Questions about the Thri-kreen

[CrazyYanmega]

Hello, Giants in the Playgrounds! I have a character that I want to use for a 3.5 game that I need a little help in figuring out. His Statblock as of this writing is below:

Tik'ik Ka (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=750434)
Medium CN Thri-kreen Psychic Warrior, Level 1/2 (1), Init +4, HP 16/16, Speed 40 ft
AC 14, Touch 14, Flat-footed 10, Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +5, Base Attack Bonus +2 /1
Gythka (Primary) +6(+2 full) (2d6+3, x2)
Gythka (Off) x3 +2 (2d6+1, x2)
Chatkcha +6 (1d6, x2)
(+4 Dex)
Abilities Str 17, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Condition None

Note that the 1/2 in his level stat indicates his 1 level of Psychic Warrior and 2 levels of Monstrous Humanoid.

I have made a Lv 1 Thri-kreen Psychic Warrior (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/psychicWarrior.htm). I plan to give him at least 5 levels in Pyrokineticist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/prestigeClasses/pyrokineticist.htm). He dual wields the signature Thri-kreen double-ended pole-arm, the Gythka. I have some questions revolving around the Pyrokineticist and the Gythka.

First, the Gythka. My Monster Manual 2 says that it is treated as a Large weapon, so I assumed that I should take a -4 penalty to attack rolls when using it. However, looking at the sample Thri-kreen statblock shows no such penalties. Does the Large status only apply to non-Thri-kreen? Or did the Monster Manual 2 make an error?

The Monster Manual 2 states that Thri-kreen can dual wield the Gythka. I am assuming that only the first strike would be considered a primary attack, while the other three strikes would be considered light weapon attacks. I took the Multiweapon Fighting (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-v35--5/multiweapon-fighting--2015/) and Weapon Focus (Gythka) feats. Thus, my full attack with a BAT of +5 would be +1/+1/+1/+1, right? The Monster Manual 2 also states that I would qualify for the Multidexterity (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-compendium-monsters-of-faerun--21/multidexterity--2005/) Monsterous Feat. I think it eliminates the -4 penalty from dual wielding to my attacks, but that seems so overpowered that I'm not sure I read it correctly.

My second question is about the powers that the Pyrokineticist gets, specifically Bolt of Fire, Weapon Afire, and Nimbus. Are these powers At Will, or do they have some sort of limit that I'm not seeing?

Please keep in mind that, while this build could be ridiculously OP, I don't really munchkin. I just like the idea of a 6 foot tall mantis dual wielding double-ended pole-arms while shooting fireballs from his eyes like Braveheart.

My DM warned me that the campaign is going to be tough, so I want to give my character the best chances of survival. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Grayson01]

Look in the Forgotten Relms book unapproachable east (UE). They have the Stats for the Kreen, and the Weapon and the rules for double weilding them. Are you using a 3.0 MM2 or a 3.5, cause 3.0 used Small, Medium, and Large weapons. I know in the UE it's normally a d10/d10 weapon, and if a Kreen uses two of them he takes Penelties as if his off hand was a one-handed weapon and not a light weapon. You would have to take the Muti-Weapon fighting feat line (although I have never seen Imp&Greater-Multi-Weapon fighting).

if you look in UE and it's not there its Shinning South, I am AFBs

[Greenish]

First, the Gythka. My Monster Manual 2 says that it is treated as a Large weapon, so I assumed that I should take a -4 penalty to attack rolls when using it. However, looking at the sample Thri-kreen statblock shows no such penalties. Does the Large status only apply to non-Thri-kreen? Or did the Monster Manual 2 make an error?MMII is a 3.0 book, and as such it uses the 3.0 weapon size system. In 3.5 terms, the weapon being "large" just means that it's a two-handed weapon.


The Monster Manual 2 states that Thri-kreen can dual wield the Gythka. I am assuming that only the first strike would be considered a primary attack, while the other three strikes would be considered light weapon attacks. I took the Multiweapon Fighting (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-manual-v35--5/multiweapon-fighting--2015/) and Weapon Focus (Gythka) feats. Thus, my full attack with a BAT of +5 would be +1/+1/+1/+1, right? The Monster Manual 2 also states that I would qualify for the Multidexterity (http://dndtools.eu/feats/monster-compendium-monsters-of-faerun--21/multidexterity--2005/) Monsterous Feat. I think it eliminates the -4 penalty from dual wielding to my attacks, but that seems so overpowered that I'm not sure I read it correctly.Multidexterity is the counterpart of Ambidexterity, both 3.0 feats that are baked in the 3.5's TWF rules and therefore removed.

Otherwise, your attack line is correct, though you may want to ask your DM about applying Oversized TWF (CAdv.) to your double weapons, which I'm not sure is RAW-legal, but would be handy.



My second question is about the powers that the Pyrokineticist gets, specifically Bolt of Fire, Weapon Afire, and Nimbus. Are these powers At Will, or do they have some sort of limit that I'm not seeing?Bolt of Fire and Weapon Afire are at will. Nimbus does have the following restriction: "This ability lasts for up to 1 minute per pyrokineticist level and is usable once per day."


My DM warned me that the campaign is going to be tough, so I want to give my character the best chances of survival. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.Don't touch the jewel in the statue's mouth.

[Edit]:
You would have to take the Muti-Weapon fighting feat line (although I have never seen Imp&Greater-Multi-Weapon fighting).Then (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#improvedMultiweaponFighting) behold! (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#greaterMultiweaponFighting)

[Grayson01]

: Then (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#improvedMultiweaponFighting) behold! (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#greaterMultiweaponFighting)

Thanks I always assumed they were the some where.

[Greenish]

Also, if you're going to play a monster character, it might help to look at Urpriest's Monstrous Monster Handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207928). It would be clearer to give his levels as "1, (ECL 5)", for example. (Or ECL 4 if using the non-psionic Thri-Kreen of Shining South).

[CrazyYanmega]

Look in the Forgotten Relms book unapproachable east (UE). They have the Stats for the Kreen, and the Weapon and the rules for double weilding them. Are you using a 3.0 MM2 or a 3.5, cause 3.0 used Small, Medium, and Large weapons. I know in the UE it's normally a d10/d10 weapon, and if a Kreen uses two of them he takes Penelties as if his off hand was a one-handed weapon and not a light weapon. You would have to take the Muti-Weapon fighting feat line (although I have never seen Imp&Greater-Multi-Weapon fighting).

if you look in UE and it's not there its Shinning South, I am AFBs

Probably a 3.0 MM. Thank you for the sourcebook tips. I'll see if my library has them.


Also, if you're going to play a monster character, it might help to look at Urpriest's Monstrous Monster Handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207928). It would be clearer to give his levels as "1, (ECL 5)", for example. (Or ECL 4 if using the non-psionic Thri-Kreen of Shining South).

Thanks, I think I can use this to bring the Tik'ik Ka to 3.5

My DM is a bit odd about races I can use. For example, he banned Pixie, Centaur, and Gargoyle, but he approved things like Mindflayer, Janni, and Minotaur.

He already approved 3.0 Thri-kreen, so I think I can still make this work.

[Coidzor]

Yeah, the MM2's update booklet (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20030718a)'s not likely to help you much with Thri-Kreen.

[CrazyYanmega]

Thank you everyone for your help! If anyone has any further suggestions on how to build this character, please let me know here!

(DM approved my 2d6/2d6 gythkas.)

[Coidzor]

Well, what exactly do you want to do? Other than erupt into fire for 5 minutes once per day and dual-wield Gythka, that is.

[CrazyYanmega]

Well, what exactly do you want to do? Other than erupt into fire for 5 minutes once per day and dual-wield Gythka, that is.

Survive, mostly.

Beyond that, I want to try and act as a sort of shield for my allies, since I have pretty good at rolling the hit-dice. When I take levels in Psionic Warrior I plan on mostly taking defensive type powers, with some offensive powers like Strength of My Enemy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/strengthofMyEnemy.htm) to weaken foes and/or Psionic Lion's Charge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/psionicLionsCharge.htm) to finish the enemy before it can move.

My DM's bosses tend to start slowly, but if they manage to get up to speed, we're usually put on the ropes rather quickly.

[CrazyYanmega]

Self-bump, and also a question. How can I take advantage of my +30 to Jump? Would it be possible to ride on larger opponents, and pin smaller ones?

[Zanos]

Self-bump, and also a question. How can I take advantage of my +30 to Jump? Would it be possible to ride on larger opponents, and pin smaller ones?
If ToB is open, there are several maneuvers that have save DCs based on the result of your jump check. Swooping Dragon Strike comes to mind.

[CrazyYanmega]

If ToB is open, there are several maneuvers that have save DCs based on the result of your jump check. Swooping Dragon Strike comes to mind.

Wouldn't this require me to take a bunch of Warblade/Swordsage levels? Also, this looks like a spell, and my DM houseruled that Psions using magic take damage (I don't remember if it's hp damage or CON damage) and vice versa. (Granted, I was the one who introduced him to ACMI, so it's mostly my fault.)

Or perhaps I don't understand how these Martial Adept classes work.

[Zanos]

Wouldn't this require me to take a bunch of Warblade/Swordsage levels? Also, this looks like a spell, and my DM houseruled that Psions using magic take damage (I don't remember if it's hp damage or CON damage) and vice versa. (Granted, I was the one who introduced him to ACMI, so it's mostly my fault.)

Or perhaps I don't understand how these Martial Adept classes work.
All levels in non-intaiator classes count for 1/2 an initiator level, and certain readings of the rules of PrC with initiator levels allow you to count any PrC as a full initiator level.

That said, you would still need a considerable number of levels with something with full IL progression to get to 7th level maneuvers (IL 13), but it is one way to abuse the hell out of +30 to your jumpcheck, since nobody should be able to make the save.

[Greenish]

Also, this looks like a spell, and my DM houseruled that Psions using magic take damage (I don't remember if it's hp damage or CON damage) and vice versa.Maneuvers aren't spells nor powers (which is what psionic spells are called). Most of them even work in AMF.

[CrazyYanmega]

All levels in non-intaiator classes count for 1/2 an initiator level, and certain readings of the rules of PrC with initiator levels allow you to count any PrC as a full initiator level.

That said, you would still need a considerable number of levels with something with full IL progression to get to 7th level maneuvers (IL 13), but it is one way to abuse the hell out of +30 to your jumpcheck, since nobody should be able to make the save.

I assume that "Initiator Levels" means the basic Psionic classes?

[Rebel7284]

Initiator level to the tome of battle classes is similar to the spellcaster level for magic users or manifester progression for psions. All 3 are different systems, however.

[Coidzor]

I assume that "Initiator Levels" means the basic Psionic classes?

Manifester level is for those who manifest psionic powers. ML

Caster level is for those who cast magical spells. CL

Initiator level is for those who something-something-something martial maneuvers. IL