Let's talk about Hydras...

[Llewen]

Hydras are well, let's not mince words, evil. They're supposed to be evil, big and nasty. They're supposed to tear at your flesh, flash freeze you, flambe you, swallow you whole, and do all manner of horrible things to you, all at the same time. But it's a timing thing.

All of their special attacks go off at the same time. Which means they can squash just about anything, like a bug, any time. I'm wondering if it might be a bit more appropriate if instead of using all their breath weapons at the same time, all the time, if each head randomly spewed at appropriate intervals.

So they would use a breath weapon about five times more often then your typical dragon, and they might randomly use two or three at the same time once in a while, but they wouldn't use all their breath weapons, at the same time, EVERY time.

It's just a thought. Submitted with humility, and in the spirit of cooperation and... stuff... beer?

 

[Tazar]

I never thought they were that hard... Their attacks can be blocked by doing quick damage to them. Try using a fast hit thing (I use fireball instead of flamestrike) and I rarely have an issue.

 

[Llewen]

I guess the ones that nail me are the red ones in Blackthorn's dungeon.

 

[G.v.P]

All of their special attacks go off at the same time. Which means they can squash just about anything, like a bug, any time. I'm wondering if it might be a bit more appropriate if instead of using all their breath weapons at the same time, all the time, if each head randomly spewed at appropriate intervals.

So they would use a breath weapon about five times more often then your typical dragon, and they might randomly use two or three at the same time once in a while, but they wouldn't use all their breath weapons, at the same time, EVERY time.

The problem with your idea is the wording "randomly spewed intervals." What you're more or less asking for is for the breath attacks not to be random, but on a Christmas light schedule. If they're truly random, then you will get lulls and insta-deaths, just as you do now.

The problem I have with Hydras is they hit everything no matter having only such and such number of heads. Like Slasher, for example, fires a concentrated, dismount, aimed at an individual at random. That's a healthy mechanic. What I lean on is you argue there is no applicable strategy to fighting a Hydra except to simply cast things off screen, like an RC (or at least, that's how I feel).

They're still less annoying than Tormented Minotaurs (looking at you, @Kyronix ;P).

 

[Llewen]

The problem as I see it now is that the breath attacks are random, but they aren't random per head, so when they go off, they all go off at the same time, on the same target. As I see it it's a problem with primitive a.i. coding - and there may be nothing that can be done about it without a major a.i. upgrade for all the mobs. What I'd love to see is the heads not only breath individually and randomly, but that they even randomize their targets, so that the heads can be attacking different targets at the same time.

If this makes the hydras too weak, then buff up their hit points and resists, because it is true that even though they hit like a freight train, they go down very fast.

 

[Deraj]

Typically, monsters that kill me in approximately 1-2 seconds and before I have a chance to even react, I consider poorly designed. Hydras are somewhat manageable. Tormented minotaurs are unforgivable. The problem with hydras is they shoot multiple fireballs which can hit you multiple times. My opinion is that they should shoot multiple fireballs, but each player in range can only get hit once. That way, you still have a unique monster that has an edge against multiple people, and a player will still have the ability to react or counter the heavy damage of a single fireball.

 

[Promathia]

Hydras:

When I solo them (Or anything with their multi breath, such as Cora) I only get hit by 1 breath solo. The minute a 2nd target is in range, that's when the multi breath goes off, and we end up having the 5 split between us.

Even still, we hardly were at danger of being killed, and Hydras goes down pretty fast.

Now, for natural tormented minotaurs, those are fine. They do a really strong attack, but they dont have very high HP. Meraktus isn't so hard. Now, in an event setting its a bit different, as increasing their HP makes them a lot stronger and more frustrating.

 

[Deraj]

When I solo them (Or anything with their multi breath, such as Cora) I only get hit by 1 breath solo. The minute a 2nd target is in range, that's when the multi breath goes off, and we end up having the 5 split between us.

So multi-breath does not occur unless multiple players are within range of the hydra, meaning I can be hit by two breaths at once if others are in range of the hydra, am I understanding this correctly?

 

[Promathia]

So multi-breath does not occur unless multiple players are within range of the hydra, meaning I can be hit by two breaths at once if others are in range of the hydra, am I understanding this correctly?

Yes (If there arent 5 people for each breath). It will get split up among the targets available. This doesnt happen if you are by yourself (No pets or summons out).

Its what I recalled, and I tested it a little bit ago with a friend. Alone - 1 breath, with atleast 1 other target - 5 breaths got split between us.

 

[Llewen]

Hydras:

When I solo them (Or anything with their multi breath, such as Cora) I only get hit by 1 breath solo. The minute a 2nd target is in range, that's when the multi breath goes off, and we end up having the 5 split between us.

That's not what happens in Blackthorn's. All the breath attacks are focused on one target, and they all go off at the same time. Getting hit by that is just about always a one hit kill, and it only takes two of them doing that at the same time to take down a greater dragon, for just about any other pet that is also a one hit kill. Of course my pvm suit isn't all 70's, so maybe it's a problem with my suit. And maybe this is only a problem with the red hydras in Blackthorn's dungeon.

 

[Smoot]

That's not what happens in Blackthorn's. All the breath attacks are focused on one target, and they all go off at the same time. Getting hit by that is just about always a one hit kill, and it only takes two of them doing that at the same time to take down a greater dragon, for just about any other pet that is also a one hit kill. Of course my pvm suit isn't all 70's, so maybe it's a problem with my suit. And maybe this is only a problem with the red hydras in Blackthorn's dungeon.

um... if your using a pet, thats obviously 2 targets (you and the pet) If your having a problem on a tamer, try it with a bush dexter. between evade, feint, and armor ignore they arent that hard.

 

[Llewen]

This was with plenty of other targets in the area and multiple attackers, and many different characters with different templates experienced what I did. I'll have to pay closer attention next time and see if I can tell whether the breath attacks are being divided up.

And honestly, I don't believe I've ever said to any other player, "If you're having problems on a [bush dexxer; sampire; mystic mage; cook; thief; herder; chiv archer; etc.] try it with a tamer." Not only was that not the point, but I'm also not sure that mobs that are only susceptible to one very specific template are indicative of well thought out design choices.

Anyway, it's not my intention to start a flame war here. I just wanted to know what other people thought of the hydra a.i. Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.

Maybe what we're actually talking about here is bugged a.i.