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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Loonook" data-source="post: 4061469" data-attributes="member: 1861">Good Gaming Supplement: Doppelgangers: An Introduction to a Possible Societal Structure.As those of you who have read the previous post noted, I am going to try returning to the Bread and Butter of this series (i.e. that which was stated as such in the Original Post) and veer away from previous discussions to present a single exhaustive discussion of a topic.  In this supplemental I’ll be dealing with an issue which is ill-discussed in most materials.  These questions will mainly focus on Doppelgangers, but will also branch other shapeshifting species where possible.  One of the questions which I have never found a satisfactory answer to in D&D past or present has to do with the origin of the Doppelganger.  While so many probably use these creatures in a sort of shapeshifter’s rogue’s gallery, I find the Doppelganger to be one of the more interesting aspects of fantasy literature, and their portrayal in D&D makes them fantastic for use in many different ways.  However, I have always wondered exactly where and why these creatures came into being.  Discussions of the nature of shape-shifting myths and creatures beside, my gaming groups have come up with three possible methods for the D&D doppelganger’s existence:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> The Juin Hypothesis.  In this concept, Doppelgangers are merely the expression of a larger communal force.  These forces, named after the origin creature in a communal setting in which I’ve run several groups, are ‘living, breathing’ cities or structures.  Forces have come about, be they magical, divine, infernal, or generally fluctuating and chaotic, and created a living entity which can separate itself into smaller pieces.  I have seen the Juin hypothesis explored most often in the circles I deal with personally; the citystate of Primdeka (First Spirit) in my own setting is built around a single zeitgeist spirit (for whom I have used the creature of same name from <a href="http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=54288" target="_blank">Cityscape [p. 138]</a> since picking up the book).  A player of mine had the doppelganger race be the magnum opus for a cabal of mages who were obsessed with change, and had found an artifact which allowed them to fuse together and create an Ur-entity, bound to the sphere but able to send out Servitors. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> The Otherworldly Hypothesis.  Probably the most common amongst those who deal with the little grey-headed beasties, the Otherworldly hypothesis has them coming from another plane or form of existence, or perhaps an isolated location where such creatures have a chance to exist.  This is my favored form for dealing with Changelings and their ilk, along with my favorite for Modern.  This is a great example of ‘if it ain’t broke . . .’.  However, there should be some thought as to where even these out-of-order creatures have spawned from. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> The Agents of Chaos/Divine/Infernal Hypothesis:  The other common thread, where shapeshifters come not from some strange place, but through the workings of the forces of the Outside.  The concept of angelic shapeshifters, demonic form-changers, and similar are so common in mythology as to prove this a moot discussion; you’ve seen this one before.   Created from pure chaos (or the force of a god of change or chaos), doppelgangers of this ilk are interesting . . . but ignore the fact that many of the beasties alleged creators go against the race’s overall leanings towards Neutrality. </li> </ul>This is by no means an exhaustive list; however, being as I am exhausted at this point, I feel that it is succinct and settled enough as to prove useful for a springboard.  If you have any other specifics you want to look at, be my guest; the Reader’s Thread is also located on these forums to post your issues with this.Next article, we will deal with Dopplegangers, shapeshifters, and the Juin hypothesis.  Until then…Good Gaming,Slainte,-Loonook.</blockquote>

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