Thri-kreen question

[SpuneDagr]

I'm a bit confused by the MM2's entry for the Thri-kreen.
It says...
Blah blah blah When using the Psionics Handbook, apply the following psionic abilities to a thri-kreen. At will-chameleon, know direction; 1/day-displacement, lesser metaphysical weapon. Manifester 10th; save DC 8 + power level.
Attack/Defense modes: ego whip, mind thrust/thought shield, empty mind. blah blah blah.

A thri-kreen manifests powers, and gains additional attack and defense modes, as if it were a psychic warrior or psion with Psychometabolism as its primary discipline.

What does that last sentance mean? Do they have levels in psion in addition to those powers? Why say that it gains additional attack and defense modes?

Savage Species says the exact same thing.

 

[Pagan priest]

I'm a bit confused by the MM2's entry for the Thri-kreen.
It says...

A thri-kreen manifests powers, and gains additional attack and defense modes, as if it were a psychic warrior or psion with Psychometabolism as its primary discipline.

What does that last sentance mean? Do they have levels in psion in addition to those powers? Why say that it gains additional attack and defense modes?

Savage Species says the exact same thing.

As a psionic thri-kreen gains racial hit dice, it gains attack and defense modes, etc.

 

[SpuneDagr]

They advance as characters.

 

[Magius del Cotto]

The way I read it, the psionic Thri-Kreen get to treat their Hit Die as levels in Psionic Warrior, as stated above. In other words, a level 1 Psionic Thri-Kreen Psionic Warrior would be treated as a level 3 Psionic Warrior for all intents and purposes.
Magius out.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm a bit confused by the MM2's entry for the Thri-kreen.
It says...
Blah blah blah When using the Psionics Handbook, apply the following psionic abilities to a thri-kreen. At will-chameleon, know direction; 1/day-displacement, lesser metaphysical weapon. Manifester 10th; save DC 8 + power level.
Attack/Defense modes: ego whip, mind thrust/thought shield, empty mind. blah blah blah.

A thri-kreen manifests powers, and gains additional attack and defense modes, as if it were a psychic warrior or psion with Psychometabolism as its primary discipline.

What does that last sentance mean? Do they have levels in psion in addition to those powers? Why say that it gains additional attack and defense modes?

Savage Species says the exact same thing.

It means WotC made the same mistake three times in a row. It doesn't apply if you're using the MM II/Savage Species version, despite the text.

Of course, you should use the lower CR/LA non-psionic version, even if you're planning on being a psychic warrior. I don't think free defense modes are worth 3 or so levels.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Y'know those save DC's?

It acts as if they're Psychometabolic....

I'm pretty sure that's all it means. It gives you the ability score that Thri-Kreen use to govern their racial psionic powers.

I could be wrong, but....

 

[Blue Sky]

I'm with the Suicide Shorty. All that references is the DC's and other ability score based numbers.