Changeling Drow or both? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Changeling Drow or both? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Robo_Mafia_Latte
12-24-05, 08:02 PM i cant choose between being a changeling drow or playing a campaigne(cant spell) using two characters (only 3-4 people play with me)
^Graff_EpsilonIX
12-24-05, 08:23 PM Go for the one character approach, it'd be easier to RP that way, unless you want the challenge.
Robo_Mafia_Latte
12-24-05, 09:16 PM That wasn't the BIG problem
a_psh
12-24-05, 10:22 PM Define "changeling".

Because if you mean changeling the D&D race, then the question doesn't make very much sense as stated.

Canonically, a changeling is the a crossbreed between doppelganger and human, akin to a half-elf (though with different rules for passing the trait on, potentially). Now, one could expand it to be a crossbreed between doppelganger and any humanoid. However, for a changeling, that doesn't really matter: since they can freely change form and their base appearance is very indistinct and blobby, what would a "changeling drow" be? Would the apperance or stats differ from those of a regular changeling at all? How would this character be any different or any more interesting than a changeling?

Also, remember: we're talking about the drow here. An Eberron drow breeding with a doppelganger or changeling is so unlikely that, well, it would honestly make for a pretty bad Eberron character history, one of those "one-in-a-billion silly cross-culture mutt" kind of things. If we're talking about Faerunian drow or Oerthly drow, then there's a bigger issue: drow culture effectively teaches that non-drow are slaves to be dominated (or, at the very best, tools to be taken advantage of). Thus, a shapeshifter (regardless of whether it's got drow blood in it or not) is just a spy or assassin, a powerful tool to use against one's rivals - but nothing more; it is still a servant, and one useful enough to be kept on a very short leash.

Or do you mean a changeling who just pretends to be a drow? (What's the point of that?)
allenchan
12-24-05, 10:58 PM a psh answered as best as anyone can given the status of your post. Please restructure your question in a more readable, intelligent fashion as we can provide you with further insight. :)
Jaime_Wolf
12-25-05, 01:22 AM Okay, I'd assume that question is simply lacking comma usage, in other words the question is "Should I play a changeling, drow, or both?"

I'm very much against playing two characters at once, what happens when they have to interact with each other? Basically any interaction is pointless since they'll either "happen to agree" or will have an argument planned entirely by you. So you're left with lame interaction between the two or no interaction between the two, which is just as strange.

As for which race, I can't answer that. I know that in most worlds drow don't get along so well with other races (party problems) and good drow are just so incredibly, disgustingly overdone that you should shy away from that at all costs. So, unless drow are different in your campaign, I'd go with changeling. If you're playing Eberron don't even TRY being a drow (it even suggests that drow do not make good player characters in the Eberron handbook).
a_psh
12-25-05, 02:15 AM Okay, I'd assume that question is simply lacking comma usage, in other words the question is "Should I play a changeling, drow, or both?"Ah! In that case: changeling.

In addition to the "old hat" factor, drow are LA +2. Unless you're playing a game where every single character is a drow, this hurts. You're just inherently more fragile than your fellow party members (particularly when you add the racial Con penalty).

The changeling, meanwhile, is a very cool race that adds a certain roguish charm to any class you select. The race easily fits a broad range of character personalities, from serious to easy-going. Also, it's LA +0, which makes it actually playable in pretty much any circumstances.

PSA time: Punctuation is your friend. It adds meaning.
IceFractal
12-27-05, 03:42 AM Plus, the Cabinet Trickster class, only available to Changelings, is very fun. Combine it with Mindspy, and you're a non-spellcaster telepath, something normally impossible. Or if you're going the melee route - Warshaper. Very unusual, very effective.

Also, the fact that the Changeling's limited shapeshifting is an actual physical change rather than an illusion is very useful:
* You can go spying without much fear of detection.
* You can Alter Self or Polymorph into something fairly humanoid but bizarre, and then resume a normal-looking appearance with your shapeshifting, while still keeping all the form's abilities.

Plus, if you're a Changeling, you can always pose as a Drow - the reverse is somewhat harder.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Robo_Mafia_Latte 12-24-05, 08:02 PM	i cant choose between being a changeling drow or playing a campaigne(cant spell) using two characters (only 3-4 people play with me)
^Graff_EpsilonIX 12-24-05, 08:23 PM	Go for the one character approach, it'd be easier to RP that way, unless you want the challenge.
Robo_Mafia_Latte 12-24-05, 09:16 PM	That wasn't the BIG problem
a_psh 12-24-05, 10:22 PM	Define "changeling". Because if you mean changeling the D&D race, then the question doesn't make very much sense as stated. Canonically, a changeling is the a crossbreed between doppelganger and human, akin to a half-elf (though with different rules for passing the trait on, potentially). Now, one could expand it to be a crossbreed between doppelganger and any humanoid. However, for a changeling, that doesn't really matter: since they can freely change form and their base appearance is very indistinct and blobby, what would a "changeling drow" be? Would the apperance or stats differ from those of a regular changeling at all? How would this character be any different or any more interesting than a changeling? Also, remember: we're talking about the drow here. An Eberron drow breeding with a doppelganger or changeling is so unlikely that, well, it would honestly make for a pretty bad Eberron character history, one of those "one-in-a-billion silly cross-culture mutt" kind of things. If we're talking about Faerunian drow or Oerthly drow, then there's a bigger issue: drow culture effectively teaches that non-drow are slaves to be dominated (or, at the very best, tools to be taken advantage of). Thus, a shapeshifter (regardless of whether it's got drow blood in it or not) is just a spy or assassin, a powerful tool to use against one's rivals - but nothing more; it is still a servant, and one useful enough to be kept on a very short leash. Or do you mean a changeling who just pretends to be a drow? (What's the point of that?)
allenchan 12-24-05, 10:58 PM	a psh answered as best as anyone can given the status of your post. Please restructure your question in a more readable, intelligent fashion as we can provide you with further insight. :)
Jaime_Wolf 12-25-05, 01:22 AM	Okay, I'd assume that question is simply lacking comma usage, in other words the question is "Should I play a changeling, drow, or both?" I'm very much against playing two characters at once, what happens when they have to interact with each other? Basically any interaction is pointless since they'll either "happen to agree" or will have an argument planned entirely by you. So you're left with lame interaction between the two or no interaction between the two, which is just as strange. As for which race, I can't answer that. I know that in most worlds drow don't get along so well with other races (party problems) and good drow are just so incredibly, disgustingly overdone that you should shy away from that at all costs. So, unless drow are different in your campaign, I'd go with changeling. If you're playing Eberron don't even TRY being a drow (it even suggests that drow do not make good player characters in the Eberron handbook).
a_psh 12-25-05, 02:15 AM	Okay, I'd assume that question is simply lacking comma usage, in other words the question is "Should I play a changeling, drow, or both?"Ah! In that case: changeling. In addition to the "old hat" factor, drow are LA +2. Unless you're playing a game where every single character is a drow, this hurts. You're just inherently more fragile than your fellow party members (particularly when you add the racial Con penalty). The changeling, meanwhile, is a very cool race that adds a certain roguish charm to any class you select. The race easily fits a broad range of character personalities, from serious to easy-going. Also, it's LA +0, which makes it actually playable in pretty much any circumstances. PSA time: Punctuation is your friend. It adds meaning.
IceFractal 12-27-05, 03:42 AM	Plus, the Cabinet Trickster class, only available to Changelings, is very fun. Combine it with Mindspy, and you're a non-spellcaster telepath, something normally impossible. Or if you're going the melee route - Warshaper. Very unusual, very effective. Also, the fact that the Changeling's limited shapeshifting is an actual physical change rather than an illusion is very useful: * You can go spying without much fear of detection. * You can Alter Self or Polymorph into something fairly humanoid but bizarre, and then resume a normal-looking appearance with your shapeshifting, while still keeping all the form's abilities. Plus, if you're a Changeling, you can always pose as a Drow - the reverse is somewhat harder.