Changelings in The PHB? (Vote)

[BryonD]

Unlike waforged, whose 3e form will never see my table, I'd be quite willing to allow a player to run a changeling, if they asked.
But putting them in the PH would suck.

I'm all for home brewing and custom campaigns. I do it myself constantly.
But WotC stuff and most all 3rd party stuff will need to assume certain defaults. And among those defaults is that the PH races are in play and are to some degree common. The idea that changelings are common ends up sucking the life out of espionage type elements of the game. It isn't cool or special if every tenth Joe on the street can do it.

And if you put them into the PH, then everything out there will need to contend with that cliche. Having elves and dwarves typecast as a cliche personality is one thing. Having a race that is typecast to a function is completely another.

Now, leave them out of the PH and publish them quickly elsewhere(which will happen) and you can build whatever you want. If a PC is one of 12 changelings in the whole world, then that would be special. And an encounter with one of the other 11 would also be special. And humans or elves won't be forced into second fiddle choices as disguise type characters.

Fortunately for me, they won't be in the PH.

 

[Mercule]

I'd gladly add changelings to my wish list (hadn't thought of 'em before now):

• Dwarfs
• Elfs
• Giants
• Gnomes
• Goblins
• Humans
• Halflings
• Orcs
• Changelings

Strike giant (too problematic -- PCs should start at their race's normal size) and I'm down with this list.

Personally, my pet to add would be hobgoblin.

 

[BryonD]

See, I don't object to them being usable as PC races. It's just that, when something appears in the PHB, it implies a certain degree of commonality. I personally prefer tieflings (and changelings, except in Eberron) be a lot rarer than humans, elves, and dwarves.

But that's purely a personal taste issue. I won't actually object if changelings are in the PHB. I'll just tell my players, if and when it's appropriate for whatever setting I'm running, that they're a lot rarer than implied.

Exactly.

And I agree for tieflings also, but at least they are not functionally type cast. That helps some. But I still agree.

But think about it, you make them rare in your own game. Then the 4E version of complete fighter whatever comes out and there are changeling feats in the book because there are changelings in the PH. sigh.... And changeling PClasses, er... talent trees, whatever....

It would have a big ripple effect.

All in all you may as well ask "Should WotC go out of their way to alienate people?" as ask "Should WotC put Changelings in the PH?". Everyone who wants Changelings will get them very quickly. Eberron is a fairly popular setting and they are not going to leave that part of their base hanging for long. So leaving them out of the PH will not deter anyone. Putting them in locks in baggage that will deter some people. I know something like that would distinctly influence me to not subscribe to the DDI, for example.

 

[FadedC]

I had to vote no, not because of any strong objection to changelings but because I had to think for a minute or two to even remember what they are and where they come from....and I suspect that the vast majority of the people I play with would not even know that. The tiefling at least has immediate name recognition.

I'd take them in a heartbeat over having the warforged in the PHB though.

 

[Stalker0]

I have no strong feelings about changelings, wouldn't mind them seeing them in the book but wouldn't cry if they weren't.

What I do like about changelings is there generic enough to be included. The shapeshifter archetype is strong enough that people like it, and the racial abilities aren't so specialized you can't use the race for multiple classes.

I mean, if we can have the half-orc as a race, why not the changeling?

 

[Perun]

I really like changelings -- in fact I like all Eberron races, but I believe changelings and shifters would be the easiest to incorporate in other settings (since doppelgangers and lycanthropes are, by default, present in most settings).

However, unless shifters are drastically changed -- that is, unless their racial benefits are (preferably entirely) divorced from the feat mechanic -- I really don't see them in the PH1. In such case, the only logical choice for an Eberron race that is to be included in the PH1 is the changeling.

Having said that, I'll side with the advocates of the "only core races in the PH1" cause. While I love the choice the new races present, I believe that "core" (any by that I mean the first set of books -- PH1, DMG1, MM1) should present the base races, those that have been the staple of D&D fantasy for a long while. Tieflings, changelings, warforged, etc. really should be presented in the PH2. I make a notable exception of the eladrin (if they are going to be included in the PH1) they should be in the PH1, serving as a nail in the subraces' proverbial coffin (provided they're the grey elves gone separate race, of course).

Regards.

 

[FireLance]

I don't mind changelings, but I think that an inexperienced DM will have a hard time managing a changeling PC, especially in the hands of a creative player. The changeling's signature ability to assume the likeness of other humanoids has the potential to be too useful in certain scenarios (such as those involving infiltration and investigation) and irrelevant in others (such as combat). If the DM is unable to strike a good balance, the changeling PC either gets too much spotlight time, or doesn't get the chance to use his signature ability often enough. For that reason, I don't think they should not be in the (first) PH.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Voted no, as I find them rather boring.

 

[Flynn]

I voted "No" because Changelings are not a classic character race option in general fantasy gaming. Most fantasy games do not have a shapeshifter as a character race option, and I don't want to add them to my games. However, I understand that it is only my opinion and YMMV.

I guess if they end up in the book, I can always House Rule them out of the game, just like I frequently did with Gnomes in previous editions.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[Li Shenron]

I think shapechanging is just too good for a common race, and one that starts at 1st level.

Even without any combat benefit, there are way too many situations where it gives a huge advantage around the story.