Run to bull rush required?

[MarauderX]

I have a rules related question on charging, bull rush and running.

A dragon who is slowed is looking to bull rush a bard off of a bridge. The bard is two squares away (two squares between them), which means to get there the dragon will need to use both squares of its movement. If the bull rush were to hit, the dragon would need to have more movement to move into the bard's square. If I am correct, the dragon would need to run, with the -5 to attack, in order to make sure it could have the movement available to enter the bard's square. It also seems that the dragon, in either case above, would be able to charge to get a plus 1 to the attack. Also, just to make sure, a bull rush and a charge can be done while running, right?
Let me know if any of this is incorrect. Thanks in advance!
MX

 

[Klaus]

No. Bull Rush doesn't require previous movement (although you can use it at the end of a charge). The dragon moves 2 squares to a square adjacent to the bard and rolls Str. vs Fort. If successful, the dragon pushes the bard 1 square and shifts into the vacated square (slowed doesn't affect this). If this movement would knock the bard off the bridge, the bard gets a saving throw. If successful, the bard falls prone in the last safe square (presumably, his original square, in which case the dragon doesn't shift).

 

[Chris Knapp]

If the bull rush were to hit, the dragon would need to have more movement to move into the bard's square.

The dragon only needs to move adjacent to the target. The Bull Rush is a separate action, which includes the free shift. Assuming a hit, as long as the dragon isn't prevented from shifting by any other condition (slowed doesn't prevent shifting), he can shift into the vacated square.

The dragon can actually move up to 4 squares by moving (2 squares) then charging (2 squares) and bullrushing as the free attack as part of the charge (instead of the mba). He'd then get the free shift if he hit.

 

[MarauderX]

No. Bull Rush doesn't require previous movement (although you can use it at the end of a charge). The dragon moves 2 squares to a square adjacent to the bard and rolls Str. vs Fort. If successful, the dragon pushes the bard 1 square and shifts into the vacated square (slowed doesn't affect this). If this movement would knock the bard off the bridge, the bard gets a saving throw. If successful, the bard falls prone in the last safe square (presumably, his original square, in which case the dragon doesn't shift).

Fantastic, thank you for the fast reply. Now it's time for the bard to make a save...