D&D 4E Alter Self/Polymorph Magic in 4E?

[Lhorgrim]

I'm looking to have my BBEG appear as an attractive young forester type, but actually be either a powerful spellcaster or a creature capable of shapeshifting.

I know the Succubus has this ability, but if I go with spellcaster is there an option to allow for the shape change?

Disguise Self is a Wizard Utility6 daily, and it only lasts an hour. Am I missing a better solution somewhere?

Please point me in the right direction if you can.

 

[DracoSuave]

It's easy. Say 'This monster has the ability to disguise its appearance.' Make it a power. Go out for dinner.

 

[BendBars/LiftGates]

Don't forget Lamias and hags. Those are two off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are others. There's a definite theme of "hawt babes turn into evil non-babes" with the occasional (succubus) variant of "hawt babes turn into evil babes."

 

[Lacyon]

You could generate a Doppelganger Wizard (use the race info from the back of the MM and NPC rules in the DMG) if you want it to be mostly "by the book".

It's perfectly kosher IMO to just give an NPC Change Shape per the monster manual glossary. You can explain it however you want - he's a half-doppelganger, half-succubus, discovered some ritual that requires human sacrifice to power, whatever (or leave it an unsolved mystery).

 

[Lhorgrim]

OK.

I'm cool with just giving the critter the ability to change shape, I just wanted to check and see if there was a way to do it without me waving the magic wand of "rule zero".

Thanks for the replies folks.

 

[PeelSeel2]

OK.

I'm cool with just giving the critter the ability to change shape, I just wanted to check and see if there was a way to do it without me waving the magic wand of "rule zero".

Thanks for the replies folks.

Rule zero no longer requires a magic wand.

 

[Tale]

It's not rule 0 to create monsters with abilities the players don't have. Monsters don't follow the same rules.

 

[DracoSuave]

In fact, it's more Rule 1. What does your monster need to accomplish its purpose for your adventure? Good. Give it -that-. Don't worry about -how- unless that -too- is part of the adventure/narrative. If it isn't important to the story, it isn't worth too much effort to suss out, just give them the ability and anything else is 'A wizard did it.'

 

[Nebulous]

It's easy. Say 'This monster has the ability to disguise its appearance.' Make it a power. Go out for dinner.

What he said. Give your bad guy any power you want (within reason).

 

[CapnZapp]

This is perhaps the biggest shift in philosophy between 4th and 3rd editions.