compare two build ideas

[QLMMaster]

so im GMing a campaign, and my brother has decided he wants to play a thri kreen (here.)
he has two different builds and wants a pro/con analysis from a fresh perspective.

first build: wild shape druid +2 wis & animal companion sound good
or
second build: crit fighter who twfs with kukris (we're using path of war, so he can take deadly agility)

thanks for your time :)

[Rerednaw]

Considering that Path of War is loosely analogous to Tome of Battle...you're better off keeping the base form so you can capitalize on dual TWF.

That said, a druid is a solid class. Really boils down on what he wants to do...be a shifting caster with a battle pet...or a walking cuisinart.

[Scott Wilhelm]

QLMMaster wrote:

wild shape druid +2 wis & animal companion sound good

I agree with Rerednaw.

Rerednaw wrote:

you're better off keeping the base form so you can capitalize on dual TWF.

If you are already a Thri-Kreen, why on Earth would you want to Wildshape into some other form?

A minor quibble, but I don't see Thri-Kreen, as they appear in Dark Sun to be creatures that go much for Animal Companions. Thri Kreen are extremely feral, and don't really get domesticating animals. I heard of a Thri-Kreen seeing other characters mounting up on their Kanks and ask, "Why are you playing with your food?" But again, a minor quibble. Thri-Kreen in your campaign world behave the way you and your player decide.

Did you mean Fighter, or just fighter? The only Kukri-wielding, crit-fishing build I've ever been seriously tempted by is Warpriest. You'd replace the Kukri's weapon damage of 1d4 with Sacred Weapon Damage of 1d6 which gets better as you gain levels, so you get a real best of both worlds thing going. By the time you can take Improved Crit, those Kukris will be doing 1d8: Long Swords with Rapier Threat Ranges.

If I were to have a chance to play a Thri-Kreen melee character, though, I'd have to go with either a Natural Attack build or use those Thri Kreen Weapons, especially the Gythka. A Gythka is a Double Weapon where both ends do 1d10 Slashing. For Natural Attacks, I'd take levels mostly in Warpriest to apply Sacred Weapon Damage to my 4 Claws and a Bite. I'd take a level in White Haired Witch and also get a Hair Attack (if you, GM, would allow a character with no hair to take levels in White Haired Witch). I'd seek to acquire a Helm of the Mammoth Lord to get a Gore Attack. Then I'd take Hamatula Strike, Feral Combat Training for my 4 Claws, and some Grappling Feats because now every one of my Natural Attacks will allow me to make a Free Grapple Check. I'd wear Armor with Armor Spikes, also with Weapon Focus, so every Grapple check would also do Armor Spike Damage, or rather Sacred Weapon Damage. I like the idea of getting 14 attacks/round. If I thought acquiring magic items at market value were a possibility in your campaign, I'd dip in a level of Ranger or Druid just to acquire Wands of Lead Blades and Strong Jaw, upping my Sacred Weapon Damage by 1 or 2 Size Catagories.

You are allowing a Psionic Race. What other Psionics are you allowing?

You are allowing a 3.5 Race. What other 3.5 rules are you allowing or bringing in? You should know that if you allow players to mix 3.5, 3.0 and Pathfinder goodies, you will open quite the Pandora's Box of explosive synergies: I have not yet begun to minmax.

[QLMMaster]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the improved critical feat specifically cite fighter levels as a prerequisite? Does the war priest have something that supersedes it?

Also, regarding your question about 3.5 content, I'm not using the actual 3.5 race stat block. As you can see on the link above, I'm using a conversion.

And last but not least, my players are not by any means munchkins, my dad is a 1e veteran trying to get back into the rpg scene and the closest my brother has ever made to a cheese build was a bard who used slapstick comedy as his bardic performance (he hit the monster over the head) so allowing select 3.5 and 3pp content won't be gamebreaking in any sense of the word

[Scott Wilhelm]

QLMMaster wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the improved critical feat specifically cite fighter levels as a prerequisite? Does the war priest have something that supersedes it?

Warpriests have just such a thing.

Warpriest wrote:

Finally, for the purposes of these [Bonus] feats, the warpriest can select feats that have a minimum number of fighter levels as a prerequisite, treating his warpriest level as his fighter level.

If your dad wants to make a Crit-fishing, Kukri-wielding Thrikreen with extra Wisdom and Dex-to-Damage, Warpriest is a swell way to go. I recommend the Divine Commander Archetype that gets a Teamwork Feat and Tactician. Take either Seize the Moment or Outflank, which triggers Attacks of Opportunity when you and your Allies score Crits. Or maybe just take a 1 level dip in Cavalier, perhaps with an Archetype that doesn't get Mounts, unless you want a Mount (a kind of Animal Companion).

QLMMaster wrote:

And last but not least, my players are not by any means munchkins, my dad is a 1e veteran trying to get back into the rpg scene and the closest my brother has ever made to a cheese build was a bard who used slapstick comedy as his bardic performance (he hit the monster over the head) so allowing select 3.5 and 3pp content won't be gamebreaking in any sense of the word

Okay, forget about my cautions, then. You aren't going there, and your players wouldn't go there even if you let them.

I always wanted to try that cheese they make on Mediterranean islands that is crawling with maggots when you eat it.