Homebrew Aberrant Changeling Species Details
Changeling cursed with an aberrant dragonmark that causes them to be unable to control their abilities. They have three consistent masks that they unknowingly swap into every time they rest.
Aberrant Changeling Traits
Aberrant Changeling is a shape changer that fluidly and unknowingly shifts between forms. Your Changeling has the following traits.Aberrant Shifting
The Changeling is neither able to control nor is aware of their shifting abilities. Every time they rest, their form freely flows into a different persona (or mask).
On a short or long rest, roll a d4. A roll of a 1-3 will shift the player into a predetermined mask chosen earlier with the DM. A roll of 4 will allow the player to choose between the predetermined masks or choose a new mask that reflects the current situation. If a new mask is chosen, they do not have access to any Aberrant Casting features.
Each persona remembers the previous masks' actions as though it was their own and can only be convinced that their memories were from a different persona with a DC 22 Charisma (Persuasion) check. The check is made with advantage if they use events from all three personas. From the time that they are convinced of this knowledge until their next rest, they can make one at will shift to a different mask as if they had rolled a 4 during a rest. This knowledge resets after they shift and the DC is raised to 25 until the character completes a long rest.
Due to their mind and memory being in constant flux, the character has disadvantage on all history checks or checks made to recall previous effects.
(Clothes change form with each mask change? Or just wear a really big robe?)
Aberrant Casting
You have manifested an Aberrant Dragonmark. Determine its appearance and the flaw associated with it. The spells gained can be from different spell lists for each mask. Choose which lists to pick from with your DM. You gain the following benefits that are only accessible while in the mask it's chosen for:
- For each mask, you learn a cantrip of your choice from the chosen spell list. In addition, choose a 1st-level spell from the chosen spell list. You learn that spell and can cast it through your mark. Once you cast it, you must finish a short or long rest before you can cast it again through the mark. Additionally you can cast it expending two sorcery points. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- At 5th, 9th, and 13th level, each mask gains a spell of their choice from the chosen spell list up to or equal to the maximum spell level able to be casted at that level. You learn that spell and can cast it through your mark. This spell is cast at the level equal to the maximum spell level able to be casted at that level when it was attained. Once you cast it, you must finish a short or long rest before you can cast it again through the mark. Additionally, you can cast it by expending sorcery points equal to the spell level plus two. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- When you cast a spell through your mark, you can expend a number of your Hit Dice up to or including the spell's level and roll them. For each die, if you roll an even number, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to the number rolled. For each die, if you roll an odd number, one random creature within 30 feet of you (not including you) takes force damage equal to the number rolled. If no other creatures are in range, you take the damage. The damage can only affect one creature.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2. In addition, one ability score of your choice increases by 1.
Changeling Instincts
You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion.
Age
Changelings mature slightly faster than humans but share a similar lifespan—typically a century or less. While a changeling can transform to conceal their age, the effects of aging affect them similarly to humans.
Alignment
Unlike their original race, Aberrant Changelings tend to have different alignments based on which persona is in use.
Size
Your size is Medium. To set your height and weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:
Size modifier = 2d4
Height = 5 feet + 1 inch + your size modifier in inches
Weight in pounds = 115 + (2d4 × your size modifier)
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and two other languages of your choice.
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Posted Jul 23, 2021My main criticism with this race is the Aberrant Shifting occurring during any rest, not just a long rest, for a few reasons. For starters, this means that any time your party takes a break at all you need to spend time seeing if they can pass a DC22 or 25 check to convince you of what is going on which is theoretically cool for rp and stuff until you're having the same scenario play out for the hundredth time. This isn't that big of a deal though you could easily just hand wave it away and say that they sat there and took however long they needed to convince you of it and just not rp it at all. My biggest concern with this is that a short rest does not require you to actually sleep. This would mean that you could sit there eating food and your body just starts to entirely change and you have no idea it is happening? How would you not know it is happening?
I think the idea is awesome and sounds really cool, I particularly like the idea of alignment changing which could make for some really funny or awesome situations in the campaign. I just think it doesn't totally line up in that one spot.