Thri-kreen
- +4 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, -2 Intelligence, -4 Charisma
- Size Medium. As Medium-sized characters, thri-kreen have no special size-based bonuses or penalties.
- Base speed 60 ft.
- Natural armor +4 due to thick chitin. However, they are not able to wear regular armor. Bracers of armor and similar effects work, though.
- Natural attacks: 4 claws doing 1d4 damage and 1 bite doing 1d6. The claws are considered primary attacks, with the bite taking a -5 attack penalty and getting half Strength adjustment. Howeer, they are unable to coordinate all their arms to the degree necessary for using more than two weapons, and using two weapons uses the normal two-weapon fighting rules.
- Reduced need for water: A thri-kreen makes incredibly efficient use of available water. It only needs to consume one gallon every five days.
- No need for sleep: A thri-kreen does not need to sleep, and is immune to sleep spells and their like. Spellcasters and psions still need rest time to clear their minds and prepare spells/rejuvenate power points.
- Weird physiology: Thri-kreen are insectoid in nature. They are considered Monstrous Humanoids (which means they're immune to certain effects that only affect humanoids), and can not wear armor. Unlike other monstrous humanoids, thri-kreen do not have any innate proficiencies.
- Racial levels: In addition to taking class levels, a thri-kreen can explore his innate racial characteristics. This is reflected by taking levels in the thri-kreen class. This requires a certain maturity, so each racial level requires a certain character level before you can take it.
- Favored class: Psychic Warrior.
Racial levels
Thri-kreen can take up to six racial levels, each of which has a minimum character level and includes a special ability. Since the forum doesn't like tables much, I'll try to summarise the information differently.
Hit die: 1d8
Base Attack Bonus: Good (as fighter)
Saves: Reflex and Will good, Fortitude bad.
Skill points per level: 2+Intelligence bonus.
Class skills: Craft, Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival.
Code:
Level Min. Ability
1 2 Leaping
2 4 Venom
3 5 Chatkcha
4 7 Deflect Arrows
5 9 Multiattack
6 11 Gythka
Min: The minimum character level before taking this Thri-kreen level. This includes previous thri-kreen levels, but not the one being taken.
- Leaping: Thri-kreen receive a +10 racial bonus to Jump checks, in addition to the +12 bonus it receives for the base speed. In addition, its legs are constructed like those of many insects, which means they get to use “running” jumps without actually running (they get no extra benefit from actually having a running start). Further, they double the height they can jump on a particular Jump check.
- Venom: Thri-kreen eventually begin to extrude a paralytic venom from their mandibles. The DC is equal to 10 + the thri-kreen's HD/2 + Con modifier. The primary and initial damage are both 1d6 Dex.
- Chatkcha: Soon after beginning to extrude venom, the thri-kreen can learn the process of using it to create a crystalline material called dasl, and learning to fashion it into a crystalline throwing wedge called a chatkcha. They also receive proficiency in this weapon, which has the following stats: Exotic ranged weapon, Cost 1 gp, damage 1d8, crit x3, range 20 ft, weight 3 lbs, Slashing. The cost is for fashioning one out of metal, the ones created by the thri-kreen itself are of course free. The process of making a chatkcha includes consuming certain herbs that make the thri-kreen's venom useless for other purposes for 24 hours.
- Deflect arrows: The thri-kreen's reflexes becomes so sharp it gets the Deflect Arrows feat as a bonus feat.
- Multiattack: The thri-kreen gets the Multiattack feat, so its bite only takes a -2 attack penalty. It also gains Multiweapon fighting, as it learns to coordinate all its arms and using weapons in all of them.
- Gythka: The thri-kreen learns to fashion dasl (and a wooden staff) into a double-headed weapon called a gythka. They also become rather expert at their use, getting proficiency in as well as ignoring all penalties for using it as a double-weapon. The stats for a gythka are: Exotic melee weapon, Cost 60 gp, Damage 1d8/1d8, Crit x3, Weight 15 lbs, Slashing/Piercing, Double-weapon. The cost is for a metal version, the thri-kreen himself can make one just as good using dasl.
Notes: OK, these guys will probably need a level adjustment despite farming out lots of abilities to racial levels.
The high base speed is there to reflect their speed in 2e (move 18). Their natural armor is slightly weaker than in 2e (there it was the equivalent of +5). The bite damage was changed from 1d4+1 to 1d6, because weapon damages don't have inherent plusses anymore. Water need was changed to five days, because Athas doesn't have 7-day weeks.
OK, moving on to the racial levels... the good BAB and saves, as well as the HD, comes from the Monstrous Humanoid type. The leaping ability looks powerful, but it's still just jumping, and reflects their powerful jumping ability in 2e (50 ft forward/20 ft upward) - plus, they are built like manti, after all.
Since they had paralytic venom in 2e, I thought Dex damage would be appropriate for 3e. Stats for the chatkcha and gythka are taken from the Psionics Handbook web enhancement and slightly modified. Deflect Arrows reflect the ability they got in 2e to dodge missile fire. The Dasl thing was taken from Thri-kreen of Athas.