From SC2Pod
|
| Race
| Zerg
|
| HP
| 5
|
| Energy
|  50
|
| Duration
|  150
|
| Produced by
| Overseer
|
| Hotkey
| C
|
| Modifiers
| Biological
|
| Armor type
| Light
|
| Defense
| 0
|
| Movement
| Normal
|
The Changeling is a scout unit that permanently disguises itself as an enemy unit when it gets near an enemy. Once a Changeling has disguised itself, it can not go back to the Changeling model or disguise itself as a different player's unit. Changelings can not be loaded into transports. Cavez described it in detail as follows.
Cavez wrote: (source)Overseers can create a Changeling by spending energy. The Changeling is a small unstable Zerg creature with timed life. When he gets near an enemy structure or unit he will change shape into the correct basic unit type and color to match that player. So if you get near a Blue Barracks you become a Blue Marine. If you get near a Red Stalker you become a Red Zealot, etc.
Enemy players cannot control the Changeling. It's still owned and controled by the Zerg player who created it. It is very vulnerable and can be killed by a single hit from just about anything. The Changeling cannot fight. He is just a shapeshifter, when he looks like a Marine that gun in his hand isn't "real."
You can see that something is a Changeling by mousing over the unit, by trying (and failing) to drag select or by selecting the unit and seeing the name and portrait.
What it does for the game:
1) Gives the Zerg a fun way to scout (though really they already have plenty of scouting options).
2) Makes enemy players constantly fearful of all of their own units. Is THAT a Changeling?! What about THAT GUY!?
In live games it is pretty difficult to keep on top of the "Changeling Problem" if an enemy Zerg player is trying to sneak into your base. However when you do catch them it feels pretty good.
It's something we have been trying for a few weeks and we thought we would include it in the WWI build to see what people thought.
After a question regarding the visuals, specifically the Marine's shields, Cydra found out that the Changeling will take the appearance of the upgrades of the unit it disguises, such as the Marine's shields, but not effects from them, such as the Zealot's extra speed from Charge.src
In the latest Blizzcon 09 build, the Changeling received new visuals, but a huge health decrease in the process.
In November 2009, Blizzard released "Changeling", a short story by James Waugh. It includes a short video showing the Changeling in-game.
Abilities
Upgrades
Concept Art
150 
150 
