'Change Shape' Races

[sukael]

I've been working on a character concept for a bit, a doppelganger ex-monk/warshaper. However, the +4 LA is a bit hefty for the campaign I'm making it for*. So, my question is--are there any other D&D races that have something similar to the doppelganger's change shape** without a bunch of other abilities***?

* Especially as the detect thoughts ability would get a bit cumbersome to use, since I'm aiming to put the character in an play-by-post, mostly PC online game.
** So as to imitate most humanoids.
*** Like, say, the spellcasting abilities of the rakshasha.

 

[Severion]

D20 Modern has the "Malleable" template, that could be used as a start. Or you could just make something up that has a natural camo ability related to the "Change self" spell for a +1or2 LA.

 

[Michael Tree]

The Fey'ri from the Forgotten Realms is a +2 ECL race with the change shape ability. It's basically a planetouched elf with demon blood, giving it wings, a few minor spell-like abilities, and Change Shape.

They're in Monsters of Faerun and Races of Faerun. IIRC, their stats are also in the 3.5 update web enhacement to the Forgotten Realms books, but I don't think it has all the details.

 

[Humanophile]

There's a half-doppleganger in Dragon 313. Only three alternate forms, though, and it has an at-will empathy ability that may be a bit clunky still. For a +2 LA, no base hit dice.

Alternately, if you can wait patiently for Eberron, or cajole stats from someone who actually has the book, I remember hearing that they have a doppleganger-based race that's right up your alley; shapeshifting without the continual Detect Thoughts clunkiness that can be funny in player hands. Probably +0 or +1 LA at most, too. But you'll have to wait a bit on that.

 

[ARandomGod]

The Fey'ri from the Forgotten Realms is a +2 ECL race with the change shape ability. It's basically a planetouched elf with demon blood, giving it wings, a few minor spell-like abilities, and Change Shape.

They're in Monsters of Faerun and Races of Faerun. IIRC, their stats are also in the 3.5 update web enhacement to the Forgotten Realms books, but I don't think it has all the details.

And wings (flight) is usually +1 ECL by itself. Take that away and it sounds like a nice +1 ECL creature to start with.