that class feature cheapened the value of a Rogue significantly.

Facing does not exist for all practicality in 5e, and that is a good thing.

I completely agree. Backstab is unnecessary and out of place.

I don't even think a flanking bonus is necessary, but at least that's a rule in 5e and makes sense.

They have to include either backstabbing or flanking with the way the game incorporates verticality. Otherwise, if ranged characters get advantage for elevation but melee characters get no advantage, then melee characters will become incredibly underpowered.

They could remove both backstabbing and advantage from elevation...but tbh I like height adv/disadvantage. It's somewhat realistic and keeps things fun by preventing too many misses.