I agree that they are harder to use against experienced players and that their stamina consumptions and animations need to be re-adjusted but it is definitely not easier to backstab them in this game. They'll mostly whiff and if you play unlocked, you can destroy backstab fishers. Just watch PraiseTheSun's UGS or heavy weapon videos. As long as you can time your attacks and be patient, they obliterate most people. The way instant backstabs work in DS1 makes it beyond frustrating to deal with bs fishers. I mean I still play the game, in fact I just played yesterday. I have almost 750 hours invested in it and it's the best gaming experience I've ever had but it's broken to the core. UGS users have no chance against DWGR+katana users or Havelmoms. I don't want to comment on DS2 as I don't like playing that game b/c of floaty movement and animations but it dealt with backstabs much better, although not as good as DS3. The game's constantly getting patches and I think post-dlcs would be the best time to judge game's balance. Current criticism is of course needed, otherwise we wouldn't have got those patches but all I'm saying is people are being way too harsh with no justified reason. No one wants to remember mundane daggers, hex builds and all the broken shit DS2 had at launch and it's not fair.