Thri-Kreen question.

[holyplankton]

I am starting a Gestalt campaign next week and I just found out that I can apparently play a Thri-Kreen, and I'm tempted. I already have a Spiked Chain fighter written up (which I will have to drop a couple levels, but no issues there) and I would like to adapt that to a Thri-Kreen character. I'm wondering how a Thri-Kreen would do with the possibility of using 2 Spiked Chains. I read the Thri-Kreen excerpts from Complete Psionic and Expanded Psionics and am a bit confused on the use of multiple 2-handed weapons.

I believe the Spiked Chain can be used as a double weapon, and Thri-Kreen can use multiple weapons. So what would the penalty be for using 2 Spiked Chains? Would it be -4 per attack? or -2 like using a light weapon in the off hand? I would be taking the Multiweapon Fighting feat for this, obviously.

 

[Cleon]

I am starting a Gestalt campaign next week and I just found out that I can apparently play a Thri-Kreen, and I'm tempted. I already have a Spiked Chain fighter written up (which I will have to drop a couple levels, but no issues there) and I would like to adapt that to a Thri-Kreen character. I'm wondering how a Thri-Kreen would do with the possibility of using 2 Spiked Chains. I read the Thri-Kreen excerpts from Complete Psionic and Expanded Psionics and am a bit confused on the use of multiple 2-handed weapons.

I believe the Spiked Chain can be used as a double weapon, and Thri-Kreen can use multiple weapons. So what would the penalty be for using 2 Spiked Chains? Would it be -4 per attack? or -2 like using a light weapon in the off hand? I would be taking the Multiweapon Fighting feat for this, obviously.

Firstly, spiked chains are not double weapons.

Furthermore, it isn't a light weapon (although it is a Finesse weapon).

Thus, a Thri-Kreen wielding two spiked chains would attack at -4/-4 assuming they have Multiweapon. They'd get 1.5 times Strength bonus for both weapons' damage, but would only have two sets of attacks - one Primary and one Off-Hand.

If you want a Primary/Off-Hand/Off-Hand/Off-Hand blizzard of blows the Thri-Kreen will need two double weapons. A pair of dire flails would be closest to the original concept, since they're trip weapons like a spiked chain. You'd also attack at -2/-4/-2/-2, which breaks down as -2 with a Primary 1-Handed weapon, -4 with an Off-Hand 1-Handed weapon, and -2 with two Off-Hand Light weapons.

CORRECTION: After thinking it over, I believe a Thri-Kreen with two double weapons and Multiweapon would attack at -4/-4/-4/-4. To get the -2/-2/-2/-2 I think you'd need ALL the off-hand weapons to be light, and a pair of double weapons is treated as one 1-Handed Off-Hand weapon and two Light Off-Hand weapons.

The Dragon #319 writeup of the thri-kreen's Gythka double weapon would seem to support this.

 

[Cleon]

If you want a Primary/Off-Hand/Off-Hand/Off-Hand blizzard of blows the Thri-Kreen will need two double weapons. A pair of dire flails would be closest to the original concept, since they're trip weapons like a spiked chain. You'd also attack at -2/-4/-2/-2, which breaks down as -2 with a Primary 1-Handed weapon, -4 with an Off-Hand 1-Handed weapon, and -2 with two Off-Hand Light weapons.

I've just checked Dragon #319's Dark Sun articles and its weapon section has "A thri-kreen can wield two gythkas at once as double weapons due to its four arms, but takes penalties as if its off-hand weapon was a one-handed weapon, not a light weapon."

If the same applies to wielding other paired double weapons a Thri-Kreen with two dire flails and Multiattack would attack at -4/-4/-4/-4, not -2/-4/-2/-2.

A gythka is significantly more damaging and heavier than the SRD exotic double weapons though - 1d10/1d10 and 25 pounds versus the 1d6/1d8 or 1d8/1d8 and 10 to 15 pounds of the SRD weapons, so it might be harder to wield in 4 arms than another pair of double weapons.

Better check with the DM and see what they think the appropriate penalties are.

 

[nijineko]

i went with a thri-kreen dervish wielding scimitars. weapons count as light due to dervish special ability, nice crit range, too.