Need Changeling Clarification

[Ashlen]

I'm new to the Eberron Campaign and I plan on playing a Changeling, but I had a question that I needed answered.

Changelings can only change their bodies right, not their clothing? Seems like they can't in the book, but my friend keeps telling they can which makes no sense to me. Can someone clarify the situation?

Thank you.

 

[Bront]

Here's the confusion.

Disguise Self
Illusion (Glamer)
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1, Trickery 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
You make yourself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to you. You could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person.
The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile (touch) or audible (sound) properties of you or your equipment.
If you use this spell to create a disguise, you get a +10 bonus on the Disguise check.
A creature that interacts with the glamer gets a Will save to recognize it as an illusion.

The changeling's ability is disguise self, but it is described as being only on their body (I believe it specificly says it does NOT effect clothing). However, it's more than that too, since a changeling has no sex of any kind and can change into a fully functional male or female.

Interestingly, there are penalties to disguise for simulating a different race (Probably applies), sex (Shouldn't apply from the races description), and age catigory (Again, shouldn't apply due to their description, but iffy). There are also some bonuses to see through a disguise that apply that perhaps shouldn't otherwise apply vs a changeling, but it's strange.

The moral of the story, all changelings need a hat of disguise.

 

[Glyfair]

The moral of the story, all changelings need a hat of disguise.

Indeed, there are several magic items that play up to this limitation. Sharn has an magic outfit that is actually several "preprogrammed" outfits and can be changed at will. Races of Eberron has some sort of special clothing, too.

 

[Bront]

A clever changeling can set up clothing with things like pulldown or reversable sleaves, straps, ect, and have a few accessories for a quick change, but magical solutions are much more fun.

 

[Horizon]

To quote the exact text from the Eberron Campaign Setting: "Minor Change Shape (Su): Changelings have the supernatural ability to alter their appearance as though using a Disguise Self spell that affects their bodies but not their posessions."

So it's right there in the race description.

 

[Staffan]

The changeling's ability is disguise self, but it is described as being only on their body (I believe it specificly says it does NOT effect clothing). However, it's more than that too, since a changeling has no sex of any kind and can change into a fully functional male or female.

Changelings do have a natural sex, but they can change it pretty easily.

 

[Bront]

Changelings do have a natural sex, but they can change it pretty easily.

Nope, read races of Eberron. Also note that there is no sex listed in the height/weight chart. They are fully reproductively functional as either sex though with their shapechange.

 

[Timeboxer]

Nope, read races of Eberron.

"Unlike doppelgangers, which are entirely genderless, a changeling does have a default gender that manifests in adolescence, but each changeling can adapt his or her form to be of either gender, hermaphroditic (both genders simultaneously), or entirely genderless." (Races of Eberron 45)

Note that RoE conflates gender (mental sex) with sex (physical sex) here -- a changeling does have a natural physical sex, but mental gender identity may or may not naturally arise. Warforged have no physical sex at all, but, like, changelings, may or may not have a mental gender identity, which can arise naturally or be adopted.

 

[Bront]

Ahh, I must have misinterpreted that the first time I read it. Thanks for the clairification (I don't have my books with me at the moment).