Backstab and melee relationship

[Alexxarian]

I wonder whether Backstab is dependent on Melee because Ive started playing with a character that has very high intelligence and so i havent put any points into the melee skill yet im raising its backstab skill. Does backstab skill get better with melee? Does the chance of critical miss decrease with melee skill even when backstabbing? Coz ive noticed that my character gets loads of critical misses and very few succesful hits even though the backtab skill has got 2 points and Apprentice status

[Pat_Roseinblume]

I suspect they do go together, but if you do backstab sans melee, what will you do when an enemy faces you? It's back might be against a wall. or you might actually be surronded.

You better have prowl+backstab when not melee+backstab.

[Deathmagus]

The melee skill raises your chance to HIT, whereas the backstab skill raises your chance to deal critical damage when your opponent is behind you or unaware. If you have no melee points, you'll hardly ever hit, and backstab becomes useless. You always want at least a few points in melee, and as many trainings (apprentice, expert, etc...) as those few points will allow. After all, trainings only cost money, and there's no end to that, especially for thieves!