I've seen this happening more than a few times. Basically, I show my back to my enemy and suddenly their attacks become very, very powerful

For instance, I got attacked by a mammoth, and each attacks took like.. 1/8 of my health. So after a few attacks I wanted to get the heck out of there, and once I showed my back...

Another time is when I met the Hagraven for Nettlebane. Now I know that Fireball is powerful, it has the balls to go for it, but when I'm taking the brunt like a man my Nord is, it's just about 1/4 of my health, but I show that wretch my back...

I know that backstabs should be powerful, but does that have to mean that my "Steel Armor" is more like "Steel briastplate Minus Backplate"?

are you sure there not power attacking your back, cus power attacks snap you like a twig. not sure if you expierienced a power attack frontwords to see if it takes the same amount of health from behind

Mammoths don't power attack :confused:

Besides, even if they do, what about Fireball?