Homebrew Doppelganger Species Details

“Shapeshifters,” the Khelbens replied in unison... "Somehow they disposed of Lady Eidola's attendants and took their places. When I found them out, I led them back into the crying room for questioning. One of them attacked. They rushed for the door, taking my form to confuse pursuit.” “If I am a shapeshifter,” said the fifth, “why did I slay two of my comrades with a crushing hand?” The ninth shook his head. “He slew only those two, and in front of you so that you would believe him. I killed the rest."

— Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, High Mage of Waterdeep

 Doppelgangers are devious shapeshifters that take on the appearance of other humanoids, throwing off pursuit or luring victims to their doom with misdirection and disguise. Few creatures spread fear, suspicion, and deceit better than doppelgangers. Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race.

Stealing Secrets

A doppelganger’s adopted form allows it to blend into almost any group or community, but its transformation doesn’t impart languages, mannerisms, 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 creature’s surface thoughts, allowing it to glean that creature’s name, desires, and fears, along with a few scattered memories. A doppelganger impersonating a specific creature as part of a long-term plot might keep its double alive and close at hand for weeks, probing the victim’s mind daily to learn how to behave and speak authentically.

In creating a doppelganger adventurer, consider the character’s relationships with people around them. Does the character conceal their true nature, or do they embrace it? Do they have connections to other doppelgangers or are they alone and in search of companions?

Hedonistic Swindlers

Doppelgangers tend to 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 victim’s riches.

Changeling Heritage

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 mother’s species until it reaches adolescence, at which point it discovers its true nature and is driven to seek out its kind to join them, or becomes an adventurer in order to seek a new purpose. 

Doppelganger Names

A doppelganger uses a different name for each form it adopts, typically one that they stole from the creatures they impersonate. A doppelganger's true name varies depending on the culture a doppelganger was born into. For example, a doppelganger born of a human mother would have a human name and one born to an orc would have an orcish name. 

Doppelganger Traits

Your doppelganger character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity and Charisma score increases by 1. 

Age

Doppelgangers reach maturity at the same age as their parent race, and live for roughly a century after they reach maturity.

Alignment

Doppelgangers tend towards neutrality. Although not innately evil, most doppelgangers are extremely self-centered. They break observed law to imitate their target but are well versed in obeying the rules necessary to maintain their deception. Doppelgangers inclined to shapechange more frequently are typically more chaotic in nature. It's possible a doppelganger will grow to enjoy an assumed identity so much they will adopt its alignment as their own.

Size

A doppelgangers true form is slightly taller than a humans, averaging at just over six feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Shapechanger

As an action, you can polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid that you have seen before. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your game statistics change other than your size. You can’t duplicate the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and your clothing and equipment aren’t changed by this trait.

You stay in the new form until you use an action to revert to your true form or until you die.

Read Thoughts

You can magically read the surface thoughts of one creature within 60 feet as an action. The effect can penetrate barriers, but 3 feet of wood or dirt, 2 feet of stone, 2 inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it. While the target is in range, you can continue reading its thoughts, as long as your concentration isn't broken (as if concentrating on a spell). While reading the target's mind, you have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion) checks against the target. 

Doppelganger Mind

Accustomed to the workings of how others feel and think, you have fortified your own against influence. You gain proficiency in the Deception and Insight skills. Additionally, you cannot be charmed. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one language of your choice.