Involuntary Shapeshifter: Difference between revisions

Line 2:

[[File:~~rsz_sneeze_change_3942~~.jpg|link=Slightly Damned|right]]

[[File:rsz sneeze change 3942.jpg|link=Slightly Damned|right]]

{{quote|''"In the heat of composition I find that I have inadvertently assumed the form of a large centipede. I am accordingly dictating the rest to my secretary."''|A letter from '''Screwtape''', ''[[The Screwtape Letters]]''}}

Line 10:

This can be classified into a few rough groups:

* Sometimes this is the natural state of the shapeshifter: Their abilities are triggered by an external stimulus. [[Empathic Shapeshifter~~|Empathic Shapeshifters~~]] fall under this category as a rule, and [[Our Werewolves Are Different|certain breeds of werewolf]] experience shapeshifting based on the lunar cycle.

* Sometimes this is the natural state of the shapeshifter: Their abilities are triggered by an external stimulus. [[Empathic Shapeshifter]]s fall under this category as a rule, and [[Our Werewolves Are Different|certain breeds of werewolf]] experience shapeshifting based on the lunar cycle.

* A character who is normally a [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|Voluntary Shapeshifter]] is currently suffering [[Phlebotinum Breakdown]] (perhaps a damaged [[Transformation Trinket]], or a [[Shapeshifter Identity Crisis|split personality disorder]]). Their transformations may occur at random or in response to specific external stimuli, and their [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body|personality may change to match each transformation]]. If this is specifically triggered by a mortal or fatal injury to the individual in question, it becomes a [[Shapeshifter Swan Song]].

If the character can successfully identify and isolate the external stimulus they react to, they may be able to limit or control their exposure to it (for example, a [[Transformation Trinket]] containing the stimulus) and generally use it like a Voluntary ~~Shapeshifter -- although~~ unlike the Voluntary Shapeshifter, they still risk unexpected transformations should they encounter the stimulus otherwise.

If the character can successfully identify and isolate the external stimulus they react to, they may be able to limit or control their exposure to it (for example, a [[Transformation Trinket]] containing the stimulus) and generally use it like a Voluntary Shapeshifter—although unlike the Voluntary Shapeshifter, they still risk unexpected transformations should they encounter the stimulus otherwise.

Sometimes, a character who has recently acquired [[Voluntary Shapeshifting]] abilities may need time to [[How Do I Shot Web?|learn how to control their powers]], and will go through a short phase of triggering their transformations unexpectedly or accidentally as they come to terms with their power.

Line 19:

If their transformations are specifically triggered by stress or anger, the character may be [[Hulking Out]].

------

----

Note that being an [[Involuntary Shapeshifter]] is ''a recurring character ability'' ~~-- the~~ character is usually aware that they have such power and just lack the ability to control ~~it -- the~~ ability must not be confused with any of the following, superficially similar shapeshifting subjects or transformation topics:

Note that being an '''Involuntary Shapeshifter''' is ''a recurring character ability''—the character is usually aware that they have such power and just lack the ability to control it—the ability must not be confused with any of the following, superficially similar shapeshifting subjects or transformation topics:

* [[Baleful Polymorph]]: A magic spell, curse (disease, etc.) causes a non-shapeshifter to become transformed into something else. It may or may not work on an existing Voluntary Shapeshifter, depending on whether it also imposes a [[Shapeshifter Mode Lock]].

Line 162:

* The episode of ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' where Batman manages to ''guilt'' Clayface into doing this, by showing him clips of all the roles he's played in the past...and as Clayface remembers each one, he's turned into that character uncontrollably, until it literally turns into a type of torture: Clayface begging Batman to stop, but unable to until he's exhausted and supposedly capturable. It's debatable whether Batman was trying to get this reaction, since he'd already seen Clayface involuntarily start shifting into Batman upon their first meeting. His look of surprise suggests that he may not have expected such a ''strong'' reaction.

** Though, given the way the episode ends, it's equally possible that Hagen was simply playing to his audience: Batman. He ''was an actor'', after all....

* In ''[[Project G.e.e.K.e.R.]]'', Geeker is a genetic shape-shifter who [[Power Incontinence|can't control his abilities]]; he sometimes collapses into a puddle when he panics; in one episode, he sleep-walked through the city for several ~~nights -- in~~ [[Kaiju]] form.

* In ''[[Project G.e.e.K.e.R.]]'', Geeker is a genetic shape-shifter who [[Power Incontinence|can't control his abilities]]; he sometimes collapses into a puddle when he panics; in one episode, he sleep-walked through the city for several nights—in [[Kaiju]] form.

* Dingo of ''[[Sonic Underground]]'' had the ability of transforming into virtually any other object or person, though these were invariably orange in color. His transformations were completely under control...of his partner Sleet, that is, not himself.

* [[Word of God]] has it that, in the ''[[Transformers]]'' metaseries, Primus, Unicron, and the Original 13 Transformers's bodies automatically change to fit the physics of whatever universal stream they enter (similar in effect to a [[Fisher Kingdom]], but caused by themselves, not the universe they enter). Primus and Unicron stopped there, but the other 13 changed further to fit the specific idiosyncrasies of the local Transformers. For example, when The Fallen was in the G1 universe, he looked blocky, and in the live action movie universe he looks more thin, lithe, and pointy. Also, in G1 he was [[Incendiary Exponent|on fire]], while in the movie universe, due to physics, he was merely glowing red-hot.