If it looks like a Wookiee...

By Saseav, in Game Masters

does it hit like one?

Let me expand a bit, I'm planning an adventure where the players might have to track down a changeling of sorts. So i'm curious, if they fight what looks like a wookiee, would it hit like a wookiee or would the changeling's base stats/skills take precedence?

I'd say the changeling's base stats/skills would take precendece.

Now, depending on how adapt a shapeshifter this changeling is, they could be able to shift their stats as well as apperance, sort of like how Martian Manhunter can shift into incredibly strong froms in the comics. I think there's a species called the Shi'do that were such adept shapeshifters, but they're allegedly very rare in the setting.

But if it's a changeling on par with Zam Wessell, then again they'd use their base stats & skills, not those of the species they made themselves look like.

alright, thanks!

It's probably too late being ten days after you posted but I only half agree with DM on this. I would say go with changing their Attributes based on the species base. So if your Changeling has a base Brawn of 2 give them +1 Brawn (the base of a Wookiee is 3) to whatever their current number is, but also reduce their other stats accordingly (-1 to Willpower). If there is no difference, say their base Brawn is already 3 then don't add anything, the same would go for Willpower. Basically just re-stat the character using the species base.

I'd also require a Strain cost for maintaining the new form when under stress, so maybe double the Strain loss of Threat rolls. I'd also add and reduce the Would threshold accordingly, which could lead to difficulty for the changeling if they revert to their natural shape and end up at zero wounds...

My reasons are that unless the changeling can take on the Attributes of the other species there's really no point to this trait. The limits and drawback to this ability would be that they have to stay within the silhouette for mass, so no Rancor, and a Strain cost to maintain the new form and the problems if wounded.

Edited by FuriousGreg

My thoughts go to Rulan Prolik, the shapeshifter in KotOR. He fought as a Terentatek, Jolee Bindo, and a tach. Each time he had the "stats" comparable to those characters.

I agree that it would likely depend on the species, and possibly the skills, of the individual shapeshifter, but there are probably many different species in the Star Wars universe that can imitate other life forms.

Better question would be this: what would be more interesting to your story; a Wookiee that somehow hits like a 12-year-old girl, or a changeling that can imitate a target physiology with surprising accuracy?

My thoughts go to Rulan Prolik, the shapeshifter in KotOR. He fought as a Terentatek, Jolee Bindo, and a tach. Each time he had the "stats" comparable to those characters.

I agree that it would likely depend on the species, and possibly the skills, of the individual shapeshifter, but there are probably many different species in the Star Wars universe that can imitate other life forms.

Better question would be this: what would be more interesting to your story; a Wookiee that somehow hits like a 12-year-old girl, or a changeling that can imitate a target physiology with surprising accuracy?

The reason I would go with how I proposed (keeping the NPC/PCs normal Attribute but adjusting them based on the racial base is so there is some mechanical affect to the power, and not just to Deception. Besides if the changeling morphs into a a creature a 60kg larger they are naturally going to get some kind of physical bonus.