Spring Attack and the Hydra

[Oogar]

Looking for an opinion or specific ruling. If a character with Spring attack were to attack one of the heads of a hydra, would that character provoke AoOs from the other heads? By the book, I can see ruling it as they do not. I will rule it that way, unless someone points me to a specific ruling about it. As for the opinions? Someone always seems willing to share "the way they do it" for free, and they are often entertaining.

 

[smetzger]

Even though the Hydra breaks the unwritten rule that there are no called shots in D&D 3e, it is still one creature.

Just because you are aiming at a specific part of the creature dosen't mean that the other parts are separate creatures for the purpose of Spring Attack. If you attack a neck the hit points always get subtracted from the Hydra.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I can see grounds for debate on the point though - the hydra (and the ettin) are special cases, since although they share the same body (hit point pool) each head has a separate consciousness. They don't get multiple AoO because of combat reflexes, but I think they should get multiple AoO because of multiple brains

So I would rule that when spring attacking a hydra head, the other hydra heads would count as "adjacent combatants" as it were, and would take AoO. Of course, he gets +4 AC from his mobility, so he will probably be OK anyway!

I would understand DM's ruling either way on this though. Some wouldn't be as nasty as I am

 

[Brekki]

If the other heads are "adjacent combatants", do you also rule that someone could whirlwind or great cleave on several heads ?

We did, and killed several hydras extremely fast this way.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Yes, I would. It only seems fair, and it is frankly easier to envisage than great cleaving through 8 orcs with a longspear

 

[Oogar]

Thanks for the input. Mob has a face of 20' so I think I will rule a whirlwind attack as getting a chance at up to 3/4 of the heads, if even that many. The party is going to need all the help it can get, though. You see, I am evil. (it is Pyro / Lernaean, and there will most likely be a haste on it. Perhaps a mage armor, as well)

 

[smetzger]

Thanks for the input. Mob has a face of 20' so I think I will rule a whirlwind attack as getting a chance at up to 3/4 of the heads, if even that many. The party is going to need all the help it can get, though. You see, I am evil. (it is Pyro / Lernaean, and there will most likely be a haste on it. Perhaps a mage armor, as well)

Ah but does Haste effect all the heads or just one? How about the Mage Armor, do you need to cast it on each head?


I find it much more consistent to consider it one creature for everything.