When in an assumed form, do they replicate the scent of whatever they are acting like? A player has the keen smell quality, and I was wondering if the changeling would smell different.
I’d rule they still smell like themselves. I don’t know what the rule is for voices while in assumed form, but unless it specifies it copies like the appearance, I’d ask for a performance check on how well they can do the voice. Then maybe use that result to give advantage or disadvantage on any deception checks they need to make to pass themselves off to people who really know that person.
so with smell, a similar solution would be if they were trying to imitate someone with a strong odor, you could ask for an intelligence roll to try to replicate the smell. Unless it was just straight garlic smell, or something. Then as long as they took care to smell like garlic, I’d rule they covered that base.
For the keen smell guy, or animals, I think they’d clearly smell different. I’d rule an animal with keen smell could be used to hunt down a changeling when the players don’t know who they’ll look like in this crowd. So, I’d rule it the same way if the player changeling was being hunted.
I don’t know what the rule is for voices while in assumed form, but unless it specifies it copies like the appearance, I’d ask for a performance check on how well they can do the voice.
It would only have taken a glance.
Shapechanger
As an action, you can change your appearance and your voice.
While the rules don't explicitly mention smell as something you can duplicate - it seems reasonable that it would be duplicated since they are changing themselves into whatever they look like. It's not an illusion - it's a true physical change.
I would treat it just like using any other sense to see through it. If the changeling is simply disguised as someone who isn't a changeling, seeing through it would be impossible. If they are disguised as someone specific, you would first need a reason to think they aren't that person. After that, it's perception (with advantage for keen smell) versus deception (with advantage for being a changeling).
I would treat it just like using any other sense to see through it. If the changeling is simply disguised as someone who isn't a changeling, seeing through it would be impossible. If they are disguised as someone specific, you would first need a reason to think they aren't that person. After that, it's perception (with advantage for keen smell) versus deception (with advantage for being a changeling).
The official (non-UA) changeling doesn't get advantage on deception checks anymore.
I always treat perception as noticing details, not interpreting. I wouldn't require any reason to think they're not who they say they are to make a sniff check, and I wouldn't make it a contested check unless the changeling actually did something to alter their scent that they could have rolled for. Otherwise I'd set a DC based on... whim, I guess. A success just means "they don't smell like you're used to them smelling," and that might be sufficient reason to prompt an insight vs. deception contested check to learn that they're an impostor.
When in an assumed form, do they replicate the scent of whatever they are acting like? A player has the keen smell quality, and I was wondering if the changeling would smell different.
just have him take a shower and use soap, it'll throw off whatever scent check you're trying to prevent.
IRL, spend 9 months with a group of people who don't have access to real showers (just washing with a towel and cold water) and then go walk through an airport...you'd be amazed at how strong every..single...human....reeks of soap. it overwhelms every other scent.
IRL, spend 9 months with a group of people who don't have access to real showers (just washing with a towel and cold water) and then go walk through an airport...you'd be amazed at how strong every..single...human....reeks of soap. it overwhelms every other scent.
I suspect this is why, immediately after getting home from the groomer, most dogs will run straight to the grass or dirt and roll in it like they're being paid to. They can't use their primary sense (smell) because they're coated in a flowery soap fog.
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When in an assumed form, do they replicate the scent of whatever they are acting like? A player has the keen smell quality, and I was wondering if the changeling would smell different.
I’d rule they still smell like themselves. I don’t know what the rule is for voices while in assumed form, but unless it specifies it copies like the appearance, I’d ask for a performance check on how well they can do the voice. Then maybe use that result to give advantage or disadvantage on any deception checks they need to make to pass themselves off to people who really know that person.
so with smell, a similar solution would be if they were trying to imitate someone with a strong odor, you could ask for an intelligence roll to try to replicate the smell. Unless it was just straight garlic smell, or something. Then as long as they took care to smell like garlic, I’d rule they covered that base.
For the keen smell guy, or animals, I think they’d clearly smell different. I’d rule an animal with keen smell could be used to hunt down a changeling when the players don’t know who they’ll look like in this crowd. So, I’d rule it the same way if the player changeling was being hunted.
It would only have taken a glance.
While the rules don't explicitly mention smell as something you can duplicate - it seems reasonable that it would be duplicated since they are changing themselves into whatever they look like. It's not an illusion - it's a true physical change.
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I would treat it just like using any other sense to see through it. If the changeling is simply disguised as someone who isn't a changeling, seeing through it would be impossible. If they are disguised as someone specific, you would first need a reason to think they aren't that person. After that, it's perception (with advantage for keen smell) versus deception (with advantage for being a changeling).
The official (non-UA) changeling doesn't get advantage on deception checks anymore.
I always treat perception as noticing details, not interpreting. I wouldn't require any reason to think they're not who they say they are to make a sniff check, and I wouldn't make it a contested check unless the changeling actually did something to alter their scent that they could have rolled for. Otherwise I'd set a DC based on.
.. whim, I guess. A success just means "they don't smell like you're used to them smelling," and that might be sufficient reason to prompt an insight vs. deception contested check to learn that they're an impostor.Short answer: probably not, ask DM.
just have him take a shower and use soap, it'll throw off whatever scent check you're trying to prevent.
IRL, spend 9 months with a group of people who don't have access to real showers (just washing with a towel and cold water) and then go walk through an airport...you'd be amazed at how strong every..single...human....reeks of soap. it overwhelms every other scent.
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I suspect this is why, immediately after getting home from the groomer, most dogs will run straight to the grass or dirt and roll in it like they're being paid to. They can't use their primary sense (smell) because they're coated in a flowery soap fog.