Shape Shifting

A long time love left over from my days of playing Amber the Diceless Role Playing Game. Which is where the points come in, actually. Thank you Eric Wujcik for developing the game and giving us years of fun and memorable role play sessions, and thank you Roger Zelazny for writing the books that inspired the game and our imaginations.

Having total mastery over one’s body is difficult, but through patience and perseverance you have learned the secret art of Shape Shifting. It isn’t easy, and it takes constant practice and a disciplined mind, but if you are dedicated, you can do amazing things.

Primary Stats: Requires Constitution 18, Charisma 18

Basic Shape Shifting: You can change your shape. You have about 3 practiced forms that are good for various situations, and you can learn new ones. It takes time to learn and perfect a new form, but with patience you can. You can shape shift closed small wounds and you generally heal more quickly than other people. 10 points.

Mastery: Mastery is a measure of your overall power and ability in a given talent branch. Each rank raises your ability a bit higher, and grants you greater power and access to more abilities further down the line. You must purchase each rank in order. Each rank is explained in detail below.

Rank 1: Your powers are slightly enhanced, slightly reducing the strain and energy needed to change shape. You have 2 more practiced forms. 10 points. 

Rank 2: Your powers are slightly enhanced, slightly reducing the strain and energy needed to change shape. You have practiced enough that you can react to certain situations very quickly. For example, your body will automatically shift thicker, tougher flesh when you’re in danger, or gills when you find that you are suddenly thrust underwater and can’t breathe. These changes are basically automatic but also can be stopped easily as well. 20 points.

Rank 3: Your powers are enhanced, reducing the strain and energy needed to change shape. You can now mimic any sound you hear perfectly, unless it is a magic sound. For example, you can recreate musical instruments, voices, even recount spells in the perfectly re-created voice of whomever you heard casting it. It will not amply your voice, nor will it cast the same spell without knowing what you’re doing. You gain a +2 to Constitution or Charisma. 30 points.

Rank 4: Your powers are greatly enhanced, greatly reducing the strain and energy needed to change shape. You have no limit on the number of shapes you’ve learned and can easily change into a new shape after only a few moments. You start to get feelings and memories of people you change into, but only enough to play the part of the creature or person you become. You can change your flesh to various other things now, such as wood and metal and you can become inanimate objects while still retaining your sentience. 40 points.

Rank 5: Your powers are greatly enhanced, greatly reducing the strain and energy needed to change shape. You gain a small measure of the power of the creature or person you change into. It will always greatly pale in comparison to the original, but should you shift into a dragon, you can breathe fire and fly. 50 points.

Blood Shifting: You can shape change your blood, allowing you to create sentient creatures under your control. This takes time and patience, and a lot of blood depending on the size of the creature. It will always have your intelligence and whatever sort of personality you desire and will always follow your command. It does not last forever unless you put a great deal of time, effort, and maintenance into it, but will generally perform a given task then return to be reabsorbed. Requires Master Rank 1 and 15 points.

Mass Shifting: You can absorb materials into your body, gaining mass, or shift things out, losing mass, allowing you to change your size as well as your shape. Requires Mastery Rank 3 and 25 points.

Shape Shift Others: You can shift other people. This can be painful to some, especially if they are unwilling, and you might have to overcome their will, but it can be useful in certain situations. Requires Mastery Rank 5 and 50 points.