[RPG] What does a doppelganger smell like

dnd-5emonsters

One of my players got the (fun) idea that her character could be able to smell the difference between a doppelganger copy and the real person.

She's a shifter, so in theory she has an excellent sense of smell. (Or so I've been ruling. I don't know if that's RAW).

Are there any written rules that say what a doppelganger smells like? (And if that's any different than the copied person?) While we're playing D&D 5E, content from other editions would be welcome.

Best Answer

Fun idea

It is a fun idea. I don't think it would work.

I have an even more fun idea: don't tell the player it won't work - let her think it can and have lots of fun when she fingers the innocent.

Rules

The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form.

Interestingly, "polymorph" is not defined anywhere in the rules. It only gets its definition from the local context "... into a Small or Medium humanoid ..." and "... each form ..." and normal English usage "having, assuming, or passing through many or various forms, stages, or the like." The fact that there are spells that use the word does not inform the usage here except in a general way - the doppelganger is not using a polymorph spell; it is using the Shapechanger ability.

Doppelgangers are devious shapeshifters that take on the appearance of other humanoids, throwing off pursuit or luring victims to their doom with misdirection and disguise.

"Appearance" means several things, the most relevant being "the state, condition, manner, or style in which a person or object appears; outward look or aspect" - there is no indication that this is limited to visual appearance only: the doppelganger changes its visual, aural, tactile, and chemical appearance (i.e. what it smells and tastes like).

A doppelganger's adopted form allows it to blend into almost any group or community, but its transformation doesn't impart languages, mannerisms, memory, or personality.

So here is what it doesn't do: by inference, it gets everything else.

They assume attractive male forms and seduce women, leaving them to raise their progeny.

You don't get much closer to someone than this - presumably they smell good enough to mate with.

Rationale

The doppelganger is a species that has evolved to blend in with any small or medium humanoid species to thrive and reproduce. It can do this so effectively that it can engage in sexual activity without the other party suspecting.

Some of these humanoid species have great senses of smell (e.g. orcs, goblins) some of them keep dogs or other domestic animals with great senses of smell.

If a doppelganger doesn't smell like a member of the species its impersonating; it will be found out.

Acquired Smells

GMJoe wrote in a comment:

I agree with this answer as far as it goes, but because a doppleganger's shape-shifting doesn't impart mannerisms, memory, or personality, it wouldn't necessarily include scents that are a byproduct of those things; So, if a character was in the habit of using a particular perfume, or of playing with their collection of dogs, or of walking through the tanner's district on the way home from work, or eating large amounts of curry, the doppleganger may well smell different - though, only to the extent that the original might smell different after an unusual day.

Since comments don't last and this is a really good point I have added it in.

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