Homebrew Doppleganger Species Details
Doppelgangers are devious shapeshifters that take on the the appearance of other humanoids, throwing off pursuit with misdirection and disguise. Few creatures spread fear, suspicion, and deceit better than Dopplegangers. Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race.
Stealing Secrets. A Dopplegangers adopted form allows it to blend into almost nay group or community, buts transformation doesn't impart languages, memory, or personality. Doppelgangers often follow or capture creatures they intend to impersonate, studying them and probing their minds for secrets. A doppelganger can read a creatures surface thoughts, allowing it to glean that creatures name, desires, and fears, along with a few scattered memories. A Doppelgangers impersonating a specific creature as part of a long-term plot might keep its double alive and close at hand for weeks, probing the victims mind daily to learn and behave authentically.
Hedonistic Swindlers. Doppelgangers work alone or in small groups, with group roles shifting from con to con. While one doppelganger takes the place of a murdered merchant or noble, the others take on a number of identities as circumstances warrant, playing the parts of family or servants while they live off the victims riches.
Changelings. Doppelgangers are too lazy or self-interested to raise their young. They assume attractive male forms and seduce women, leaving them to raise their progeny. A Doppelganger child appears to be a normal member of its mothers species until it reaches adolescence, at which point it discovers its true nature and is driven to seek out to join them.
Doppleganger Traits
Your Doppelganger character has the following traits.Read Thoughts
The doppelganger can cast the 2nd level Read Thoughts twice per day without using spell slots or components. Also, instead of 30ft range on the original spell, it is increased to 45ft range.
Ambusher
In the first round of combat, the Doppelganger has advantage on attack rolls against any creature
Surprise Attack
If the doppelganger surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 3d6 (10) damage from the attack.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and either your Dexterity or your Intelligence increases by 1 (your choice).
Age
Doppelgangers mature slightly faster than humans but share a similar lifespan — typically a century or less. While a Doppelganger can shapeshift to conceal their age, the effects of aging still catch up to them.
Alignment
Doppelgangers are generally chaotic and a surprising amount are evil. They tend towards Chaotic Neutral alignments.
Size
In their natural forms, changelings average between 5 to 6 feet in height, with a slender build. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Change Appearance
As an action, you can transform your appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you revert to your natural form if you die.
You decide what you look like, including your height, weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration, hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change. You also can’t appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you’re bipedal, you can’t use this trait to become quadrupedal, for instance. Your clothing and other equipment don’t change in appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, requiring you to keep a few extra outfits on hand to make the most compelling disguise possible.
Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
Doppelganger Instincts
You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Intimidation, Insight, and Persuasion.
Unsettling Visage
When a creature you can see makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the roll. You must use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.
Using this trait reveals your shapeshifting nature to any creature within 30 feet that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Divergent Persona
You gain proficiency with one tool of your choice. Define a unique identity associated with that proficiency; establish the name, race, gender, age, and other details. While you are in the form of this persona, the related proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses that proficiency.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.
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