Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

It realizes how vulnerable it is to body-shots and instinctively interposes its heads between attackers and its torso.

But the feature doesn't read like that. If it did, they could've had it be a reaction that it can take each turn. However, the stat block just always assumes that the hydra only/mostly takes damage to the heads, even if stunned, paralyzed, petrified, or otherwise incapacitated. 

Yup.  And also it loses a head from taking 25 points of psychic damage in a round.  Sometimes, you've just got to either roll with it or decide to houserule.

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Yup.  And also it loses a head from taking 25 points of psychic damage in a round.  Sometimes, you've just got to either roll with it or decide to houserule.

Yeah. Maybe flavor it as them being so stupid that their brain(s)/head(s) explodes when they take enough psychic damage?

Yeah that monster needs a rewrite. As it stands, my players, most of whom are new to D&D but know mythology quite well, will be conscious to avoid cutting the head. If a rogue says that he shoots a bolt to the torso and hits and I will say "sure, a head falls off because you did more than 25 damage" they will never let me live it down :D

Exactly. I wonder if in one of the previous editions of D&D has a Hydra with only 25 SLASHING damage to remove a head?

P.S. When I all caps on a damage type, it's just to emphasize on that type of damage.

Is anyone still on?

A hydra starts with 5 heads, but with fire, it can be reduced to one. If that last head goes, it dies.

So, what's a hydra with only one head?

...and can it still eat a Centaur like that or does it have to use utensils to eat large things rather than ripping them apart with multiple heads?

Quote from EricHVela >>

A hydra starts with 5 heads, but with fire, it can be reduced to one. If that last head goes, it dies.

So, what's a hydra with only one head?

...and can it still eat a Centaur like that or does it have to use utensils to eat large things rather than ripping them apart with multiple heads?

 That's not a hydra, it's a serpent

Regardless of the number of heads, a hydra still has a body and legs, so it wouldn't be a serpent. It'd just be a lonely hydra :(

Quote from Davedamon >>

Regardless of the number of heads, a hydra still has a body and legs, so it wouldn't be a serpent. It'd just be a lonely hydra :(

 it is like conjoined twins but only one :(

Quote from RangerTwoBlades >>

Exactly. I wonder if in one of the previous editions of D&D has a Hydra with only 25 SLASHING damage to remove a head?

P.S. When I all caps on a damage type, it's just to emphasize on that type of damage.

 Yes, that was the way it worked in 3.5 and earlier editions (though it took less than 25 damage to remove a head).

Also, standard hydras in that those editions didn't automatically regrow heads, only Lernaean hydras, so it was a highly efficient means of killing them.  As long as they weren't pyro or cryo hydras with breath weapons.

If anyone is curious, Dragon Magazine #103 actually had a writeup on centaur anatomy.

Quote from Jounichi1983 >>

If anyone is curious, Dragon Magazine #103 actually had a writeup on centaur anatomy.

 Important Warning: Don't see this on mobile or you'll go blind

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.

Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.

Gorgons are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.  

 Except those two breathe fire. The gorgon of D&D fame is probably closer to the "African gorgon" or catoblepas. It's a mythological Ethiopian cape buffalo or wildebeest with a breath that turns subjects to stone. That said, the name is Greek in origin and likely came about because of Alexander the Great's campaign into northern Africa.

As for where the metal armor came from (the gorgon is still flesh underneath), I don't know.

Hmm.... What if you put an ancient red dragon up against an ancient white dragon? Who do you think would win?

 I think that question should probably be in another thread.  Assuming you can't easily tell by looking at the differences in stats between the two (hint, you can).

Yeah, I know STAT wise a red dragon would beat a white dragon, but I meant like in the original books they came from. But even then, a red dragon would still win.

Quote from Jounichi1983 >>

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.

Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.

Gorgons are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.  

 Except those two breathe fire. The gorgon of D&D fame is probably closer to the "African gorgon" or catoblepas. It's a mythological Ethiopian cape buffalo or wildebeest with a breath that turns subjects to stone. That said, the name is Greek in origin and likely came about because of Alexander the Great's campaign into northern Africa.

As for where the metal armor came from (the gorgon is still flesh underneath), I don't know.

 Oh wow! Idk that.

@RangerTwoBlades sorry. You guys exhausted my minimal knowledge of monster anatomy lol.

Heh. I only know half of my knowledge because I read all of the Percy Jackson books at least four times.

Quote from Jounichi1983 >>

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Greek mythology is probably responsible for more types of D&D monsters than any other single source.

Although some, like Gorgons, have very little resemblance to their mythological origins.

Gorgons are closer to the Colchis Bulls than the Gorgons of Greek Mythology, which are now Medusas, but are more just clones of THE Medusa than the Gorgons.  

 Except those two breathe fire. The gorgon of D&D fame is probably closer to the "African gorgon" or catoblepas. It's a mythological Ethiopian cape buffalo or wildebeest with a breath that turns subjects to stone. That said, the name is Greek in origin and likely came about because of Alexander the Great's campaign into northern Africa.

As for where the metal armor came from (the gorgon is still flesh underneath), I don't know.

 Isn't catoblepas in volo's guide?