Changeling: Difference between revisions

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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 it's past victims, and even directly alter its form to be more suited to the task at hand.

A changeling has boarded the station! It has had time to "familiarize" itself with the ins and outs of its primary victim's identity, 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.

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

Your goals:

===[[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 absorb them using either its special proboscis, or the DNA Extraction Sting. You can only have a maximum of 5 DNA strands at a time, and must transform to obtain more.

DNA's can be acquired in two ways:

* The '''DNA Extraction Sting''', which is instant and does not give any alert to the target.

* '''Absorbing''' the victim, which results in a gruesome husk. Notice: Absorbing everyone is dickish and shouldn't be what you always use.

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.

* Absorbed victims '''cannot be cloned''' unless genetics uses a monkey creatively. They can still be turned into cyborgs because the brain is fine.

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.

The changeling can shift its appearance, making them look and sound exactly like a victim of which they have absorbed.

This can be massive compromise in security, especially if command staff are absorbed and the changeling is able to imitate them.

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

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 <b>even from death</b> if their bodies are intact and they have enough chemicals. Spaced changelings may also be able to make it back on 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:

:'''4a. Escape alive:''' All changelings get an escape objective, to fulfill, be on the escape shuttle or a pod when they land at Central Command.

:'''4b. 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.

:'''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.'''

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 <i>not count towards your personal absorption count.</i>

Changelings start with 10 evolution points. The cost of abilities (if applicable) are listed in parentheses after their entry. By husking a lifeform, the 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.

Note that changelings are immune to each others' stings. If you try to sting someone and they don't react, THEY'RE ONE TOO!

====Hive Channel====

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

====Engorged Chemical Glands====

A passive ability that increases the changeling's maximum storage capacity of chemicals to 100, from 75, and doubles the rate of chemical regeneration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. Can be countered with space heaters, coffee, and other warming objects and foods.

 

 

 

 

 

* The bane of lings is N2O. None of their powers will help them.