From:	Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Beach Comber
Date:	Tue, 24 Feb 1998 19:05:08 -0800

In regards to Changelings, I called dibs.

And they aren't all that the legends cracked them up to be. That would
quickly make them unmanagable as characters, even in ShadowTk. What I
have in mind, and got no major dissention for, is more feasible, and in
some ways more interesting, at least when it comes to developing a
character. Sure, they have abilities beyond the mortal ken, but they also
have problems you wouldn't wish on you worst enemy to keep them in check.
Giving it a lot of though, I designed them such that they could not become
unbalancing or world-altering, otherwise, I couldn't justify their
existence.

I will state conclusively for the record: There will be no Great
Changeling Conspiracy (tm) (whatever that means).

At least from my Changelings.... I have little say if someone wants to
outfit a bunch of mages with Polymorph: Humanoids or Doppleganger spell
(or something of that ilk) and wreak untold havok on the illuminatus of
the world.

Without further explanation I will justify my statement by saying:

1) They couldn't pull it off.
2) Even if they could, they wouldn't.
3) Even if they could and would, there are too few of them to do any
good.

Imagine if you will a race that could almost instantly look like someone
else, and hide among humanity. You think people are suspicious of
Lycanthropes? Now imagine the reaction to Changelings. Not a pretty
picture. Which is why they, for the most part, have a rather bum rap in
most legends.

I have some stories brewing that will bring more of this to light, but
rather than spew spoilers now, I would prefer to keep some of this quiet.
Private replies will be answered if anybody has specific questions.

--My two yen

Jeff