Changeling - Does it have shapechange ability at all?

[Adriel Naur]

Ok this may seem a dumb question and probably it is.

But I'm trying to make a changelling PC just because I think will be funny to play a shapechanger. I had the "crazy" idea? That a changeling can change his appeareance at-will to resemble another medium creature female or male. But I checked in Advanced Race (184) and Bestiary and by raw I dont see much about this topic.

Adv Race says this is a humanoid with changeling subtype. I don't see a changeling subtype in the bestiary so I asume it refers to shapechanger subtype. Is this correct? If it is correct, can she impersonate any medium creature? what kind of action is that standard, move? does it take more time 1 minute? Do she has to make a disguise o a bluff check if someone is suspicious? Do she has any kind of bonus to this check?

You see I am full of questions, Its just that I am going to be player this time and I'll like to get this clear so my DM don't need to spend time on this.

thanks in advance!

[RumpinRufus]

Changelings are not shapeshifters. The word "changeling" originally referred to when a malevolent fairy or other creature swaps a human baby with their own offspring. This is the type of "Changeling" that appears in Pathfinder.

edit: but would a Hat of Disguise fit the goal for your character?

[Arcturus24]

I think the PF Changeling is more the switched-child Changeling than the shapechanging one. I'm not a native speaker, so I don't know how prevalent that meaning is in everyday english, but I do recall a movie called The Changeling about an abducted child that was found again, except it wasn't te child according to the mother.

In addition, I'm pretty familiar with the rules, and I've never seen a shape-changing changeling show up on any guide or messageboard thread ;)

Anyway, hope this helped clearing it up!

[LazarX]

This is not the Eberron Changeling, the name comes from the more traditional use in midieval mythology, a strange child growing up as a Human with a hidden heritage.

Your confusion is because you're thinking of a different race from another game company with the same name.

[Claxon]

Yeah, RumpinRufus seems to be on the right track.

Quote:

Changelings are the offspring of hags and their lovers taken through magic or madness. Dropped off on doorsteps of prospective foster parents, changelings are raised by strangers. Typically tall, slender, dark haired, and attractive, changelings otherwise resemble their fathers' race. They are always female, and their mismatched colored eyes and abnormally pale skin hint at their true heritage. At puberty, changelings receive "the call," a hypnotic spiritual voice that beckons them to travel and discover their true origins. Changelings who ignore this call choose their own destiny; those who heed it discover their "mother" and may come into great power by transforming into hags themselves.

Changelings aren't shapeshifters at all.

The changeling subtype is like being the elf or human substype. It basically just says you are a humanoid of *insert race here*. For another example, half elfs are humanoids with both elf and human subtypes. It does not refer to shapechanger subtype at all.

Chnagelings can impoeronate any other creature that they would like to, but not as a racial ability. It would be done using the disguise skill or done with magic.

[Adriel Naur]

Ok, thanks all. I've got the Eberron changeling concept so I was confused.

Thanks for the quick answer!!