GURPS Dark Sun Conversion

[NineDaysDead]

A thri kreen template (I favour higher point templates that tend to significantly differ from baseline humans):

Thri-kreen:
2nd Ed: +2 Dexterity; +2 Wisdom; -1 Charisma.
3rd Ed (dragon magazine): +2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence, –4 Charisma.
4th Ed: +2 Constitution; +2 Wisdom;


EPH = Expanded Psionics Handbook
TkoA = Thri-Kreen of Athas
DSCS1 = Dark Sun Campaign setting 1st Ed

Thri-Kreen
Weight: 450+d20 lbs
Height: 84 +1d4 inches (48 inches longer than they are tall)
Lifespan: Base age 6, venerable 25*, max age 25 + 1d10 years
*-1 Str/Dex

Human (Male/female)
Weight: 140/100 + 6d10 inches
Height: 60/57 + 2d8 inches
Lifespan: Base age, 15 + 1d8, Middle age 40**, old age 53***, venerable 80****, max age 80 + 2d20 years

** -1 Str/Con; +1 Int/Wis
*** - 2 S t r / D e x , - 1 C o n ; + 1 W i s
**** -1 Str/Dex/Con; +1 Int/Wis

Athasian Thri-kreen [370]
ST +5 (NFM -40%, SM+2 -20%) [20]; DX +3 [60]; IQ -1 [-20].
Speed +2.25 [45], WILL +2 [10], Per +2 [10].

Advantages: Afflication: Paralyzing poison (Follow-up: Sharp teeth +0%, Melee attack, No parry -35%, Paralysis +150% [22]; Doesn’t Sleep [20]; DR 5 (can’t wear armour -40%) [15]; Extra Arms +2 [20]; Extra attacks 4 [100]; Racial Memory (Reliable +8, +40%) [21]; Reduced Consumption 3 (water only -50%) [3]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Super Jump 2 [20]; Super Jump 1 (Vertical only -25%) [8]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; Thri-Kreen Hunting Talent 4 [20]; Very Fit [15]; Vibration Sense [10].
Disadvantages: Callous [-5]; Hidebound [-5]; Racial Reputation: Hated by Elves -4 penalty, Large Class, Always recognised [10]; Sense of Duty: Clutch [-5]; Short lifespan [-10]; Stuttering (Not vs. own race) [-7].
Racial Learned Skills: Survival (Desert) [1], Tracking [1]
Taboo Traits: Cannot swim [0]

Thri-Kreen Hunting Talent: Camouflage, Naturalist, Navigation, Survival, and Tracking.
Reaction bonus: Hunters, and the like. 5 points/level

1. Strength
Thri-Kreen Weigh 450+d20 lbs, in GURPS that means they should have a ST/HP of 15. However, they didn’t receive a bonus to ST (though in 3.5 they get a +2, EPH p.15), and TkoA says:

Originally Posted by TKoA page 42

Size also prevents thri-kreen from supporting their bodies using arms alone, unless a thri-kreens maximum press figure from the Strength table in the Player; Handbook exceeds the total body weight. The thri-kreen must otherwise support or brace his or her body if the arms are used to try to climb or even to maintain a hanging position.

Originally Posted by TKoA page 52

Since most of the thri-kreens bulk is in its lower body and abdomen, a thri-kreen is considered man-sized when determining which weapons it can wield.

So I gave them ST +5 (No Fine Manipulators -40%, SM+2 -20%) [20], since a 460lbs leaping Thri-kreen should be able to make some nasty slam attacks.

2. Dexterity
Originally Thri-kreen had a minimum Dexterity of 17, in GURPS this should be greater than a mere +1. Kromm’s notes suggest 13.

3. Speed bonus.
Thri-kreen have a base movement of 18 compared to a humans 12. That’s 1.5 times as fast.
With the minimum dex of 17, they get an armour class bonus of -3. That’s 3 points of improvement over the average human.
Thri-kreen have the special ability to dodge missiles.

I folded all of this into a high speed score.

4. IQ, WILL and Per modifiers
Thri-kreen have a -1 to INT and a +1 to WILL, making them less intelligent and more wise than the average human.

5. DR 5 (can’t wear armour -40%) [15]

Originally Posted by DSCS1 page 16

A thri-kreens exoskeleton is extremely hard, and gives the creature a base armor class of 5.

TKoA has this as AC 8, but I believe that got errated in sage advice, and in 2nd ed reverts back to AC 5. DR 5 is giant tortoise level.

6. Extra attacks 4 [100]

Originally Posted by DSCS1 page 17

They are able to make one bite and four claw attacks per round.

It might be worth putting a limitation on the last 3 levels, since if they’re using a weapon they can only make 2 attacks, 1 bite + 1 weapon attack.

7. Super Jump 2 [20]; Super Jump 1 (Vertical only -25%) [8]

Originally Posted by DSCS1 page 17

The thri-kreen can leap 20 feet straight up or up to 50 feet straight forward.

With a speed of 8 this gives 52 feet horizontally and 25 feet 4 inches vertically.

8. Vibration Sense [10].

Originally Posted by TKoA page 39

The thri-kreens sensitive antennae, which detect tiny changes in air pressure, reduce melee combat penalties due to darkness, blindness, or invisibility by 1 point (or 5%, as appropriate).

Originally Posted by DSCS 1st Ed page 16

ranged activities (like missile combat) do not gain this benefit).

Originally Posted by GURPS page 96

You can detect the location and size of objects by sensing vibrations with your skin, whiskers, or antennae.

9. Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]
Thri-kreen can keep hunting throughout the midday heat and cold desert nights.






EDIT: Revised version:
Athasian Thri-kreen [333]
ST +5 (NFM -40%, SM+2 -20%) [15]; DX +3 [60]; IQ -1 [-20].
Speed +2.25 [45], WILL +2 [10], Per +2 [10].

Advantages: Afflication: Paralyzing poison (Follow-up: Sharp teeth +0%, Melee attack, No parry -35%, Paralysis +150% [22]; Doesn’t Sleep [20]; DR 5 (can’t wear armour -40%) [15]; Extra Arms +2 [20]; Extra attack (Single Skill: Bite, -20%) 1 [20]; Extra attacks (Single Skill: Claws, -20%) 3 [60]; Racial Memory (Reliable +8, +40%) [21]; Reduced Consumption 3 (water only -50%) [3]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Sharp Claws [5]; Super Jump 2 [20]; Super Jump 1 (Vertical only -25%) [8]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; Thri-Kreen Hunting Talent 4 [20]; Very Fit [15]; Vibration Sense [10].
Disadvantages: Callous [-5]; Compulsive Hunting (15 or less) [2]; Hidebound [-5]; Odious Racial Habit (eats other sapients) [-15]; Racial Reputation: Hated by Elves -4 penalty, Large Class, Always recognised [10]; Sense of Duty: Clutch [-5]; Short lifespan [-10]; Stuttering (Not vs. own race -50%) [-7].
Racial Learned Skills: Survival (Desert) [1], Tracking [1]
Taboo Traits: Cannot swim [0]