Dr. Fu Manchu

[Pagan priest]

What level is Dr. Fu Manchu?

(Warning: Some of this information may contain spoilers if you have not yet read the appropriate novels!)

While I have not yet had the opportunity to read all of the novels about the insidious doctor, I have read several. Since I am planning to run a D20M pulp game in and around China, I feel it only right and proper to include such an influential figure in my game. The question is, what have I missed? I am hoping that some folks on this board have also read about Fu Manchu. I wish to restrict this discussion to the Doctor as he appears prior to World War II, I have only read one novel set in the cold war era and the game is to take place long before that time frame.

Please don't worry about putting things in rules terms, I can handle that later. If you do have rules specific information, I would be happy to see that as well, but if it is not from either D20M core book or Urbane Arcana, please state the source.

From the beginning, we have seen the Dr. as having a great deal of knowledge about medicine and pharmacology, he is able to compound drugs that are nothing short of miraculous. Drugs to play mind games, hypnotics, narcotics, potions of youth, soporifics, and others I am forgetting. He has skill in the planned breeding of plants, animals and fungi. He speaks every human language without an accent. His talents as a surgeon are unmatched. He commands the loyalty of hundreds, if not thousands of people from the Far East to Europe.

So, what am I missing, what can you add? Anything about Dr. Fu Manchu, his dacoits, lascars and thuggees? (N.B. My dictionary did not give any indication that any of these terms are derogatory, if they are, please let me know. I dislike giving offense accidentally.)

Thank you for your time and effort.

 

[JPL]

What level is Dr. Fu Manchu?

(Warning: Some of this information may contain spoilers if you have not yet read the appropriate novels!)

While I have not yet had the opportunity to read all of the novels about the insidious doctor, I have read several. Since I am planning to run a D20M pulp game in and around China, I feel it only right and proper to include such an influential figure in my game. The question is, what have I missed? I am hoping that some folks on this board have also read about Fu Manchu. I wish to restrict this discussion to the Doctor as he appears prior to World War II, I have only read one novel set in the cold war era and the game is to take place long before that time frame.

Please don't worry about putting things in rules terms, I can handle that later. If you do have rules specific information, I would be happy to see that as well, but if it is not from either D20M core book or Urbane Arcana, please state the source.

From the beginning, we have seen the Dr. as having a great deal of knowledge about medicine and pharmacology, he is able to compound drugs that are nothing short of miraculous. Drugs to play mind games, hypnotics, narcotics, potions of youth, soporifics, and others I am forgetting. He has skill in the planned breeding of plants, animals and fungi. He speaks every human language without an accent. His talents as a surgeon are unmatched. He commands the loyalty of hundreds, if not thousands of people from the Far East to Europe.

So, what am I missing, what can you add? Anything about Dr. Fu Manchu, his dacoits, lascars and thuggees? (N.B. My dictionary did not give any indication that any of these terms are derogatory, if they are, please let me know. I dislike giving offense accidentally.)

Thank you for your time and effort.

Smart / Charismatic, for starters.

I'd say levels of Field Medic, Mastermind [a prestige class on the WotC website] and Scientist [from Pulp Heroes d20 Modern] are all good bets.

Anyone that hung up on his own Chineseness must have a level or two of Martial Artist.

Since he's unquestionalby the Big Bad of any campaign, I would not hesitate to put him at level 20.

So if I had to guess...

Smart Hero 2 / Charismatic Hero 2/ Martial Artist 1 / Field Medic 5 / Mastermind 5 / Scientist 5

 

[Pagan priest]

So far, I have not seen any examples of martial arts by the Dr. himself except for his ability to not be hit... perhaps Defensive Martial Arts His thugs, yes. My impression has been that he considers himself to be a mandarin, long after the end of the Chinese Empire.

As far as level goes, WizO Sith wrote an interesting piece on the WotC d20M board adapting the Epic rules to Modern...

 

[JPL]

So far, I have not seen any examples of martial arts by the Dr. himself except for his ability to not be hit... perhaps Defensive Martial Arts His thugs, yes. My impression has been that he considers himself to be a mandarin, long after the end of the Chinese Empire.

As far as level goes, WizO Sith wrote an interesting piece on the WotC d20M board adapting the Epic rules to Modern...

Got a link? Sounds interesting.

The other reason I'm guessing Martial Artist is because I've read a bunch of seventies "Shang Chi" comics, where Fu put the Fu in Kung Fu....

 

[Pagan priest]

Ask and ye shall receive:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106181

I had not seen the comics, so far the only thing I have had access to has been the Sax Rohmer novels, and not all of them.

 

[JPL]

Ask and ye shall receive:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106181

I had not seen the comics, so far the only thing I have had access to has been the Sax Rohmer novels, and not all of them.

Thanks for the link.

The seventies run of "Shang Chi" is terrific stuff --- pulp, James Bond, martial arts, and superheroics, all rolled together. Great art, great writing.

 

[Skinwalker]

So far, I have not seen any examples of martial arts by the Dr. himself except for his ability to not be hit... perhaps Defensive Martial Arts

As an alternative, 1 Level of Field Scientist would take care of that nicely. It would allow him to add his INT bonus to AC (just like the D&D Monk adds WIS bonus to AC).

 

[Pagan priest]

As an alternative, 1 Level of Field Scientist would take care of that nicely.

You know, I'll bet this whole process would be easier for me if I had my books up here instead of down in the car! At the moment, I'm thinking a couple of levels of Field Scientist, Lots of Mastermind, plenty of Smart and plenty of Charismatic. Add in a little bit of psionic ability for the hypnotism, and finish with Dedicated to taste.

Garnish generously with disposable henchmen.