I noticed getting hit by both from bandits that one was much feebler than the other. Somewhat to my surprise, when I looked up the messaging in the wiki, the one that was much feebler was the rogue guild skill.

So I trained a rank of subdual strike and went and tested it.

...

Subdue. Grandmaster of the guild.

[Roll result: 212 (open d100: 10) Bonus: 32]
You spring from hiding and deliver a blow to a rabid squirrel's head!
The rabid squirrel is paralyzed and is driven to its knees!
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Bonus is 30 for a blackjack, where the other 2 comes from I am not sure, maybe a little bonus for a halfling being a little larger than a squirrel.

Skill = roll result - roll = 202.
...

Subdual strike. 1 rank in it.

H>cman sstr
You spring from hiding and strike at a rabid squirrel!
[Roll result: 202 (open d100: -10) Bonus: 42]
You deliver a blow to a rabid squirrel's right eye with your blackjack!
...18 damage!
The squirrel is stunned!
The squirrel is dazed!

Your vultite blackjack erupts with a plume of steam!

... 20 points of damage!
Scalding steam blisters right arm with painful splotches.
The rabid squirrel twitches its tail one last time and dies.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Bonus is an extra 10 due to being hidden (not required for subdual strike though it is for subdue)

Skill 212.

Despite having maximum ranks in subdue, and minimum ranks in subdual strike, I am better at subdual strike. There's something badly wrong here.

Thats why I did the squirrel test. Bandits do far better with subdual strike than subdue at like level, and the reason is, subdue has about a modifier of -60 compared to subdual strike.

I don't have the capability to do like level testing (except from observing bandits attacking a warrior). I think the nearest I'd have a chance at testing subdue with a rogue would be 14 levels below (aivren).