Backstab Technique: DFish games and reality...

[vicky_molokh]

Greetings, all!

It has been said that what other games call a backstab is a Telegraphic Targeted Attack to the Vitals in GURPS. However, I noticed the peculiarity of backstabs in other games: backstabbing requires a dagger, and not just any weapon. I've seen this rule in action in such games as Hexen, Arcanum, Thief, some interpretations/incarnations of D&D, and Warcraft.

Now, what is the reasoning for making daggers special - whether it is realistic, or some sort of cliché. Whether the former or latter, I would be interested in reading what makes it so.

Thanks in advance!