Rival doppelganger race

[tomokaicho]

Here is a rival doppelganger race for Ravenloft or elsewhere. Blood on the streets of Paridon! Via the Enworld conversions thread.

Doppleganger, Uran
Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d8+5 (27 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+7
Attack: Slam +7 melee (1d6+3)
Full Attack: Slam +7 melee (1d6+3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Detect thoughts, mimic equipment
Special Qualities: Alternate form, change shape, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to sleep and charm effects
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +7
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +12*, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +12* (+14 acting), Intimidate +6, Listen +8, Sense Motive +8, Sleight of Hand +5, Spot +8
Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Feint
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, pair, or gang (3–12)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +6

This gaunt, gangly humanoid has a featureless face, grey skin, and bulbous eyes.

Uran doppelganger are a stronger and more cunning variety of doppelganger. Their powers of mimicry are superior to a normal dopplegangers, allowing them to mimic the physical abilities and mundane equipment of another creature, not just its appearance. Once an uran mimics a creature's form it can assume that form whenever it desires.

An uran doppelganger's habits are no different from other doppelgangers. They prefer the comfortable existence of urban life, where they can steal victims' identities with less chance of discovery. Common doppelgangers hold urans in great esteem, considering them closer to the revered form of the ultimate shapechanger.

In its natural form a uran doppelganger is identical to a common doppelganger. It stands about 5½ feet tall and weighs about 150 pounds.

Uran doppelgangers speak Common. Most speak several humanoid languages as bonus languages (see Urans as Characters, below).

COMBAT

An uran doppelganger usually fights like whatever creature it is currently mimicking. In its natural form, it strikes with its powerful fists. A hard-pressed uran doppelganger will assume whatever form in its repertoire is most suitable for fight or flight, usually either a heavily armed and armored humanoid warrior or a fleet-footed youth. If the uran has survived an encounter with a powerful monster (such as an ogre, annis hag or gargoyle), it is likely to have learned that monster's form to use in combat.

Alternate Form (Su): A uran doppleganger can assume the form of any Small, Medium or Large giant, humanoid or monstrous humanoid it touches. Uran dopplegangers using Alternate Form can also mimic any equipment their target is carrying (see Mimic Equipment, below). If used in combat, this special ability requires a successful touch attack which does not provoke an attack of opportunity. An uran doppleganger can remember the form of anyone it has previously duplicated, and recall that alternate form at will.

Change Shape (Su): A uran doppelganger can assume the shape of any Small, Medium or Large giant, humanoid or monstrous humanoid.

Detect Thoughts (Su): A uran doppelganger can continuously use detect thoughts as the spell (caster level 18th; Will DC 14 negates). It can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Mimic Equipment (Su): A uran doppelganger can mimic organic materials and ordinary stone and metals, but not alchemical compounds or rare metals such as adamantine or mithral. Metal or stone "imitations" last 20 minutes after separation from the doppleganger before disintegrating into powder, while organic objects last 3 hours. A uran doppelganger can only mimic ordinary workmanship, not masterwork or magical items. It can only mimic equipment totaling 20% of its body weight at a given time.

Skills: A uran doppelganger has a +4 racial bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks.

*When using its alternate form ability, a uran doppelganger gets an additional +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks. If it can read an opponent’s mind, it gets a further +4 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks.

Uran Doppelgangers As Characters
Uran doppelganger characters possess the following racial traits.
+4 Strength, +4 , Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +4 Intelligence, +6 Wisdom, +4 Charisma.
Medium size.
An uran doppelganger’s base land speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: Uran doppelgangers can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Racial Hit Dice: An uran doppelganger begins with five levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 5d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +5, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +4, and Will +4.
Racial Skills: An uran doppelganger’s monstrous humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 8 x (2 + Int modifier). Its class skills are Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, Intimidate, Listen, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, and Spot.
Racial Feats: An uran doppelganger’s monstrous humanoid levels give it two feats.
+4 natural armor bonus.
+4 racial bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks. When using its change shape ability, a doppelganger gets an additional +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks. If it can read an opponent’s mind, it gets a further +4 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks.
Special Attacks (see above): Detect thoughts, mimic equipment.
Special Qualities (see above): Alternate form, change shape, immunity to sleep and charm effects.
Automatic Languages: Common. Bonus Languages: Auran, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Giant, Terran.
Favored Class: Rogue.
Level adjustment +6.

Originally appeared in Polyhedron #72 (1992).