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{{MetaInfoBox|headerbgcolor = green|headerfontcolor = white|imagebgcolor = purple}}
{{JobPageHeader
''You are the Changeling!''
|headerbgcolor = black
|headerfontcolor = white
|stafftype = EXTRATERRESTRIAL
|imagebgcolor = #DDAADD
|img_generic = changeling.gif
|img = Changeling.png
|jobtitle = Changeling
|access = Whatever your job is
|additional = Any place you or your victims had access to
|difficulty = Hard
|superior = The Syndicate, probably
|duties = Drink people's DNA, fool people.
|guides = This is the guide
|quote = "Uh...THE HEAD OF SECURITY IS A CHANGE-" *BZZZZZRT* *CRUNCH* "Nevermind, everything's OK. Go back to work."
}}
'''Gamemode in rotation'''


So you're a Changeling. A mysterious alien creature that wants to absorb everyone's DNA. You'll be given a variety of objectives, and many abilities to complete them. Yes, you're probably going to fail, but at least you have a chance with this guide.
A changeling is a highly intelligent alien predator that is capable of altering their shape to flawlessly resemble a human. They are typically deployed in simple social groupings, although they maintain total autonomy and act individually, so long as they do not have a team objective. As a result of their expertise in infiltration, the Syndicate often hires Changelings to steal high-risk items from Nanotrasen. The Changeling hunts with its ability to synthesize deadly chemicals internally, adopt the form of its past victims, and even directly alter its form to be more suited to the task at hand.
__TOC__
==The Thing From Spaaaaaaaace!==
[[Category:Jobs]] [[Category:Antagonists]]
A changeling has boarded the station! It has had time to "familiarize" itself with the ins and outs of its primary victim's identity, and is ready to take anything it desires -- be it your equipment, your faces, or your lives!
= In Space No One Can Hear You Armblade =
If you are reading this, you are probably in a game, so I will make this brief.


You will notice that on the left hand side of your screen, there is a number in a box. This is your chemical storage. When you evolve powers, (Changeling verbs, ''Evolve'') you can only use them if your chemical storage is equal to or greater than the number next to them.
Even if a changeling has not attacked any other crew members, it is highly likely it has attacked or killed others in its infiltration.
==Ok, now what do?==
Important: Changelings can anonymously communicate with one another over a special channel by using '<nowiki/>'''say :g'''' before their speech. Use alt+click or middle mouse button to sting someone.


[[File:Changeling chemicals.png]]
First:
#Learn about your available abilities
#Use them to absorb people
#???
Your goals:
#Absorb 3-7 DNA's
#???
===[[File:choke.png]] DNA Absorption===
The goal of many changelings is to absorb 5-7 DNA strains, for some unknown and alien reason. To do this, it must take ANY human, living or dead (even thrown away bodies from cloning), and acquire their DNA. You can only have a maximum of 5 DNA strands at a time, and must transform to obtain more.


This is an example of changeling objectives
DNA can be acquired in one way:
*'''Absorbing''' the victim, which results in a gruesome husk.
Acquiring DNA via absorbing requires a grab, and a little bit of time as it stabs the victim with its appendage till it has all of the DNA drained. You need a good grip to absorb victims properly, and choking them has the added benefit of subduing your target as well. A choke hold can be attained by grabbing someone repeatedly until you're holding them by the neck, then double-clicking the KILL button that appears in your active hand in your HUD so that it is flashing red.
*Absorbing a victim will give you their DNA and let you re choose your abilities.
*Absorbing another changeling gives you about 35 extra max chemicals and 5 additional ability points in the cellular emporium.
*Victims who are husked cannot be absorbed.
*Absorbed victims '''cannot be cloned''' unless genetics uses a monkey creatively. They can still be turned into cyborgs because the brain is fine.
==="No, I'm the real one!"===
Changelings are limited, however, to how much DNA they can absorb at once! If a changeling has 5 DNAs stored and attempts to gain another, they must purge the older DNA by transforming. Eventually, any changeling will have to be a twin of someone else on the station, living or dead.
===Transforming===
The changeling can shift its appearance, making them look and sound exactly like the victim they have absorbed. This can be a massive compromise in security, especially if command staff are absorbed and the changeling is able to imitate them.


[[File:Changeling objectives example.png]]
Changelings can also, via their lesser form ability, transform into monkeys and do monkey things.


=== Float Like a Butterfly, STING Like a Bee ===
Transforming is subtle and does not give a message in chat, though an observant crewmember may notice that you're suddenly someone else entirely.
To use a sting, evolve one or use a pre-given one by clicking it in Changeling Verbs once, or, if you already have a sting selected, clicking it will retract it, another will activate a new sting. To sting someone, walk up to them and middle mouse click on them. They will now be afflicted with the affects if the sting. Some stings are: ''Extract DNA'', which lets you steal someone's DNA without killing or husking them. ''Cryosting'', which freezes people stealthily. And ''Mute Sting'', which stops the afflicted from speaking for a short time. Keep in mind that these pesky, pesky, little humans already know about your stings. it would be best to do them in crowded hallways, or areas with multiple people.
===Regeneration===
Also known as Regenerative Stasis, changelings have the ability to 'kill' themselves, and appear dead for two minutes. After this period is over, the changeling can revive at will, fully healed of all injuries and illness. Both entering stasis and leaving it cost 10 chemicals, so make sure you have at least 20 before you are slain and must activate it.


=== Extracting Genomes 101 ===
This makes them nigh-unkillable, as they can fully regenerate themselves '''even from death''' if their bodies are intact and they have enough chemicals. Spaced changelings may also be able to make it back to the station given enough time. The best way to permanently deal with a changeling is to gib it or cremate it in the chapel.
To steal people's genes, you can either be a dick by killing them, or stealthily sting them.
===Objective===
You will probably have to kill some people, you can't have two Joe Robusts walking around.
Changelings may have the following objectives, Be aware that some objectives may not show up depending on what type of Team Objective the changelings have:
:'''1. Absorb 5-7 DNA stands:''' You just need to get DNA, easiest way is to mute sting and then armblade random people in maint/near maint and then absorb them.


To kill and absorb, (easier to assume identity) crit them (or blind+mutesting and knock them out) then go somewhere safe like maintenance and grab them aggressively until you get the kill option. You have to grab aggressively by grab intent grabbing, then clicking upgrade until your hand looks like image below.
:'''1a. Extract more compatible genomes than any other Changeling.:''' Pretty self-explanatory, you can either absorb a lot of people or kill the other poor sap who gets this objective.


Kill choking.
:'''2. Assassinate/Maroon a person:''' Kill some unlucky crewmember. This can be fulfilled via normal means or through some of your various abilities.


[[File:Kill intent.png]]
:'''3. Absorb another Changeling:''' You have to kill and then absorb another changeling. Pheromone receptors can help you find fellow changelings by pointing you towards a nearby one.


Then click ''Absorb DNA'' in Changeling Verbs and wait. If someone sees you do this, mute sting and murder them too! Now you have two bodies! If you need more than 5 genomes, you have to transform. Do this by going into a locker or somewhere hidden, and click ''Transform''. Select your desired person, YOU ARE NOW THEM! It is advisable to observe how they play and mimic them or not speak at all. Your clothes and possessions will not change, so you should wear their clothes. Remember to wash the blood off said clothes.
:'''4. Steal an object:''' Steal a special or rare object from the station, you will be informed of what to steal.


:'''5a. Escape alive:''' All changelings get an escape objective, to fulfill, be on the escape shuttle or a pod when they land at Central Command.


An absorption, the mean way.
:'''5b. Escape with identity:''' In addition to escaping alive, the changeling must have transformed to the target person and wear an ID card with the target's name on it to succeed.
===Team Objective===
Changelings may have one special Team Objective that is given to all changelings in the round, these are generally too hard or impossible for one changeling to complete alone.
:'''1. Impersonate Department:''' A department is chosen '''(Security, Medical, Engineering or Science)'''. As many staff members from this department as logically possible (Based on the number of changelings in the round, the number of staff members in the department, etc.) are chosen as targets that the changelings must kill, transform into and escape as. This objective ignores the head(s) of that department. A Changeling does NOT need to personally be one of the targets to succeed. '''This objective requires 3 changelings to be chosen for a round.'''


[[File:Ling absorbtion.png]]
:'''2. Impersonate Heads:''' Like Impersonate Department, except the "department" is always the '''Heads of Staff (Captain, Head of Personnel, Head of Security, Research Director, Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer)'''. The changelings must kill, transform into and escape as the specified heads of staff. '''This objective requires 3 changelings to be chosen for a round.'''
===Going Solo or Teaming Up===
If the changelings have a Team Objective they should be treated as any other team antag, this means they are '''NOT''' allowed to betray the other changelings.
If there is no team objective then everything is on the table, from stealing an absorb target to killing another changeling.


=== DUDE WHERE'S MY BODY? ===
Make sure you know which of the above is true before you act!
You will want to hide the bodies you husk or kill. A good way to do this is by spacing them or assimilating and replacing the Chaplain and cremating them.(Or if they are braindead, rob the morgue, steal their brain, put it in a dead corpse and absorb them again for more fun!)
Do NOT forget to take their jumpsuit off. Or you could even plant your old ID on them. (As shown in the picture above.)


= BUSTED! =
Regardless of Team Objectives, changelings can share absorbed genomes via hivemind. DNA shared in this manner does <i>not count towards your personal absorption count.</i>
OK. Someone has found you out! What do you do? Assume another person. My advice is to take a hardsuit and go in a locker, ''Transform'' and just don't speak. You could also use a voice changing evolution.
==Changeling Abilities==
Another way is to frame the accuser of being a ling! Yes, the gods have granted a nifty little sting to frame people with. It's called a ''Transformation Sting'', this basically makes people turn into someone who you have absorbed. This is done by stinging them (preferably in public), they then morph into the person you select when turning on the sting exactly as a ling would. This costs 40 chemicals, so use it sparingly.
The changeling possesses other dangerous abilities, including precooked stinger abilities, which it can fire out of a crafted dart at a moment's notice! Their stored chemicals regenerate quickly at a rough set rate of one chemical per second. The default max chemicals is 125, but this is increased by 35 every time another changeling is absorbed.
If you are in crit, do not worry! Just click ''Regenerative Stasis'' under Changeling Verbs and it will begin the stasis preparation. Wait until you see a message stating "We are ready to regenerate." Then click the new option in Changeling Verbs, ''Regenerate'', and you will instantly be healed. (Doing this in front of borgs is a bad idea).


Changelings start with 10 evolution points. The cost of abilities (if applicable) is listed in parentheses after their entry. By husking a lifeform, a changeling gains the ability to reset their learned abilities and choose new ones, adapting to situations as they arise. This will reset their evolution points back to the starting 10.


Changelings can store up to 6 DNA strands, acquiring them either by husking or DNA stinging people; if they acquire more, the oldest will be overwritten.
===Starting Set===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Icon!!Name!! class="unsortable" |Description!!Chemical Cost!!Required DNA
|-
|[[File:Fake_death.png|64px]]||'''Reviving Stasis'''||Can be used while dead. The changeling can fake its death and enter a stasis for a small cost, and after some time, can leave it while healing all wounds and status effects. Renders the changeling very hard to kill, but if its corpse is gibbed or incinerated it won't be able to revive. The revival is manually activated so you can wait for opportunity.||1||1
|-
|[[File:Regenerate.png|64px]]||'''Regenerate'''||Can be used while unconscious. The changeling instantly regenerates lost limbs and organs, as well as removing shrapnel and restoring blood volume. If it is regenerating limbs, it will make a loud and obvious sound.||10||0
|-
|[[File:Transform.png|64px]]||'''Transform'''||The changeling can transform into any of the DNAs they have stored, allowing them to become nearly anyone. It will also mimic their clothing and IDs, if you're not already wearing one in those slots; they will however be non-functional and cannot be removed except by re-transforming or using the ''Drop Flesh Disguise'' option from the transformation menu.||5||1
|-
|[[File:Hivemind_channel.png|64px]]||'''Hive Channel DNA'''||The changeling can channel a selected genome into the airwaves for other changelings to absorb and use. Also useful for storing important DNA without it being overwritten.||10||0
|-
|[[File:Hive_absorb.png|64px]]||'''Hive Absorb DNA'''||The changeling can absorb DNA from the air that has been channelled by another changeling. Doesn't help the changeling reach their genome objective.||10||0
|-
|[[File:Absorb_dna.png|64px]]||'''Absorb DNA'''||Requires a strangled victim. The changeling fully drains a body's fluids, husking it in the process and making it unclonable and unidentifiable. In addition to giving the changeling the DNA, it will also give it a few samples of speech to better imitate them. It will allow the changeling to reset their abilities. The more people you eat, the faster you can absorb.||0||0
|-
|[[File:Hivemind_link.png|64px]]||'''Hivemind Link'''||Allows you to connect a non-changeling to the Hivemind. Has the same requirements as Absorb DNA: needs a kill-level grab and a short channel. The victim will be kept stabilized while linked to the hivemind; so don't worry about time constraints.||0||0
|}
===Abilities Available via Evolution Menu===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Icon!!Name!! class="unsortable" |Description!!Chemical Cost!!Evolution Points Cost
|-
|[[File:Adrenaline.png|64px]]||'''Adrenaline Sacs'''||Allows to the changeling to make use of additional adrenaline to instantly recover from stuns, and gives a temporary reduction in further stuns, which may cause toxin damage as a side effect. Cannot be used with Strained Muscles.||75||3
|-
|[[File:Panacea.png|64px]]||'''Anatomic Panacea'''||Cures the changeling of disabilities, radiation, and toxins. Generally covers the things that Fleshmend doesn't; it can be used to purge the poison that the chemist just shot you up with, or to get rid of that debilitating mutation from an absorbed identity. Can also remove alien larvae. Usable while unconscious. '''Do not use if you are a slimeperson.'''||30||1
|-
|[[File:armblade_changeling.png|64px]]||'''Arm Blade'''||Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a grotesque blade made out of bone and flesh. The arm blade does 25 damage per hit with significant wound bonuses and can be retracted. However, it is visible on your body and a dead giveaway to onlookers and silicons that you are a changeling. It can also be used to pry open doors when combat mode is on (powered ones will take longer).||20||2
|-
|[[File:Augmented_eyesight.png|64px]]||'''Augmented Eyesight'''||The changeling evolves additional features in their eyes, giving them a toggleable night-vision and thermal-vision mode. The changeling will become more vulnerable to flash-based devices while this ability is active. While it's inactive, it will instead protect you from flashes and bright lights, such as welders. This cannot be detected by normal means.||0||2
|-
|[[File:Biodegrade.png|64px]]||'''Biodegrade'''||Dissolves restraints or other objects preventing free movement. This is obvious to nearby people, and can destroy standard restraints and closets.||30||2
|-
|[[File:Sting_blind.png|64px]]||'''Blind Sting'''||The changeling silently stings a human, completely blinding them for a short time and rendering them permanently near-sighted.||40||1
|-
|[[File:Chameleon_skin.png|64px]]||'''Chameleon Skin'''||The changeling's skin pigmentation rapidly changes to suit their current environment. Allows them to become invisible after a few seconds of standing still. Can be toggled on and off.||25||2
|-
|[[File:Chitinous_armor.png|64px]]||'''Chitinous Armor'''||Inflates the changeling's body into an all-consuming chitinous mass of armor. It provides extensive protection against physical damage, but less against other types. Its mass slows the changeling's movement, and maintaining its shape slows chemical generation.||20||1
|-
|[[File:Sting_cryo.png|64px]]||'''Cryogenic Sting'''||The changeling injects the target with a blend of chemicals that begins to turn their blood to ice. The victim will walk slower and take some damage over the full duration. Victims wearing armor or insulated material will take more damage, since they are insulated from the ambient warmth. Can be countered with space heaters, coffee, and other warming objects and foods.||30||2
|-
|[[File:Digital_camo.png|64px]]||'''Digital Camouflage'''||Makes the changeling invisible to the AI, and prevents the AI from tracking the changeling's location while active. Makes you look strange when examined.||0||1
|-
|[[File:Dissonant_shriek.png|64px]]||'''Dissonant Shriek'''||The changeling emits an EMP, which disables technology in the surrounding area, including radio headsets. Good for escaping [[borg]]s and preventing people from shouting over the radio. Cannot be used while ventcrawling.||40||1
|-
|[[File:Sting_armblade.png|64px]]||'''False Armblade Sting'''||The changeling silently injects a retrovirus that mutates their victim's arm into an armblade. The victim will form an armblade much like a changeling would, except the armblade is dull and useless. The transformation occurs immediately after the sting, and will last for about a minute.||20||1
|-
|[[File:Fleshmend.png|64px]]||'''Fleshmend'''||The changeling will rapidly heal brute, burn and oxygen damage, as well as burn at a slower rate over 10 seconds. Repeated use while the effect is added will restart the regeneration timer, but the user will still heal at the same rate. Cannot be used while burning, but usable while unconscious.||40||2
|-
|[[File:Flesh_maul.png|64px]]||'''Flesh Maul'''||Reform one of the changeling's arms into a horrifying mass of flesh and bones. The maul does 30 damage, it will quickly destroy machines and airlocks, any human target will likely have their bones shattered upon being hit by the maul, however the maul's damages are very effectively mitigated by armor compared to the armblade and it will slow you down while active. It can be retracted; however, it is visible on your body and a dead giveaway to onlookers and silicons that you are a changeling.||20||3
|-
|[[File:Sting_lsd.png|64px]]||'''Hallucination Sting'''||The changeling injects large doses of hallucinogenic chemicals into their victim. Effect occurs after 20 to 30 seconds. The victim does not notice they've been stung until they start tripping.||25||2
|-
|[[File:Last_resort.png|64px]]||'''Last Resort'''||Can be used while unconscious or dead. Creates a small silent explosion, gibs your current body, and transforms you into a headslug (a creature that can infect corpses to plant a hidden changeling egg). The changeling egg grows into a monkey changeling after a few minutes. '''If you're killed while in this form and you haven't infected any corpse, you won't be able to revive!'''||20||1
|-
|[[File:Lesser form.png|64px]]||'''Lesser Form'''||The changeling transforms into a monkey after a brief period of time. Causes all equipment to be dropped on the floor. It can then return to human form by using ''Human Form''. '''Cannot be used while handcuffed or stunned.'''||5||1
|-
|[[File:Mimic_voice.png|64px]]||'''Mimic Voice'''||Allows the changeling to form their voice of a name they enter. Slows chemical generation while active.||0||1
|-
|[[File:Sting_mute.png|64px]]||'''Mute Sting'''||The changeling silently stings a human, completely silencing them for about thirty seconds. Does not provide a warning to a victim that they've been stung, until they try to speak and can't.||40||2
|-
|[[File:Organic_shield.png|64px]]||'''Organic Shield'''||Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a large, fleshy shield. Blocks or mitigates a number of attacks, the amount increasing by 3 with each genome absorbed.||20||1
|-
|[[File:Organic_suit.png|64px]]||'''Organic Space Suit'''||Inflates the changeling's flesh into a huge, bulky, spaceworthy mass of pressure and temperature-resistant organic tissue to facilitate space travel. While it's active, you'll also regenerate oxygen damage quickly enough to not need air. Because the suit is made up of the changeling's flesh, it provides no damage resistance and can be injected directly into with syringes. Slows chemical generation while active.||20||2
|-
| ||'''Pheromone Receptors'''||A toggled ability that gives a HUD icon when another changeling is in a rather large area around you. If you get closer, the icon will turn into an arrow pointing at the nearest changeling, and if you're very close the icon will become a black diamond. Slows chemical regeneration while active. Invaluable for the "absorb another changeling" objective.||0||2
|-
|[[File:Resonant_shriek.png|64px]]||'''Resonant Shriek'''||The changeling emits a tone beyond the range of human hearing, causing deafness and disorientation in an area around itself and bursting lights in the area, while overloading cyborg sensors. Good for escaping groups or preventing people from fleeing from you.||75||1
|-
|[[File:Spread_infestation.png|64px]]||'''Spread Infestation'''||Two spiderlings crawl out of the changeling's mouth, eventually growing into deadly beasts. They will attack the changeling as well, if they see it. You need at least 3 DNA absorptions to unlock this ability.||90||1
|-
|[[File:Strained_muscles.png|64px]]||'''Strained Muscles'''||The changeling reduces lactic acid build-up in their leg muscles, allowing them to move at extremely fast speeds. While active, the changeling will take steadily incrementing stamina damage and eventually pass out, if he doesn't take a rest. Cannot be used with Adrenaline Sacs.||0||1
|-
|[[File:Tentacle_Button.png|64px]]||'''Tentacle'''||Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a tentacle. This tentacle can be fired towards a target, with different effects depending on whether combat mode is on or off. If it hits something, the tentacle is used up; otherwise, it can be reused after a short cooldown.<br>'''Targeting an item:''' Grabs the item and throws it in your hand.<br>'''Combat mode off:''' Grabs the mob and pulls it towards the changeling, without any additional effect.<br>'''Right click with combat mode on:''' If the mob has any item in hand, that item will be pulled away and put into the changeling's hand, otherwise it has no effect.<br>'''Attack with Combat Mode on:''' Grabs the mob and pulls it towards the changeling. If the changeling is also holding a sharp weapon, it'll automatically stab the mob on landing, ignoring armor.||10||2
|-
|[[File:Sting_transform.png|64px]]||'''Transformation Sting'''||The changeling injects a retrovirus that forces its victim to transform into another person for ten minutes. When extracting the sting, the changeling can choose which of the DNAs in storage it wishes to use. Effective for spreading confusion or forcing certain species' weaknesses onto a subject.||20||1
|}


 
==Tips==
Or use this baby and go Full Metal Badass on them fools.
*As a changeling, the absolute best item for you to get is a wallet (from the crew quarters, in either cabin's personal closet, in the leather satchel.) It goes in your ID slot and holds up to 4 IDs, all of which work for automatic access. Which ever ID is put in first will be your identity displayed on [[Security HUD|SecHuds]].
 
*It is best to only acquire a few abilities at round start! Once you take an ability, it is locked in unless you absorb someone. Absorbing someone is time-consuming, leaves obvious evidence, and if anyone interrupts you, then you're boned. If you leave a few slots open, though, you can easily adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in.
[[File:Armblade.gif]]
*Transformation Sting is robust. Not only can it confuse the living hell out of crew and security alike, it is silent, but it's easier to hide in a forest than on an open plain. Make 555 of the guy you are changing into for more genomes. Transform the guy you are husking/impersonating into someone else, so you're the only one. Transform a ling who is caught if the scene is chaotic enough that he might escape. The possibilities are endless. A nice trick is to wear some generic clothes taken from the arrivals or locker room. Then, if somebody's chasing you, run out of their line of sight, quickly transform and run backwards.
 
*As a ling you are able to explore space, either staying as a regenerating corpse until you hit something or through a combination of fleshmend, engorged chem sacs, and a fire suit.
 
**There are edible corpses in certain ruins, alternatively you could eat the corpses dropped by legions on death.
 
** You can of course find spaced people randomly, which is a great way to pick up an identity provided everyone doesn't know they were spaced.
=== MOMMA! I just killed a man! ===
**Or just use organic space suit
Here are some tips on how to efficiently kill people.
**Cryosting is very robust on people with insulation which makes it really effective in space, where they won't have a choice about staying dressed up in their suit.
 
*Hive channel is free genome storage for identities.
Cryosting then slip people, cuffs are good. Then strip their headsets and nomnomnom...
*Mimic voice and subverted AI, or mimic voice and digital camo go a LONG way in completely getting the crew against each other.
since mute sting and hallucino sting are no longer available because of the vir00s, you must find other ways! share your tips with Tigers101, and he willl post them here!
* Keep in mind that if you space yourself and let your corpse husk from the burn damage you'll still be a husk when you get back up. You can clear this effect by transforming to another form and back again. You could also buy voice changing and play a zombie.
 
* Blind sting + Biodegrade = Freedom
=== I Need to Buy Some Time ===
**Cryo Sting + Biodegrade = Freedom
Evolve ''Spread Infestation''. When you have 5 or more genomes, you can make spider babies! They will grow up and kill everyone '''including you''', so be very careful.
** Hallucination Sting + Biodegrade = Maybe freedom if it reaches the point of holodamage knockouts.
 
* Mute Sting + Cryo Sting + Blind Sting + Stun Prod, applied directly to forehead = easy, unrobust kill
== Being Robust ==
*Don't be the person who goes ";g absorbing captain in maint" USE YOUR PERIODS
If you are not very robust, (combat worthy) then evolve, ''Shield'' and ''Arm Blade''. Using these costs a lot of chemicals, but make even the weak, strong.  
===Tips for Fighting Against Changelings===
Your hands will be replaced by a sword and a gross shield. ''Epinephrine Overdose'' allows you to instantly recover from stuns when activated, while sometimes giving you toxin damage.
*Changelings do not need heads, and brains are therefore vestigial. Don't debrain a changeling while the body walks out of the door behind you.
 
*As long as you can talk and you're within 1 tile of an intercom, you can type :i in front of what you say to say it over the intercom. Even when you're stunned and/or on the ground.
 
* If you get cryostung as a Security Officer, remove your armor and helmet. REMOVE THEM. Or else you will die. Sec armor has somehow some heat tampering properties, which means you won't heat up as much as you would normally be, and will consequently die of cold. Same goes if you are wearing an hardsuit/space protective gear/anything that could have thermal properties. If you get cryo'd, REMOVE THOSE THINGS ASAP.
=== Dealing With Idiots ===
*The bane of lings is N2O. None of their powers will help them. Unless they use internals. Along with this, BZ will also weaken changelings and stop them from regenerating chemicals.
If someone spaces you, you can try ''Regenerative Stasis'' and then evolve ''Organic Space Suit'' and you might just survive! Lucky you.
* Never fight a Changeling alone if you can help it. Unless they're hilariously unrobust, chances are they will almost always win a melee confrontation. The best tactic is to get a buddy to stun the changeling while you handcuff/beat it to death and take it to be gibbed/cremated.
 
*Changeling flesh clothing is completely cosmetic/non-functional and cannot be removed. If during a strip-search you can't remove an article of clothing from a person, chances are they're a Changeling unless they're cursed in some way.
=== Being Stealthy ===
*A 100 potassium/water explosive has a one-tile gibbing radius, useful for permanently taking out changelings without too much collateral damage.
Another neat power is ''Lesser Form'', you use this to change into a monkey, who can crawl through vents and wreak havoc! This is a telltale sign that you are non human, so do it in a safe place. To ventcrawl, use alt click on a vent, then select your destination.
*Gibber machines are easy to construct, and if you leave one in a well trafficked area, its hard to take one out without any witnesses. Even then, they're easy to replace and somewhat expendable.
 
*Wearing earmuffs prevents the effects of Resonant Shriek.
 
{{Antagonists}}
 
{{Game modes}}
=== Final Remarks ===
[[Category: Jobs]]
ALWAYS SAVE ENOUGH CHEMICALS FOR A STASIS, THIS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.
[[Category:Game Modes]]
 
[[Category:Guides]]
Good luck being a damn dirty alien!
 
{{Jobs}}

Latest revision as of 18:51, 9 May 2024

EXTRATERRESTRIAL STAFF
Changeling.gif Changeling.png
Changeling
Access: Whatever your job is
Additional Access: Any place you or your victims had access to
Difficulty: Hard
Supervisors: The Syndicate, probably
Duties: Drink people's DNA, fool people.
Guides: This is the guide
Quote: "Uh...THE HEAD OF SECURITY IS A CHANGE-" *BZZZZZRT* *CRUNCH* "Nevermind, everything's OK. Go back to work."

Gamemode in rotation

A changeling is a highly intelligent alien predator that is capable of altering their shape to flawlessly resemble a human. They are typically deployed in simple social groupings, although they maintain total autonomy and act individually, so long as they do not have a team objective. As a result of their expertise in infiltration, the Syndicate often hires Changelings to steal high-risk items from Nanotrasen. The Changeling hunts with its ability to synthesize deadly chemicals internally, adopt the form of its past victims, and even directly alter its form to be more suited to the task at hand.

The Thing From Spaaaaaaaace!

A changeling has boarded the station! It has had time to "familiarize" itself with the ins and outs of its primary victim's identity, and is ready to take anything it desires -- be it your equipment, your faces, or your lives!

Even if a changeling has not attacked any other crew members, it is highly likely it has attacked or killed others in its infiltration.

Ok, now what do?

Important: Changelings can anonymously communicate with one another over a special channel by using 'say :g' before their speech. Use alt+click or middle mouse button to sting someone.

First:

  1. Learn about your available abilities
  2. Use them to absorb people
  3. ???

Your goals:

  1. Absorb 3-7 DNA's
  2. ???

Choke.png DNA Absorption

The goal of many changelings is to absorb 5-7 DNA strains, for some unknown and alien reason. To do this, it must take ANY human, living or dead (even thrown away bodies from cloning), and acquire their DNA. You can only have a maximum of 5 DNA strands at a time, and must transform to obtain more.

DNA can be acquired in one way:

  • Absorbing the victim, which results in a gruesome husk.

Acquiring DNA via absorbing requires a grab, and a little bit of time as it stabs the victim with its appendage till it has all of the DNA drained. You need a good grip to absorb victims properly, and choking them has the added benefit of subduing your target as well. A choke hold can be attained by grabbing someone repeatedly until you're holding them by the neck, then double-clicking the KILL button that appears in your active hand in your HUD so that it is flashing red.

  • Absorbing a victim will give you their DNA and let you re choose your abilities.
  • Absorbing another changeling gives you about 35 extra max chemicals and 5 additional ability points in the cellular emporium.
  • Victims who are husked cannot be absorbed.
  • Absorbed victims cannot be cloned unless genetics uses a monkey creatively. They can still be turned into cyborgs because the brain is fine.

"No, I'm the real one!"

Changelings are limited, however, to how much DNA they can absorb at once! If a changeling has 5 DNAs stored and attempts to gain another, they must purge the older DNA by transforming. Eventually, any changeling will have to be a twin of someone else on the station, living or dead.

Transforming

The changeling can shift its appearance, making them look and sound exactly like the victim they have absorbed. This can be a massive compromise in security, especially if command staff are absorbed and the changeling is able to imitate them.

Changelings can also, via their lesser form ability, transform into monkeys and do monkey things.

Transforming is subtle and does not give a message in chat, though an observant crewmember may notice that you're suddenly someone else entirely.

Regeneration

Also known as Regenerative Stasis, changelings have the ability to 'kill' themselves, and appear dead for two minutes. After this period is over, the changeling can revive at will, fully healed of all injuries and illness. Both entering stasis and leaving it cost 10 chemicals, so make sure you have at least 20 before you are slain and must activate it.

This makes them nigh-unkillable, as they can fully regenerate themselves even from death if their bodies are intact and they have enough chemicals. Spaced changelings may also be able to make it back to the station given enough time. The best way to permanently deal with a changeling is to gib it or cremate it in the chapel.

Objective

Changelings may have the following objectives, Be aware that some objectives may not show up depending on what type of Team Objective the changelings have:

1. Absorb 5-7 DNA stands: You just need to get DNA, easiest way is to mute sting and then armblade random people in maint/near maint and then absorb them.
1a. Extract more compatible genomes than any other Changeling.: Pretty self-explanatory, you can either absorb a lot of people or kill the other poor sap who gets this objective.
2. Assassinate/Maroon a person: Kill some unlucky crewmember. This can be fulfilled via normal means or through some of your various abilities.
3. Absorb another Changeling: You have to kill and then absorb another changeling. Pheromone receptors can help you find fellow changelings by pointing you towards a nearby one.
4. Steal an object: Steal a special or rare object from the station, you will be informed of what to steal.
5a. Escape alive: All changelings get an escape objective, to fulfill, be on the escape shuttle or a pod when they land at Central Command.
5b. Escape with identity: In addition to escaping alive, the changeling must have transformed to the target person and wear an ID card with the target's name on it to succeed.

Team Objective

Changelings may have one special Team Objective that is given to all changelings in the round, these are generally too hard or impossible for one changeling to complete alone.

1. Impersonate Department: A department is chosen (Security, Medical, Engineering or Science). As many staff members from this department as logically possible (Based on the number of changelings in the round, the number of staff members in the department, etc.) are chosen as targets that the changelings must kill, transform into and escape as. This objective ignores the head(s) of that department. A Changeling does NOT need to personally be one of the targets to succeed. This objective requires 3 changelings to be chosen for a round.
2. Impersonate Heads: Like Impersonate Department, except the "department" is always the Heads of Staff (Captain, Head of Personnel, Head of Security, Research Director, Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer). The changelings must kill, transform into and escape as the specified heads of staff. This objective requires 3 changelings to be chosen for a round.

Going Solo or Teaming Up

If the changelings have a Team Objective they should be treated as any other team antag, this means they are NOT allowed to betray the other changelings. If there is no team objective then everything is on the table, from stealing an absorb target to killing another changeling.

Make sure you know which of the above is true before you act!

Regardless of Team Objectives, changelings can share absorbed genomes via hivemind. DNA shared in this manner does not count towards your personal absorption count.

Changeling Abilities

The changeling possesses other dangerous abilities, including precooked stinger abilities, which it can fire out of a crafted dart at a moment's notice! Their stored chemicals regenerate quickly at a rough set rate of one chemical per second. The default max chemicals is 125, but this is increased by 35 every time another changeling is absorbed.

Changelings start with 10 evolution points. The cost of abilities (if applicable) is listed in parentheses after their entry. By husking a lifeform, a changeling gains the ability to reset their learned abilities and choose new ones, adapting to situations as they arise. This will reset their evolution points back to the starting 10.

Changelings can store up to 6 DNA strands, acquiring them either by husking or DNA stinging people; if they acquire more, the oldest will be overwritten.

Starting Set

Icon Name Description Chemical Cost Required DNA
Fake death.png Reviving Stasis Can be used while dead. The changeling can fake its death and enter a stasis for a small cost, and after some time, can leave it while healing all wounds and status effects. Renders the changeling very hard to kill, but if its corpse is gibbed or incinerated it won't be able to revive. The revival is manually activated so you can wait for opportunity. 1 1
Regenerate.png Regenerate Can be used while unconscious. The changeling instantly regenerates lost limbs and organs, as well as removing shrapnel and restoring blood volume. If it is regenerating limbs, it will make a loud and obvious sound. 10 0
Transform.png Transform The changeling can transform into any of the DNAs they have stored, allowing them to become nearly anyone. It will also mimic their clothing and IDs, if you're not already wearing one in those slots; they will however be non-functional and cannot be removed except by re-transforming or using the Drop Flesh Disguise option from the transformation menu. 5 1
Hivemind channel.png Hive Channel DNA The changeling can channel a selected genome into the airwaves for other changelings to absorb and use. Also useful for storing important DNA without it being overwritten. 10 0
Hive absorb.png Hive Absorb DNA The changeling can absorb DNA from the air that has been channelled by another changeling. Doesn't help the changeling reach their genome objective. 10 0
Absorb dna.png Absorb DNA Requires a strangled victim. The changeling fully drains a body's fluids, husking it in the process and making it unclonable and unidentifiable. In addition to giving the changeling the DNA, it will also give it a few samples of speech to better imitate them. It will allow the changeling to reset their abilities. The more people you eat, the faster you can absorb. 0 0
Hivemind link.png Hivemind Link Allows you to connect a non-changeling to the Hivemind. Has the same requirements as Absorb DNA: needs a kill-level grab and a short channel. The victim will be kept stabilized while linked to the hivemind; so don't worry about time constraints. 0 0

Abilities Available via Evolution Menu

Icon Name Description Chemical Cost Evolution Points Cost
Adrenaline.png Adrenaline Sacs Allows to the changeling to make use of additional adrenaline to instantly recover from stuns, and gives a temporary reduction in further stuns, which may cause toxin damage as a side effect. Cannot be used with Strained Muscles. 75 3
Panacea.png Anatomic Panacea Cures the changeling of disabilities, radiation, and toxins. Generally covers the things that Fleshmend doesn't; it can be used to purge the poison that the chemist just shot you up with, or to get rid of that debilitating mutation from an absorbed identity. Can also remove alien larvae. Usable while unconscious. Do not use if you are a slimeperson. 30 1
Armblade changeling.png Arm Blade Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a grotesque blade made out of bone and flesh. The arm blade does 25 damage per hit with significant wound bonuses and can be retracted. However, it is visible on your body and a dead giveaway to onlookers and silicons that you are a changeling. It can also be used to pry open doors when combat mode is on (powered ones will take longer). 20 2
Augmented eyesight.png Augmented Eyesight The changeling evolves additional features in their eyes, giving them a toggleable night-vision and thermal-vision mode. The changeling will become more vulnerable to flash-based devices while this ability is active. While it's inactive, it will instead protect you from flashes and bright lights, such as welders. This cannot be detected by normal means. 0 2
Biodegrade.png Biodegrade Dissolves restraints or other objects preventing free movement. This is obvious to nearby people, and can destroy standard restraints and closets. 30 2
Sting blind.png Blind Sting The changeling silently stings a human, completely blinding them for a short time and rendering them permanently near-sighted. 40 1
Chameleon skin.png Chameleon Skin The changeling's skin pigmentation rapidly changes to suit their current environment. Allows them to become invisible after a few seconds of standing still. Can be toggled on and off. 25 2
Chitinous armor.png Chitinous Armor Inflates the changeling's body into an all-consuming chitinous mass of armor. It provides extensive protection against physical damage, but less against other types. Its mass slows the changeling's movement, and maintaining its shape slows chemical generation. 20 1
Sting cryo.png Cryogenic Sting The changeling injects the target with a blend of chemicals that begins to turn their blood to ice. The victim will walk slower and take some damage over the full duration. Victims wearing armor or insulated material will take more damage, since they are insulated from the ambient warmth. Can be countered with space heaters, coffee, and other warming objects and foods. 30 2
Digital camo.png Digital Camouflage Makes the changeling invisible to the AI, and prevents the AI from tracking the changeling's location while active. Makes you look strange when examined. 0 1
Dissonant shriek.png Dissonant Shriek The changeling emits an EMP, which disables technology in the surrounding area, including radio headsets. Good for escaping borgs and preventing people from shouting over the radio. Cannot be used while ventcrawling. 40 1
Sting armblade.png False Armblade Sting The changeling silently injects a retrovirus that mutates their victim's arm into an armblade. The victim will form an armblade much like a changeling would, except the armblade is dull and useless. The transformation occurs immediately after the sting, and will last for about a minute. 20 1
Fleshmend.png Fleshmend The changeling will rapidly heal brute, burn and oxygen damage, as well as burn at a slower rate over 10 seconds. Repeated use while the effect is added will restart the regeneration timer, but the user will still heal at the same rate. Cannot be used while burning, but usable while unconscious. 40 2
Flesh maul.png Flesh Maul Reform one of the changeling's arms into a horrifying mass of flesh and bones. The maul does 30 damage, it will quickly destroy machines and airlocks, any human target will likely have their bones shattered upon being hit by the maul, however the maul's damages are very effectively mitigated by armor compared to the armblade and it will slow you down while active. It can be retracted; however, it is visible on your body and a dead giveaway to onlookers and silicons that you are a changeling. 20 3
Sting lsd.png Hallucination Sting The changeling injects large doses of hallucinogenic chemicals into their victim. Effect occurs after 20 to 30 seconds. The victim does not notice they've been stung until they start tripping. 25 2
Last resort.png Last Resort Can be used while unconscious or dead. Creates a small silent explosion, gibs your current body, and transforms you into a headslug (a creature that can infect corpses to plant a hidden changeling egg). The changeling egg grows into a monkey changeling after a few minutes. If you're killed while in this form and you haven't infected any corpse, you won't be able to revive! 20 1
Lesser form.png Lesser Form The changeling transforms into a monkey after a brief period of time. Causes all equipment to be dropped on the floor. It can then return to human form by using Human Form. Cannot be used while handcuffed or stunned. 5 1
Mimic voice.png Mimic Voice Allows the changeling to form their voice of a name they enter. Slows chemical generation while active. 0 1
Sting mute.png Mute Sting The changeling silently stings a human, completely silencing them for about thirty seconds. Does not provide a warning to a victim that they've been stung, until they try to speak and can't. 40 2
Organic shield.png Organic Shield Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a large, fleshy shield. Blocks or mitigates a number of attacks, the amount increasing by 3 with each genome absorbed. 20 1
Organic suit.png Organic Space Suit Inflates the changeling's flesh into a huge, bulky, spaceworthy mass of pressure and temperature-resistant organic tissue to facilitate space travel. While it's active, you'll also regenerate oxygen damage quickly enough to not need air. Because the suit is made up of the changeling's flesh, it provides no damage resistance and can be injected directly into with syringes. Slows chemical generation while active. 20 2
Pheromone Receptors A toggled ability that gives a HUD icon when another changeling is in a rather large area around you. If you get closer, the icon will turn into an arrow pointing at the nearest changeling, and if you're very close the icon will become a black diamond. Slows chemical regeneration while active. Invaluable for the "absorb another changeling" objective. 0 2
Resonant shriek.png Resonant Shriek The changeling emits a tone beyond the range of human hearing, causing deafness and disorientation in an area around itself and bursting lights in the area, while overloading cyborg sensors. Good for escaping groups or preventing people from fleeing from you. 75 1
Spread infestation.png Spread Infestation Two spiderlings crawl out of the changeling's mouth, eventually growing into deadly beasts. They will attack the changeling as well, if they see it. You need at least 3 DNA absorptions to unlock this ability. 90 1
Strained muscles.png Strained Muscles The changeling reduces lactic acid build-up in their leg muscles, allowing them to move at extremely fast speeds. While active, the changeling will take steadily incrementing stamina damage and eventually pass out, if he doesn't take a rest. Cannot be used with Adrenaline Sacs. 0 1
Tentacle Button.png Tentacle Reforms one of the changeling's arms into a tentacle. This tentacle can be fired towards a target, with different effects depending on whether combat mode is on or off. If it hits something, the tentacle is used up; otherwise, it can be reused after a short cooldown.
Targeting an item: Grabs the item and throws it in your hand.
Combat mode off: Grabs the mob and pulls it towards the changeling, without any additional effect.
Right click with combat mode on: If the mob has any item in hand, that item will be pulled away and put into the changeling's hand, otherwise it has no effect.
Attack with Combat Mode on: Grabs the mob and pulls it towards the changeling. If the changeling is also holding a sharp weapon, it'll automatically stab the mob on landing, ignoring armor.
10 2
Sting transform.png Transformation Sting The changeling injects a retrovirus that forces its victim to transform into another person for ten minutes. When extracting the sting, the changeling can choose which of the DNAs in storage it wishes to use. Effective for spreading confusion or forcing certain species' weaknesses onto a subject. 20 1

Tips

  • As a changeling, the absolute best item for you to get is a wallet (from the crew quarters, in either cabin's personal closet, in the leather satchel.) It goes in your ID slot and holds up to 4 IDs, all of which work for automatic access. Which ever ID is put in first will be your identity displayed on SecHuds.
  • It is best to only acquire a few abilities at round start! Once you take an ability, it is locked in unless you absorb someone. Absorbing someone is time-consuming, leaves obvious evidence, and if anyone interrupts you, then you're boned. If you leave a few slots open, though, you can easily adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in.
  • Transformation Sting is robust. Not only can it confuse the living hell out of crew and security alike, it is silent, but it's easier to hide in a forest than on an open plain. Make 555 of the guy you are changing into for more genomes. Transform the guy you are husking/impersonating into someone else, so you're the only one. Transform a ling who is caught if the scene is chaotic enough that he might escape. The possibilities are endless. A nice trick is to wear some generic clothes taken from the arrivals or locker room. Then, if somebody's chasing you, run out of their line of sight, quickly transform and run backwards.
  • As a ling you are able to explore space, either staying as a regenerating corpse until you hit something or through a combination of fleshmend, engorged chem sacs, and a fire suit.
    • There are edible corpses in certain ruins, alternatively you could eat the corpses dropped by legions on death.
    • You can of course find spaced people randomly, which is a great way to pick up an identity provided everyone doesn't know they were spaced.
    • Or just use organic space suit
    • Cryosting is very robust on people with insulation which makes it really effective in space, where they won't have a choice about staying dressed up in their suit.
  • Hive channel is free genome storage for identities.
  • Mimic voice and subverted AI, or mimic voice and digital camo go a LONG way in completely getting the crew against each other.
  • Keep in mind that if you space yourself and let your corpse husk from the burn damage you'll still be a husk when you get back up. You can clear this effect by transforming to another form and back again. You could also buy voice changing and play a zombie.
  • Blind sting + Biodegrade = Freedom
    • Cryo Sting + Biodegrade = Freedom
    • Hallucination Sting + Biodegrade = Maybe freedom if it reaches the point of holodamage knockouts.
  • Mute Sting + Cryo Sting + Blind Sting + Stun Prod, applied directly to forehead = easy, unrobust kill
  • Don't be the person who goes ";g absorbing captain in maint" USE YOUR PERIODS

Tips for Fighting Against Changelings

  • Changelings do not need heads, and brains are therefore vestigial. Don't debrain a changeling while the body walks out of the door behind you.
  • As long as you can talk and you're within 1 tile of an intercom, you can type :i in front of what you say to say it over the intercom. Even when you're stunned and/or on the ground.
  • If you get cryostung as a Security Officer, remove your armor and helmet. REMOVE THEM. Or else you will die. Sec armor has somehow some heat tampering properties, which means you won't heat up as much as you would normally be, and will consequently die of cold. Same goes if you are wearing an hardsuit/space protective gear/anything that could have thermal properties. If you get cryo'd, REMOVE THOSE THINGS ASAP.
  • The bane of lings is N2O. None of their powers will help them. Unless they use internals. Along with this, BZ will also weaken changelings and stop them from regenerating chemicals.
  • Never fight a Changeling alone if you can help it. Unless they're hilariously unrobust, chances are they will almost always win a melee confrontation. The best tactic is to get a buddy to stun the changeling while you handcuff/beat it to death and take it to be gibbed/cremated.
  • Changeling flesh clothing is completely cosmetic/non-functional and cannot be removed. If during a strip-search you can't remove an article of clothing from a person, chances are they're a Changeling unless they're cursed in some way.
  • A 100 potassium/water explosive has a one-tile gibbing radius, useful for permanently taking out changelings without too much collateral damage.
  • Gibber machines are easy to construct, and if you leave one in a well trafficked area, its hard to take one out without any witnesses. Even then, they're easy to replace and somewhat expendable.
  • Wearing earmuffs prevents the effects of Resonant Shriek.
Antagonists on Yogstation

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Individual Antagonists Traitor, Internal Affairs, Changeling, Vampire, Wizard
Team Antagonists Blood Brothers, Nuclear Operative, Blood Cult, Clockwork Cult, Gangster, Heretic, Darkspawn
Mid-Round Antagonists Abductor, Xenomorph, Revenant, Space Ninja, Holoparasite, Swarmers, Blob, Obsessed, Eldritch Horror
Rare Antagonists Devil
Antagtemp.png Game Modes on Yogstation
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Traitor, Internal Affairs and Blood Brothers

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Changeling

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Bloodsuckers

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Nuclear Emergency

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Revolution

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Gang War

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Blood Cult

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Clockwork Cult

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Shadowling

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Wizard

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Malfunction

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Heretic

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Other Modes