Trouble playing dual wield Assassin.

[Big Poppa Shmee]

So, I've recently decided to make an Assassin type character but I'm having a lot of trouble. Even with GREAT stats, like rolling 88 or 90 on dice rolls, I still can't hit anything! The thaco is SO high it just makes it pointless. I realize this type of class isn't supposed to go toe to toe with fighting classes and monsters, but I'm having trouble making use of it.

I even have the rogue rebalanced mod for bg2 ee, and even with 3 points in dual wield, I can still only put 1 point into another weapon class. I figured daggers may be the best, since the thrown poison daggers are very good. But then you can't exactly backstab with those I don't think, can you? I made a version where I picked short swords/ninjato and it was infuriating having my rogue sneak up on people to backstab and then miss and completely ruin the entire point, then all it has left to fall back on is its crappy thaco and armor class.

I can't remember where you get those boots that double your speed but until my rogue has those theres almost no point in playing, because on a failed backstab, I'm not fast enough to put any ground in between me and the target so I can't hide in shadows again.

Any tips? I can play clerics, fighters, paladins, mages, druids, but this rogue just seems pretty crappy. I realize the Assassin isn't the best kit for the thief, but its the one I'm determined to make work, so any advice would be much appreciated.

[Markdancedcrazy]

1. What are your stats? DEX and STR should be 18. If not consider picking up some equipment to boost those stats up

2. It might be better to just put two points into dual wield style and two points into a weapon. Putting points into weapons will get you more attacks per round which might help.

However I've never used the Rogue Rebalnced mod so take what I say with a grain of salt

[Big Poppa Shmee]

Yeah I'm playing an elf so my stats are as follows. Str 18, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16. I rolled for a VERY long time. I probably could have put another point into CON and had 15 in CHA but I don't really care.

I'm not sure if its due to the rogue rebalanced mod, but I was unaware that a rogue could ever achieve anything more than proficient in weapons?

The reason I put 3 points into dual wielding was because I can only ever put 1 point into a weapon. Maybe some of the other kits allow further specialization, not sure. Obviously I could have just made a Fighter/Thief but, then I wouldn't get the assassin kit.

[Markdancedcrazy]

Ah I see, Yeah you can only get one proficiency point in a weapon skill. So that's something you'll just have to deal with obviously. What's your THAC0 rigth now? What weapons are you using and howfar are you in the game?

If you want to get the boots of speed
You can pickpocket them off Renal Bloodscalp at the Shadow Thief Guildhall, Just drink some potions of master thievery and you should be able to pick pocket him no problem.

[Toha]

Well, best backstabbing weapon is actually a staff. So, * in two-handed and * into staves. Thieves Thac0 is way lower then fighter's, true. Attacking from invisibility improves it by 4 if I'm not mistaken.
You could try assassin 21/ fighter if you don't mind the enormous downtime. But in the end there are backstab-immune/true sight spamming enemies, keep in mind.

[alasl]

Sometimes you can just miss becouse of end of round or changing your target.I check it by monk with thac0: -14(yea i like him).And he always missed that last kick.And i am not sure about Rogue Rebalnced mod. Check version of mod, may be it changes something .And of course try some belts of STR, rly helpfull belts

[Big Poppa Shmee]

Its going a lot better for me now. I paired my thief with a fighter/cleric, with some buffs going and some other magic items I've found, its doable. Its just awful by itself. Love being able to steal from people! Never experienced that before haha.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

If you wanna do dual-wielding, put points in scimitars, short-swords, and 2 pips in two-weapon style.

Then once you get out of the prelude, make a beeline for Belm (the +2 scimitar with bonus 1 attack), can be acquired with no combat if you stealth through, then once you feel you're ready, go get Haer-daelis and do the planar prison for Kuudane (a +2 short-sword with +1 bonus attack), also where the first pair of boots of speed are.

Many moons from then, once you get Use Any item, get the Scarlet Ninja-to (+3 scimitar, +1 attack per round, chance for poison on hit) from the bonus merchant in the slums and trade out Kuudane for it (short-swords are only 1d6, where as scimitars are 1d8).

That'll give you 4 attacks per round, 8 under improved haste, 9 if you have the warrior bracers from watcher's keep (needs UAI to wear).

Get a strength belt ASAP if your strength is under 19. In ToB, make sure to get the Shakti-figurine

Keep in mind, assassins get a built-in +1 hit/damage, so they're already basically specialized in all weapons, though they are missing out on the bonus apr, so you need to get it from other sources.

And don't neglect your other abilities. Backstab when you can (the Scarlet Ninjato can't backstab, since it's for Monks, so make sure to have a back-up weapon for backstabbing once you switch to it), drop some traps and lead enemies into them to soften them (at higher levels you only need 1 to a lot of damage). Put a few points in detect illusion so you can bust illusions at will, though don't neglect your other skills. Then clean up what's left with melee.

[Sheytanaslan]

Originally posted by SecretlyaFish:

Its going a lot better for me now. I paired my thief with a fighter/cleric, with some buffs going and some other magic items I've found, its doable. Its just awful by itself. Love being able to steal from people! Never experienced that before haha.

Its what happens when you learn how to play properly.