Mulan and other Warlords

[Klaus]

"Rogue" doesn't mean necessarily "sneak up on someone". The classic movie swashbuckler would be a rogue. I think Mulan works perfectly well as an Artful Dodger rogue, taking powers that focus less on damage and more on moving opponents about.

 

[Garthanos]

Right -The core combat method of the rogue class (sneak attack) and automatically trained skills theiving and stealth -- those dont at all imply sneak up on someone and stab them at all sure for the Three Musketeers and Pirates)

That said I will try for a moment.. to see your point of view... she did sneak in and put her comb in place of the enlistment note... and manage to conceal her sexual identity til she went under from a major body wound. Yes her fighting style did not seem too rely to much on physical strength, by the time she was through with what could have been Martial training she was operating on par with the stronger male fighters and better probably than some of those she enlisted alongside, she was definitely high level when she confronted the big bad guy... and if that disarm is the 17th level fighers disarm which it felt like it is.. and she is multiclassing fighter and brought it over is there a rogue disarm. She definitely features a familiar in the form of a less than wonderfully powerful family gardian spirit... with a strong personality.

Well I know there are certainly some roguish tricks that might be appropriate but lets take a look closer - armor worn was the same as the bushi around her (except near the end of the show where she is outcast)... Dads helm and sword, were not very rogue like so the gear don't feel right... And they definitely portrayed something like Endurance and Athletics training also she was pulling tricks like a 17th level fighters disarm. The fighting on roof tops certainly argues it might have been Acrobatics and Endurance instead of athletics...

We can assume at minimum multiclass fighter.

The other members of the group were taking directions from her before the show was over.... and her boyfriend was in fact following her lead.

With explosives being simply a part of the environment ... she orchestrates a scene where she gets her familiar to launch one and pins the bad guy in place using his own blade... so the explosive will push him a long ways and apply the finishing touches.
Did she just use a Wizard Daily power?

 

[Garthanos]

It occurred to me even the disarm may have been the special effect for an immobilize... preceding some other blasting push effect.

It could be safe to say anything where she made significant use of her guardian spirit dragon... we are seeing abilities from out of an arcane class. She lights the rocket when starting the avalanche, using him might be a classic page 42 effect and a cantrip too. Disabling her enemies bird.
In some ways the major effects we see seem to involve arcane.
She becomes competent enough in melee that her warlord is impressed (Martial Training or Intelligent Blademaster).
If she looses her heirloom sword I would bet the family guardian would bring it back to her ... ie what if she was built as a heavily reskinned Swordmage?

 

[Klaus]

Armor: chalk that up as Hide Armor, which she could access with a single feat.

Disarming: creative use of the Thievery skil?

Concealing gender: Bluff, all the way.

Shenanigans at the palace: Acrobatics, Athletics.

Mushu: NPC, not familiar.

Mulan works as an agile, headstrong and compassionate combatant that uses her strengths to make up for her weaknesses.

 

[Garthanos]

We will have to disagree - Bard is approaching perfect
Mushu as an NPC is a cop out... way too personal way too magical, and used in creating effects best described with arcane mechanics.(and the effects are her ideas - which he seems to understand intuitively(quick familiar - likely)).
Even if she isnt full bard, there is still Bardic Diletante (appropriate for chinese girl) plus Arcane Familiar.

 

[N0Man]

We will have to disagree - Bard is approaching perfect
Mushu as an NPC is a cop out... way too personal way too magical, and used in creating effects best described with arcane mechanics.(and the effects are her ideas - which he seems to understand intuitively(quick familiar - likely)).
Even if she isnt full bard, there is still Bardic Diletante (appropriate for chinese girl) plus Arcane Familiar.

I wouldn't say it's a cop out, but I understand that you want it to be a true feature of your character.

As we've seen, there are many ways to build a character for a given theme, as I'm sure you've seen already by just discussing bombs. I'd hesitate to call any of them bad, but they may not just be the feel you want. We can only offer suggestions of ways to do it, we can't automatically know which options you will like or that will sit right.

An NPC isn't an awful way to go, but I would prefer something different too. A familiar is certainly viable. I'd say it's even possible to go Ranger and have a Beast Companion, or perhaps even better, Shaman multi-classing with a Spirit companion.

There's more than one way to skin a cat... or in this case, "skin" a spirit dragon.

 

[Ryujin]

"Rogue" doesn't mean necessarily "sneak up on someone". The classic movie swashbuckler would be a rogue. I think Mulan works perfectly well as an Artful Dodger rogue, taking powers that focus less on damage and more on moving opponents about.

Toss in the "Alchemical Opportunist" feat for good measure.

 

[Garthanos]

An NPC isn't an awful way to go, but I would prefer something different too. A familiar is certainly viable. I'd say it's even possible to go Ranger and have a Beast Companion, or perhaps even better, Shaman multi-classing with a Spirit companion.

There's more than one way to skin a cat... or in this case, "skin" a spirit dragon.

There is some wiggle room on the sassy fellow. But if one is designing a character for "D&D" with a "guardian spirit." I think with all the ways that can be a real feature of the character ... we have named three ... the NPC option sounds like an "I don't want to try." answer aka cop out.

I think her intellect can be cast as cunning alah charisma.. stats are a bit malleable... as long as actual intelligence still good same with dex... needs to be solid. Con and Strength dont need to be ultra good.

Wierdly I keep wanting to do at wills from the fighter but that is probably just my comfort zone talking... I find them easy to skin various ways.

The Alchemical Opportunist sounds like a possibility heh (maybe more necessary than the Quick Familiar ,, even Improved Initiative just sound right.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Mulan, level 1
Human, Bard
Build: Cunning Bard
Bardic Virtue: Virtue of Cunning

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 10, Dex 13, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 16.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 10, Dex 13, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 14.


AC: 17 Fort: 11 Reflex: 16 Will: 15
HP: 22 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 5

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +4, Arcana +8, Insight +6, Perception +8, Bluff +8, Acrobatics +5

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance, Heal +2, History +4, Intimidate +4, Nature +2, Religion +4, Stealth +1, Streetwise +4, Thievery +1

FEATS
Bard: Alchemist
Human: Quick Familiar
Level 1: Arcane Familiar

POWERS
Bard at-will 1: Guiding Strike
Bard at-will 1: Jinx Shot
Bard daily 1: Stirring Shout
Bard encounter 1: Blunder
Bonus At-Will Power: Cutting Words

ITEMS
Ritual Book, Adventurer's Kit, Implement, Wand, Light Shield, Longsword, Hide Armor
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======

Very not optimized... she gets toasted on fortitude (which is certain where in the show she was seen as weak)

Some effects described as arcane she is using more old fashioned smart trickery..

Shrug... its an attempt and at least somewhat satisfies... so that is a success... the dragonling familiar actually allows a burst effect centered on Mushu... (Now that is what I call Mongolian Barbecue). Which might require some multiclassing.... after a few levels... wouldnt mind that 17th level fighter disarm just because its a vivid scene in the show.

Yup its hard to be sure what somebody will be willing to put up with in divergence (the trained in Arcana is a bit wierd feeling a character purist would say diplomacy makes more sense etc.... ).

 

[MortalPlague]

Anybody else seeing warlords everywhere?

Warlords, being a compelling, inspiring figure, make for excellent protagonists. I think a good chunk of fictional heroes would fall into this class simply by virtue of being a protagonist (and all that entails; helping others, being self-sacrificing, courage and valor, leadership, etc).

 

[Garthanos]

Warlords, being a compelling, inspiring figure, make for excellent protagonists. I think a good chunk of fictional heroes would fall into this class simply by virtue of being a protagonist (and all that entails; helping others, being self-sacrificing, courage and valor, leadership, etc).

Solid point, though with the penguins example it seems to run much deeper, that is a team with a bossy and inspiring leader type right in your face... actually a couple of teams (Lemurs are much lower level over all). The Lemurs might even be another single player class with his companion minions (somebody on these forums made up a noble).