Dungeons and Dragons is home to all manner of exotic species, from the fleet-footed Tabaxi to the gargantuan Goliaths. You know what else has a plethora of exotic species set in a lore-rich world of adventure and prejudice? Well, you've seen the headline, so you know it's Zootopia. Judy Hopps is a character I am especially enamored by, a police officer who has to resort to clever means to get out of hairy situations.
So with that, here's my attempt at bringing Judy Hopps to D&D 2024 with a Rogue build.
The Basics
- Species: Halfling
- Skills: Acrobatics (Expertise), Investigation (Expertise)
- Background: City Watch (Custom)
- Ability Scores: Dexterity +2, Intelligence +1
- Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher's Supplies
- Origin Feat: Skilled (Proficiency in Perception, Stealth, and Insight)
- Weapon Mastery: Daggers, Hand Crossbow
- Class: Soulknife Rogue 14, Battle Master Fighter 6
Starting Stats
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity - 17
- Constitution - 14
- Intelligence - 14
- Wisdom - 12
- Charisma - 10
While it was tempting to make Judy a Paladin (cuz cop), I wanted to blend her abilities in the movies a bit more seamlessly. Judy Hopps isn't defined by being a cop, but by how she managed to become one in the first place. She's said to be at the top of her class, incredibly agile, and surprisingly scrappy in a fight. To me, that makes her a cerebral character, pinpointing weaknesses in foes and their plans.
For flavor, you could say for her D&D race Judy Hopps is half-Harengon, which would explain her rabbit appearance while still keeping the Halfling mechanics. Judy makes great use of her small size to weave in and out of sticky situations, a perfect fit for the Halfling Nimbleness and Naturally Stealthy abilities. Start her off as a Rogue, max out Dexterity, then up Intelligence. Becoming a skill-monkey (or rabbit) is key to this build.
While psionic knives aren't the most "lore-accurate" (just make them carrots), there's one feature that's very useful for a detective build. Psi-Bolstered Knack will make your already formidable skill checks even more unbeatable. Pair that with Expertise and Reliable Talent, no rolls are ever bad. Such intellectual and physical prowess is only fitting for a top class officer.
In combat, Judy will never be facing opponents head-on. Instead, she uses her opponents' lumbering moves to her advantage, as seen when she fought a rhino and won in her academy days. That's where Battle Master Maneuvers and Devious Strikes come in. Pick up Trip Attack, Riposte and Parry from Battle Master, pragmatic and tactical moves in a scrap.
Recommended Feats
- Rogue 4 - Observant (Int +1, Perception Expertise)
- Rogue 4, Fighter 4 - Ability Score Increase (Int +1, Dex +1)
- Rogue 12, Fighter 6 - Ability Score Increase (Dex +2)
The only Feat you actually need to pick up is Observant, as this ups your Intelligence and allows you to turn Perception into an Expertise. Depending on the DM, Investigation and Perception have different use cases, so Expertise in both covers all your detective stuff well. From there, you even out your Intelligence to 16 then max Dexterity to 20.
Roleplay Advice
As Judy, you're overeager and have a lot to prove as a rookie in the City Watch. This makes you very nosey and righteous, which will naturally get you into some tense encounters. Even so, you have a heart of gold and will drop all ego if it means finishing a case properly. Combat-wise, Judy isn't some calmly discombobulating foe in hypotheticals. She moves fast and thinks fast, so add that adorably frantic energy to your turns.
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