[Monsters] I am a Doppelganger ... of a Demon?

[Cabral]

Okay, the Doppelganger's Change Shape (and the Succubus's for that matter) allows Medium Humanoids. By my reckoning, that means:
>EN World ate my list of every medium humanoid in the Monster Manual<

Some are really cool options (Yuan-ti). Some are perhaps a case mistyping creatures (How does a Doppelganger impersonate a Ghost? By turning into a floating Jellyfish? Scary. And to really wow them on comedy night, the Doppelganger can flop around as a legless Angel.

Some of this can be fixed with Common Sense +5, but some guidance (ie, Natural & Fey Humanoids only) would've been nice.

 

[Cabral]

Well, I hope the reason for the lack of responses is because it's not obvious how many varied shapes this currently allows for.

Here's the list (Thank you Withak and your sortable monster list):
[sblock]

• Aboleth Servitor
• Astral Stalker
• Blood Fiend
• Angel of Protection
• Angel of Valor
• Angel of Valor Cohort
• Angel of Valor Legionnaire
• Angel of Valor Veteran
• Fire Archon Emberguard
• Fire Archon Ash Disciple
• Fire Archon Blazesteel
• Ice Archon Hailscourge
• Ice Archon Rimehammer
• Ice Archon Frostshaper
• Azer Foot Soldier
• Azer Rager
• Azer Warrior
• Azer Beastlord
• Azer Taskmaster
• Banshrae Dartswarmer
• Banshrae Warrior
• Berbalang
• Bodak Reaver
• Bodak Skulk
• Cambion Hellfire Magus
• Cambion Hellsword
• Feygrove Choker
• Death Knight (Human Fighter)
• Death Knight (Dragonborn Paladin)
• Bearded Devil (Barbazu)
• Chain Devil (Kyton)
• Legion Devil Grunt
• Legion Devil Hellguard
• Legion Devil Legionnaire
• Legion Devil Veteran
• Spined Devil (Spinagon)
• Succubus
• Viscera Devourer
• Doppelganger Assassin
• Doppelganger Sneak
• Dragonborn Gladiator
• Dragonborn Raider
• Dragonborn Soldier
• Dragonborn Champion
• Drow Arachnomancer
• Drow Blademaster
• Drow Warrior
• Drow Priest
• Briar Witch Dryad
• Dryad
• Dwarf Bolter
• Dwarf Hammerer
• Bralani of Autumn Winds
• Eladrin Fey Knight
• Eladrin Twilight Incanter
• Ghaele of Winter
• Elf Archer
• Elf Scout
• Ettercap Fang Guard
• Ettercap Webspinner
• Foulspawn Berserker
• Foulspawn Mangler
• Foulspawn Seer
• Galeb Duhr Earthbreaker
• Galeb Duhr Rockcaller
• Gargoyle
• Nabassu Gargoyle
• Phantom Warrior
• Trap Haunt
• Tormenting Ghost
• Wailing Ghost (Banshee)
• Abyssal Ghoul
• Ghoul
• Horde Ghoul
• Abyssal Ghoul Hungerer
• Abyssal Ghoul Myrmidon
• Githyanki Gish
• Githyanki Mindslicer
• Githyanki Warrior
• Githzerai Cenobite
• Githzerai Zerth
• Githzerai Mindmage
• Gnoll Claw Fighter
• Gnoll Demonic Scourge
• Gnoll Huntmaster
• Gnoll Marauder
• Bugbear Warrior
• Bugbear Strangler
• Hobgoblin Grunt
• Hobgoblin Warrior
• Hobgoblin Archer
• Hobgoblin Soldier
• Hobgoblin Commander
• Hobgoblin Hand of Bane
• Hobgoblin Warcaster
• Grimlock Ambusher
• Grimlock Berserker
• Grimlock Follower
• Grimlock Minion
• Bog Hag
• Howling Hag
• Death Hag
• Night Hag
• Bloodfire Harpy
• Harpy
• Human Bandit
• Human Guard
• Human Lackey
• Human Rabble
• Human Berserker
• Human Mage
• Kuo-toa Guard
• Kuo-toa Harpooner
• Kuo-toa Marauder
• Kuo-toa Monitor
• Kuo-toa Whip
• Lich (Eladrin Wizard)
• Lich (Human Wizard)
• Lich Vestige
• Greenscale Darter
• Greenscale Hunter
• Greenscale Marsh Mystic
• Wererat
• Werewolf
• Marut Blademaster
• Medusa Archer
• Medusa Warrior
• Medusa Shroud of Zehir
• Mind Flayer Infiltrator
• Mind Flayer Mastermind
• Minotaur Cabalist
• Minotaur Warrior
• Mummy Guardian
• Mummy Lord (Human Cleric)
• Orc Berserker
• Orc Drudge
• Orc Raider
• Orc Warrior
• Orc Bloodrager
• Orc Chieftain
• Orc Eye of Gruumsh
• Doresain, the Ghoul King
• Deathpriest Hierophant
• Crimson Acolyte
• Deathpriest of Orcus
• Rakshasa Archer
• Rakshasa Warrior
• Rakshasa Assassin
• Rakshasa Noble
• Rakshasa Dread Knight
• Rot Harbinger
• Rot Slinger
• Sahuagin Guard
• Sahuagin Priest
• Sahuagin Raider
• Satyr Piper
• Satyr Rake
• Shadar-kai Chainfighter
• Shadar-kai Gloomblade
• Shadar-kai Warrior
• Shadar-kai Witch
• Longtooth Hunter
• Razorclaw Stalker
• Skull Lord
• Gray Slaad (Rift Slaad)
• Sorrowsworn Reaper
• Sorrowsworn Soulripper
• Specter
• Voidsoul Specter
• Swordwing
• Tiefling Darkblade
• Tiefling Heretic
• Troglodyte Curse Chanter
• Troglodyte Impaler
• Troglodyte Mauler
• Vampire Lord (Human Rogue)
• Vampire Spawn Bloodhunter
• Vampire Spawn Fleshripper
• Vine Horror
• Vine Horror Spellfiend
• Warforged Captain
• Warforged Soldier
• Battle Wight
• Battle Wight Commander
• Deathlock Wight
• Wight
• Slaughter Wight
• Mad Wraith
• Wraith
• Sword Wraith
• Yuan-ti Malison Incanter
• Yuan-ti Malison Sharp-eye
• Yuan-ti Malison Disciple of Zehir
• Snaketongue Initiate
• Snaketongue Warrior
• Snaketongue Zealot
• Snaketongue Assassin
• Snaketongue Celebrant

[/sblock]
There is a bit of duplication I haven't taken out (ie, Human bandit versus human guard) Sorry about that. My original list was done from scratch and included fewer duplicates but took me 2 hours to put together so I hope you'll forgive the lack of effort to thin down the list.

So the question is, What does and what should change shape encompass. (And by "what should", I don't mean house rule, I mean does it need an errata?)

I think Change Shape should be limited by origin and perhaps some sub-types should off limits (ie, undead) unless you actually possess them.

 

[Xzylvador]

Doppelganger is the only race none of my DM's allows, because of that power.
(Actually, that's a lie, one of them doesn't allow Warforged neither)

 

[PeelSeel2]

I love the Doppleganger. Easy way to do his power, not over powered. I allowed one of my PC's to run a Doppleganger.

 

[cockroachman3178]

I think that the doppleganger pc should be able to change shape only into medium humanoids that he/she have viewed or researched thoroughly. This, I think, will fit in with idea of a doppleganger. I do agree though that errata is in order as the current explanation is a way too vague.

 

[Mort_Q]

As it stands, the only Doppelganger we've seen in the NPC version.

When we get a full playable Doppelganger race write-up, either online, or in the 4ECS, I'm confident that they'll spell things out a little better.

Until then, common sense should suffice.

 

[The Little Raven]

What does and what should change shape encompass.

It allows the doppelganger to look like any Medium humanoid, with no change to anything else at all.

 

[kennew142]

What's the problem?

A doppleganger doesn't become insubstantial or gain any other powers of its new form when it changes shape. If it changed to a ghost, it would look like a ghost but would be quite solid (giving it away). If it changed into a zombie, it would still breath (probably giving it away). If it changed into a legless angel, it would have no means of movement.

Why is this a problem?

 

[Terwox]

I have a PC playing a doppleganger in my 4E game now. No rules about research or anything.

 

[Mort_Q]

I have a PC playing a doppleganger in my 4E game now. No rules about research or anything.

Are you suggesting that that's a good thing or a bad thing or what?