Dungeons & Dragons on Sidechat | Hey, so. I’m hoping to run a hydra encounter, which, as written, loses a head every 25 hp of damage taken. I’m already envisioning my players saying “okay so I don’t aim for its head”. How can I plan for this?

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Dungeons & Dragons 1w

Hey, so. I’m hoping to run a hydra encounter, which, as written, loses a head every 25 hp of damage taken. I’m already envisioning my players saying “okay so I don’t aim for its head”. How can I plan for this?

Anonymous 1w

Could always have the hydra start cannibalising itself which would be sick as a party member like you’re fighting this thing but it knows it grows heads so why wouldn’t it request more help if it knew it was losing lol so one of the heads just turns and rips the throat out of another head, you watch as the bloodied head mangled and torn rips from the base of the neck and boom two more heads lol vwalah

Anonymous 1w

it would be funny if you made it so if the 25th point of damage is not on the head it fires a head at them like a rocket idk how practical that would be though

Anonymous 1w

How many heads does it grow back and how long will the necks be? Cause the hydra could try and wrap around the PCs and eat them.

-2

Anonymous

#1 1w

I think the stat block says it grows back 2 additional heads each time it loses one. Like, the stat block doesn’t account for things like bludgeoning damage that wouldn’t cut a head off, or just aiming for the body, or anything that isn’t “I try to cut a head off”.

Anonymous

#3 1w

I think you just saved my encounter, thanks a ton!! The idea that introducing new heads is a survival instinct is brutal and super viable in combat. My players will love (and hate) it!

Anonymous

OP 1w

Haha I love the idea of your players spending all that time and planning to avoid the heads only for the hydra to pull a little surprise out. Enjoy the sessions guys

Anonymous

#3 1w

Dang it that’s way cooler than mine

Anonymous

#3 1w

The hydra: