{{obsolete}}
''This article is about the obsolete player class. For the monster, see [[Paladin (monster)]].

'''Paladins''' are holy warriors who worship [[the Shining One]], and share many abilities of the [[Fighter]] and the [[Priest]]. In particular, they are charged with smiting evil, and gain power from destroying demons, the undead, and other evil beings.

Note that a Paladin's religion requires them to fight honorably. They must refrain from using [[poison]], unholy magic or items, or attacking while [[invisibility|invisible]]. Nor can they attack a confused, held, fleeing, sleeping, paralyzed, or otherwise helpless opponent, unless that opponent is evil. Of course, you may deem [[the Shining One]]'s protection and gifts to be more than worth all this restraint.

Paladins begin with 28 [[piety]].

==Racial Restrictions==
As with other religious classes, [[demigod]]s cannot be Paladins. In addition, the undead races ([[Mummy|mummies]], [[ghoul]]s, and [[vampire]]s) and [[demonspawn]] may not start as Paladins, since [[the Shining One]] will not accept them as followers. Even temporarily becoming undead via the [[Necromutation]] spell will result in excommunication.

[[Human]]s, [[high elves]], [[mountain dwarves]], [[hill orc]]s, [[centaur]]s, and [[minotaur]]s are the recommended races for this class.

==Starting Equipment==
*Paladins start with a +0 [[falchion]], +0 [[ring mail]], +0 [[shield]], [[potion of healing]], and a [[bread ration]], before racial variation.

==Starting Skills==
Adjusted for species aptitudes:
*[[Fighting]] 2
*[[Long Blades]] 3
*[[Shields]] 2
*[[Armour (skill)|Armour]] 2
*[[Invocations]] 2

==History==
Paladins were removed in [[0.8.0]].

[[Category:Obsolete backgrounds]]
[[Category:Backgrounds]]

Stabbing

2023-04-26T06:46:36Z

Senlim: potion of stabbing removed in 0.26

{{version025}}
''This article is about stabbing attacks. For the removed [[potion]], see [[potion of stabbing]].''

Any time that you deliver a melee attack to an enemy which is distracted, asleep, or otherwise unable to defend itself properly, there's a chance that your character will make a '''stabbing''' attack. These attacks ignore [[EV]] and [[SH]], partially bypass [[AC]], and deal significantly more damage than normal. Characters built around stabbing can deal absurd amounts of damage, often ending fights with powerful opponents in a single blow.

==Stabbing Odds==
Your chance of delivering a stab attack varies based on your [[Stealth]] skill, your skill with the weapon you are currently wielding, your [[dexterity]], and the [[status effects]] the enemy is suffering from:

'''Guaranteed to be stabs:'''
*[[Sleep]]
*[[Paralysis]]
*[[Petrify|Petrified]]

'''(1 + Dexterity + ([[Stealth]] + Weapon skill)/2)% chance:'''
*[[Petrify]]ing
*Held in a [[throwing net]] or [[web]]
*[[Blind]] (or if the player is [[invisible]] and unseen)
*Fleeing
*[[Charm]]ed or otherwise friendly
*[[Confusion]]
*Awake, but hasn't noticed you yet
*Distracted by damage from a non-player source

You cannot make stab attacks while confused, at [[stat zero|zero dexterity]], or if your target is invisible (unless you can [[see invisible]]).

All stabbing attempts with the [[Spriggan's Knife]] are treated as if the target is sleeping.

==Stabbing Damage==
The additional damage from a stab attempt varies based on the target's status effect, the weapon you make the attack with, your skill with the weapon, and your Stealth skill. The enemy's status effect and your weapon are the largest factors, determining which Tier of stabbing damage you'll inflict:

'''Tiers:'''
*Stabbing attacks against creatures that are sleeping, paralyzed, or petrified are top-tier stabs, the most effective kind.
*All other stabbing attacks are low-tier.

'''Weapons:'''

[[Short blades]] are the most effective weapon for stabbing. [[Felid]] claws and weapons wielded while wearing the [[hood of the Assassin]] are considered equivalent to short blades for purposes of stabbing damage.

In addition to having higher multipliers, short blades provide bonus damage '''before the stabbing multiplier is applied'''. This extra damage is significantly increased if you are wielding a [[dagger]], but is capped at 30. With sufficiently high skill and dexterity, other short blades can also hit the cap. To get the maximum bonus, you need to have DEX × (1 + (Weapon skill + Stealth skill)/2) > 350 with a dagger or 700 with another short blade. Even without this bonus, short blades are still the best for stabbing.

The table below details the total damage multiplier from your skills, tier, and weapon type:

{{#invoke:Stab_bonus|stab_table}}

==Other Considerations==
Your Stealth skill is critical to being an effective stabber; along with increasing the damage you deal, it also makes it much easier to approach sleeping enemies, giving you the opportunity to inflict the most powerful stabs in the game. When stealth fails, magic also works well at creating opportunities: [[Ensorcelled Hibernation]], [[Confusing Touch]], [[Mephitic Cloud]], [[Petrify]], [[Alistair's Intoxication]], [[Dazzling Flash]]... Alternatively, [[atropa]]-tipped [[dart]]s or [[throwing net]]s will get the job done, though their effectiveness is highly dependent on your [[Throwing]] skill. Another method to create distractions is to fight alongside allies, whether they are created through [[Summoning]] spells, granted by [[God|divine abilities]], or forcibly turned using a [[wand of charming]].

[[The Shining One]] considers stabbing foes dishonorable and prevents its followers from doing so.

==History==
*Prior to [[0.20]], The Shining One would inflict [[penance]] for stabbing intelligent foes that were not demons or undead.
*In [[0.19]], four tiers of stabbing attacks were replaced by just two tiers. Stabs against distracted and petrified targets were buffed: +50% damage and +100% damage, respectively. Petrifying and net stabs got -50% to damage, and invisible stabs had their proc chance reduced.
*Prior to [[0.16]], Long Blades were slightly more effective at stabbing than most other weapons, and [[club]]s and [[rod]]s could stab for special effects.
*Prior to [[0.13]], Stabbing was a skill of its own, rather than being the average of your Stealth and weapon skills.

[[Category:Game mechanics]]