Editing Changeling (section)

==Ok, now what do?==
Important: Changelings can anonymously communicate with one another over a hivemind channel by using ''''say :g'''' before their speech. Use alt+click or middle mouse button to sting someone with your currently active sting.

First:
# Learn about your available abilities
# Use them to absorb people
# ???

Your goals:
# Absorb 5-7 DNA's
# ???

===[[File:choke.png]] DNA Extraction===
The goal of many changelings is to acquire 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.

DNA can be acquired in two ways:
* The '''DNA Extraction Sting''', which costs 25 chemicals, is instant and does not give any alert to the target. You can get as many DNA samples as you want this way, but you can only transform into the last 7 of them. 
* '''[[#Absorbing|Absorbing]]''' the victim, which results in a body drained from blood which is harder to [[Guide_to_genetics#Hark!_A Husk!|clone]] (it's a [[Terminology#Husk|husk]] [[File:Husk.png]]). Does not bypass the limit of 7 stored disguises. 

====Absorbing====
Acquiring DNA via absorbing requires you to be [[Guide_to_combat#Strangling|strangling]] your victim and clicking the absorb ability. You then have to go through three long progress bars as you stab and drain the victim with a proboscis. 
<br>
* Absorbing a victim will slightly replenish your chemical storage, give you the target's DNA and let you readapt your abilites.
* Absorbing another changeling gives you all of its chemical storage and all its stored DNA genomes. 
* Absorbing victims who have been [[Guide_to_genetics#Hark!_A Husk!|husked]] via burns or space will not add to your total genome count.
* Absorbed victims requires an upgraded [[Guide_to_genetics#Cloning|cloner]] to be [[Guide_to_genetics#Hark!_A Husk!|cloned]]. They can still be turned into [[Cyborg|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 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.

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 <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:

:'''1. Absorb 5-7 DNA stands:''' You just need to get DNA, easiest way is through your DNA extraction sting.

:'''1a. Extract more compatible genomes than any other Changeling.:''' Pretty self-explanatory, you can either spam DNA extract sting 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. 

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