Modifying the thri-kreen

[Wolfspider]

I love thri-kreen to death...mostly. As an admirer of real-world mantids, I've always been somewhat annoyed that thri-kreen are portrayed as having four arms that can weid weapons and standing on two legs. In my mind, they should use four legs for movement and two for weidling weapons and such.

So, my question is, if the two additional arms are removed (along with the extra attacks) and the thri-kreen is given two additional legs instead, how would that change the statistics as given in the Expanded Psionics Handbook in terms of Level Adjustment? Right now they are ECL 4, with 2 levels of Monstrous Humanoid and LA +2.

Thanks for your input.

 

[DogBackward]

Well, for one, they'd gain the +4 vs trip and bull rush checks, and so forth, as well as an increase in their carrying capacity for having four legs. I'd also give them the ability to use both arms while climbing, since they have four legs to use to actually climb. Otherwise, i don't think it'd be enough of a difference in power to change their LA all that much. Maybe give them a hefty bonus on balance checks to help out a bit.

 

[smootrk]

If you are going to do a redesign of Thri-kreen, you might as well start from scratch. Drop the HD down to 1 (removing racial HD from equation), have the 4 legs be one of the major racial factors - affecting carry capacity (as noted above), remove the Paralysis bite (but leave the bite), 2 arms instead of 4...

... basically try to redesign for minimal LA. Only thing I might say to throw in for a mantis type of character is a sudden strike type of ability.

 

[XCorvis]

With four legs, I'd give them a climb speed. Other than that, I think DogBackward has it right.

 

[Wolfspider]

Hmmm. Good ideas. Let me see what I can come up with.

Any other suggestions?

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Tauric template from Monster Manual II used to combine a human with giant praying mantis.