Thri-Kreen and Multiweapon Fighting

[Viktyr Gehrig]

When I first started my Dragonstar game, I realized that the inclusion of one-handed ranged weapons did some unpleasant things to game balance-- I felt it necessary to tone down the weapons of almost all of the ranged weapons. I also had to do something I find rather distasteful: disallow the Thri-Kreen from play due to the abusive damage of a perfectly sensible thing for any Thri-Kreen player to do-- pick up four blasters.

Thinking about that, though, and my desire to include them as NPCs (the PCs are in the Dark Zone right now), I decided that perhaps limiting the Thri-Kreen's ability to use its lower two claws would make them playable.

In return, I made the Thri-Kreen better at Two Weapon Fighting, by making their upper two claws primary, even when wielding weapons, so that they can add their full Strength bonus to damage for both weapons. They can also still use their lower two claws as secondary natural attacks, allowing a Thri-Kreen meleer to attack with two manufactured weapons, their bite, and two claws.

Any thoughts on these changes? Should I adjust their LA, or are they fine as-is?

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Bump.

Do people just not use Thri-Kreen in their games? Do they feel they're fine as-is? Do they feel this is only an issue in games with one-handed ranged weapons?

 

[Storyteller01]

No one used thri-kreen in my campaign. One tried (he wanted to use four missle launchers). I haven't had any problems with critters using multi-Dex with blasters/lasers. There are too many creatures who are immune or resistant to fire/electricity (shambling mounds can make your thri-kreen blaster wielder REALLY hate his day), as well as a plethoria of creatures (npc and PC) that also use more then two weapons.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I've never used thri-kreen. But I'm planning to allow them as a PC race in my next game. I am concerned some with the potential problems though with multiweapon fighting though or just wielding a single weapon with 4 arms.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Four arms on a weapon isn't that bad-- they just add 2.5x their Strength modifier to melee damage.

Also, without special abilities that add damage dice, regular Multiweapon Fighting just isn't that bad-- the reason I have a problem is the fact that Dragonstar has several one-handed ranged weapons that do a fair amount of damage. It's when you throw in Sneak Attack, Skirmish, or energy enchantments that multiweapon starts looking real ugly.

 

[Storyteller01]

Rule that using three or more hands on one weapon doesn't add any additional damage. The whole reason two handed attacks do more damage is because your put your whole body behind an attack (get thos hips twisting!!). Adding hands adds stability (accuracy) not neccessarily power.

As for sneak attacks, I tend to go with the old 'one sneak attack per round' rule. Once use get the sneak attack in on th first attack (from a flank) you have your opponents undivided attention.

Also remember that DS doesn't allow a number of enchantments for energy weapons.