D&D 5E Doppelganger question

[CTurbo]

If a Doppelganger kidnaps a Wizard, assumes it's form, and has it's spellbook, can it cast the wizard's spells?

I'm thinking no, but figured I would ask anyway.

 

[Kobold Stew]

No. The change is one of externals, not anything essential. You don't get the person your omitting's memories, knowledge, skills -- it's appearance.

 

[Tony Vargas]

I'm thinking no, but figured I would ask anyway.

You're thinking right...
...unless it happens to be a wizard, too...

 

[Tormyr]

There have historically been some cases of "greater doppelgangers" in earlier editions that were able to take on the abilities of those they duplicated after they ate their victim's brains. Nom. Nom. Nom.

 

[Ilbranteloth]

There has historically been some cases of "greater doppelgangers" that were able to take on the abilities of those they duplicated.

Yep, in Monsters of Faerun in 3.x, but it goes back at least to 2e.

 

[gyor]

There have historically been some cases of "greater doppelgangers" in earlier editions that were able to take on the abilities of those they duplicated after they ate their victim's brains. Nom. Nom. Nom.

The higher level cleric spells were an exception to this if I remember correctly. Lower level spell didn't require divine intervention, but higher level divine spells did so Greater Doppelgangers couldn't dupilicate them.

In 3/3.5e there was the Chameleon prestiage class that Doppelgangers, humans, and Changelings could join, and the 4e Changeling Paragon Path only version of Chameleon.