It looks like Thri-kreen would be a 4 level monster class. Thus the character would not be able to take a PC class level until 5th level. There are also role playing drawbacks to playing a giant preying mantis in a city dominated by bipedal humanoids. But I'll let you all consider the risks and the potential rewards of the choice.

A thri-kreen would be cool if it was a dungbeetle kind instead of a mantis. A scarab, you know... big ugly guy with a kind heart. Sun obsession and all, from old Egyptian belief, which of course doesn't matter since they don't know what Egypt is in a fantasy world.

Well, anyway... I'm still not sure what I want to play. I'll have a good thinking-session. For now I think a thri-kreen sounds fun, but it might not be the best option roleplaying wise. And we already have a rogue, yes? hmmmm...

I haven't played pathfinder, but I have a lot of 3.5 experience. I'd be interested in playing if you have need. If I were to play a cleric, should I just pick two domains out of the player's guide, or do you have a pantheon I should choose from?

Your addition to the game makes 4 players, my minimum. I do have a pantheon of deities for you to choose from, or you can simply choose Domains. Take a look at the pathfinder SRD (which Sibelius was kind enough to link on page 1) to see the difference between 3.5E and pathfinder regarding clerics and your chosen race.

Is the email you have listed on the site good? If so I can send you the pages from my book that deals with the pantheons of Shiran.

Almerin, if you want to play a thri-kreen go ahead. It should be an interesting change of pace for the group. An yes, Dakarta has claimed the rogue spot. And if Crowe has chosen a cleric, that means a mage is needed for a full stereotypical group. But then again, I never liked stereotypes and I'm sure you guys will figure out how to work with what you've got.

I think Dwarven Cleric is the way I'll go. I'll take a look at that link. Just looked at the link, and Dwarves get a bonus to Wisdom. Awesome!

g) You do not gain 4x your initial skill points at 1st level. However, when you put your first point into any class skill you gain an automatic +3 bonus to that skill.

So if you get 2+Int mod, at first level you get 2+Int mod skills all at +3?

Assuming you put your skill ranks all in class skills yes. You do not get the x4, but whenever you put your first rank in a class skill you get an additional +3 to the modifier for that skill.

Also, remember that after you choose your chosen class (in your case Crowe it would be cleric), whenever you raise a level you get either a bonus hit point or a bonus skill rank. It is your choice.

so, how would it work if you play a thri-kreen? I looked up Complete Psionics and it is a monster class that goes on until level 20. So how would that work? Or did you look in another book?

Still not sure if I'm going for the Thri-kreen, but I'm keeping options open.

Use the class up through 6th level with the following exceptions:

Feats are as determined in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook (1 every other level) and ability score bonuses are as normal. Your 7th level will be your third class level and it just continues on normally from there. That should help balance the thri-kreen with the more powerful characters and races from Pathfinder I think.

I think we can dismiss the whole thri-kreen business anyway, lol. I've been looking through the Pathfinder core rulebook, and I can see the appealing nature of this game over dnd 3.5.

I will go for a dwarven Monk. I'll do my best to get a character together sometime soon. But I also have to update my games, so it will be somewhere in this weekend hopefully.

I've heard it said Pathfinder is essentially DnD 3.75, and I would be interested in joining if I even had time for the games I'm playing in now.

That would be a pretty accurate description of Pathfinder Shield. There are enough alterations to decidedly separate it from 3.5, but the basic rule set is the same. The more I've played it the more I seem to like it over 3.5E. The character classes and races are more powerful than in 3.5E, but they have upgraded the monsters and such as well. They say that a monster from 3.5E rules is 1 CR lower than it is listed because of the increased strength of the PCs.

I think I will attempt to find a way to make time for this, I looked over the SRD and LOVE what they have done with the Sorceror, so I think I'm going to play a Fey-blooded Half Elf Sorceror. I do have to work tonight and tomorrow though, so I may not be able to get a sheet to you for a couple days, if you get other people willing to play before I get one in feel free to let them in.

PM me any other info I may need on the race and class as pertinent to your campaign setting.

Alright, so the current group consists of the following:

Human Fighter (Archer)
Dwarven Monk
Dwarven Cleric of the Amon Atus (the deity of water and rain)
Human (most likely) Rogue
Half-Elf Sorcerer

I am willing to allow one more slot. If no one volunteers then I will fill it in with my own thri-kreen, just because I think they are cool. Assuming the players don't mind that.

I'll be closing this recruitment and beginning to set up the other threads this weekend so your last chance to put in for this game is over the next few days.

Thanks everyone for your interest and I look forward to a great game.

I have my 6 players. If one falls through I will re-open the thread but for now it looks like we've got everyone. I'm now waiting on character sheets. As I said, over the course of the weekend I'll get a character sheet thread and a Q&A going. Hopefully I'll be able to get the main thread started come Sunday.