If you check out the updated version of H0RSE'S Compendium, there is a quote by Aubrey Hesselgren from Splash Damage clearly stating that rumours of a 'backstab' ability are indeed false. There will be no 'backstab' ability for Operatives in Brink.

Sorry to hear it guys, but his explanation/reasoning makes a lot of sense in a way.

'It appears Operatives will NOT get a backstab ability. Here is what a dev had to say about the issue:“Unfortunately, there are many cases where backstabbing is used where there is no particular misconduct on the part of the victim. If insta-kill backstabs can be used in open combat, it opens up a large jar of worms. Two people trying to manoeuvre behind one another at high speed can just feel a bit weird and disorienting. Weird-and-disorienting followed up by instant death is pretty svcky. You need to understand why you've been killed, or it feels like an act of God.
We did try some other things early on (essentially an anti-camper melee kill, where you have to remain in the "shadow" of the oblivious opponent before you're allowed to instant kill), but it's kind of over-working the principle: being behind someone who is standing still and focused in the wrong direction is practically already a kill for free. You don't really need an extra move for it. We just like the idea that even in that situation, there's a bit of fight-back for the victim - a slim chance that they might get out of the situation they've offered up to would-be assassins.”'

- Aubrey Hesselgren

http://www.fragworld.org/frag/games/write/brink-compendium-update-1.html

Unless of course this news has already sprung up, which im pretty sure it hasnt yet. If it has, sorry for wasting your time!

EDIT: If you already knew about this, or even if you havent, maybe discuss if this is a good decision or not

Knew about this already and i like that there is no backstabs, KZ3 brutal melee kills are kinda annoying so im glad its not in brink.

Okay, well this thread can inform those (like myself) that did not know about it, and can also maybe be a discussion for if this was a good decision. If that thread has already been made. Then i ask. WHERE IN THE HELL HAVE I BEEN!

Purgatory?

It makes sense in the context of the other things they're doing with the game. Backstabs might be stylistically appealing, but if all they do is infuriate people and encourage weird undesirable tactics, they don't belong in the game. The point about needing to understand why you've been killed is one that resonates with me and one that will make or break Splash Damage's attempt to make Brink a game that teaches newbies instead of punishing them. People learning the game instead of getting frustrated and quitting builds a strong player base, and that means everyone has more fun.

I was sad about this days ago bro. Like your fellow light resistance, bury your dream of the backstab in a small metal box in container city and get some Jack Daniels.....

I think this point can't be made enough. CoD is the antithesis of this concept.

Something tells me this isn't going to affect Wraith at all, but Hatter is probably a little relieved.

IT would kinda svck to get killed and not know what or who killed you. That is the main thing i don't like about CoD games (Well and camping) and the reason i cant wait to get this game.

Yeah no backstabs used to upset me but then I was like "wait! now i can kill an unsuspecting person more creatively,, slide off ledge while falling shotgun to the head and while hes down pistol to the face.... sounds all right to me

Yea I posted this several days ago.



I will simply have to find more creative ways to kill you all.



Precisely.

Guns are magically attracted to the facial region

i didn't know. wow, that felt awkward.. usually when people post some info i already knew about it^ ^
thanks for the info:)

i myself think it's a good thing, i had already come to terms with there being one, but felt sad about it because it'd mean my heavy soldier could be taken out in too short a time whenever noone watched my back.

The way I see it is, if you play your cards right, you can now be the guy who makes Mad Hatter paranoid about backstabs even though they aren't in the game.

im pretty sure operatives have a special finishing move though once someones downed, like you could run at someone and shove them then you have the option to use that move? correct me if im wrong because the no backstab seriously ruins my tf2 spy operative :'(

Doesn't matter what class or body type you are, meleeing someone when they are standing up knocks them down, meleeing someone who is knocked down incapacitates them, and meleeing someone who is incapacitated kills them.

Grenades and slide tackles can also knock people down, which sounds like a very dangerous position to be in.

I think it's a very wise move on SD's part. That was one of the most awkward things about the Spy on TF2, trying to backstab people in sprees when they're all facing different ways. It was also ridiculous due to face-stabs that were oh-so-common. It was also frustrating on Halo when lag happened and next thing you know your target is behind you and you're dead on the floor.

I think it's wise, though, matching the "no sniper ohk's" with "no rear melee ohk's."

I'm cool with that. I do have a gun after all, and I can always back-tackle!



......you're playing as resistance, right?

Now you have to be paranoid of what I will do.



Well you get a knife when wielding a pistol and it does the most melee damage in the game so knockdown then stab.




Indeed. :spotted owl:



It's far harder to sneak up and stab someone then shoot them in the head from a distance.



Some of the time, I am an equal opportunity ass kicker. :wink_smile:

Wait, so i gotta stab a guy twice after i knock them down? Mabey even trice!

ish. Its not really a stab, either, unless you have a pistol. You hit them in the face with your gun.

And once someone is incapacitated, they wont normally be able to do much, unless you have the downed fire ability. Killing someone after that point just prevents a revival.

Edit: Not to mention that you are free to just slide tackle people to knock them down and THEN melee for the kill, or light them up while they cant move.

Well depends. A melee while knocked down will incapitate them and another melee to finish them.

To be honest I'm actually worried that this slide tackle and downed melee might be overpowered, especially with any latency issues affecting bullet hit detection.

they can still shoot while downed if that helps at all.

And they can have an ability which allows them to shoot while being incapacitated.