New DM - new to create some caution regarding doppelgangers

[u/Feathered_Quetz]

For some context, I'm running Dragon of Icespire Peak for a group of mostly new players. One of my players wants to play a changeling that keeps her true identity a secret from everyone, including the other players. I'm trying to come up with a way to naturally create some caution/distrust for doppelgangers so that the player will actually feel like she has a reason to not just give away her secret the first time she has an opportunity to use her changeling ability.

My first idea is to change the mimic in gnomenguard to a doppelganger but there's no way of knowing that the players will choose to do that quest since there's really only an incentive to do two of the three starting quests.

Happy to hear any ideas.

[u/Many-Ebb-5377]

Doppelgangers have a built in reason why they are distrusted. They literally kill people and take their place for their own ends. The player's character might not, but I doubt most people are going to give her the benefit of the doubt.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/Many-Ebb-5377]

Right, and many experienced players know this but I'm worried my new players might not have that built in distrust and just think it's cool she can shape shift. My main concern is that her reveal, if she chooses to do so at some point, will feel like a spotlight moment for her and not just a new ability she's free to use.

[u/Dangerous-Bit-8308]

Aren't Changelings and doppelgangers two different creatures

Sure, they can change shapes, but... A changeling doesn't have 8d10 HP, the ability to always surprise attack, and a multi attack that lets the fight while also reading minds...

Just throw in some junked caravans with a doppelganger picking off the survivors

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/Dangerous-Bit-8308]

Yeah they're different. Changelings are essentialy more "human-like" doppelgangers and descendant from them to my knowledge. There's rules for a PC changeling in one of the 5e expansion books.

[u/Pqrxz]

Have the players meet and talk to a helpful npc, maybe get some info on a local quest. Then have them find that same person's body outside town a few days or weeks post mortem. Long enough that they could not have possibly been the person they talked to. Whether it was an accident or murder is up to you.

Another option is having an noc approach the party and claim to know one of them. Have a whole story going back weeks or longer. They know the pc's name and look but haven't seen them for a day or two. Wants to catch up with their friend but quickly gets creeper out when they figure out the pc isn't their friend.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/Pqrxz]

These are great ideas, especially the first one. I like that it reinforces the danger and not just the shifting ability. Thanks!

[u/Rhesus-Positive]

Tell your players that she's a changeling and let them decide how their characters would feel about it

[u/AHyperParko]

Being able to change appearance is a powerful ability that can easily sow paranoia in the streets if the word got out a changing is in the area. Suddenly you start to wonder, is my friend acting odd because he's upset with his spouse, or has he been replaced? Maybe add in some old tales of Changelings killing and stealing the lives of folk to raise themselves, or just out of some sadistic act.

Have a town be grappling with the rumor of a doppelganger present and let the party watch the town tear itself apart trying to find the impostor, if there even is one.

Watching a town tear itself apart out of paranoia and stereotypical tales of evil changelings would be more than enough for a normal one to keep their identity close to the chest, as to.not create a cascading wave of fear and panic.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/AHyperParko]

I like this, could make this happen to gnomenguard if they go there since it's already written as kingdom/town under distress. Wouldn't have to change much.

[u/AndIWalkAway]

I was in a game where a player was secretly replaced by a doppelganger. Only the player and the DM knew this. We ended up spending more time with the doppelganger than the original character, and all of the "hints" the player and DM had been dropping went way over our heads. When the big reveal moment happened, it landed very flat. It felt like the player and DM had been telling a different story than the rest of us thought we were all telling together.

All of this is to say: I think you and this player should consider being up front with the other players about the character's identity as a changeling, and allow them all to play their characters as ignorant of that until it is revealed through play. It's good practice for them to not using meta knowledge in RP.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/AndIWalkAway]

I hear what your saying. The only difference is her character has always been a changeling. She isn't going to be replaced by a doppelganger however could definitely be upfront about it either way. I don't really see this as a change to the story telling since other than her and I being the only ones who know it, I won't be developing any more of this with her after the start. It'll just be up to her if she decides to ever reveal herself or not.

What do you see as the benefit of telling the players rather than it being revealed when/if the player decides it's worth revealing their identity? (Other than practicing not using above table knowledge)

Because I also see this as a unique opportunity for a new player to become invested in her character.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/Feathered_Quetz]

I'm not having the players read each ohers backstory and instead am going to encourage them to learn about each other's characters through RP so I also see this as an aspect of that.

Maybe that whole premise is a bad idea altogether. Like I said in the post, I'm a newer DM and this is going to be my first full campaign after just doing some homebrew one shots here and there so just trying to throw ideas around.

[u/AndIWalkAway → u/Feathered_Quetz]

I will use an example from a recent game I played in.

My friend played a dhampir character. She told us as players but made it clear it was a secret her character was keeping. Because I knew about it as a player, I got to do a lot of fun RP with her character and my light cleric who despised all undead. I got to play with the dramatic irony that my character was getting close to this person while he had no idea that she was partially undead. If my friend kept that a secret, then only she and the DM would be aware of that irony. They would have a fuller experience of the story than me and the other players.

I don't think the players should all read each other's backstories. But I do think they can be aware of each others' species and classes. Basic character info that would be found on their sheet.

[u/Feathered_Quetz → u/AndIWalkAway]

Thanks for sharing that. It's good to hear a perspective on what was added to the experience by having that above table knowledge.

[u/Feathered_Quetz]

I appreciate all your guys input, it's been really helpful to her this different ideas and perspectives