The Book of Fen Hydra

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Anitar

Uncommons are uniques for everything except army building.

Grungebob confirmed this in the "Ask the Design Team" thread -- yes a uncommon hero can receive a viking spirit.

[KCU Master 2007]

I know this has been said in other threads, but hero really shines in a lot of aspects of this game.

1: 4 attacks of 4 is nothing to sneeze at. While the Hydra may not get all 4 attacks in all the time, when it comes up against a hero, it is a good bet that the Hydra will come out on top

2: 4 life is a good solid amount of life. It works for both Majors Q9 and 10 and it works here as well.

3: 6 defense is A LOT. This easily provides protection against squads (both ranged and melee) for the most part. Drop in a form of defense enhancement and its defense is very daunting.

4: Reach, a new and powerful aspect to this game. It may not seem like much, but with an option for multiple attacks, increasing the threat range even by this 1 hex can have a great effect. This increases the sphere of influence of a screening hydra as well.

There are obviously other qualities that make the Hydra impressive, but these 4 really stand out to me as the most dominating.

[LUCKE13]

Originally Posted by KCU Master 2007

Reach, a new and powerful aspect to this game. It may not seem like much, but with an option for multiple attacks, increasing the threat range even by this 1 hex can have a great effect. This increases the sphere of influence of a screening hydra as well.

I've had good luck so far reaching over my melee screen with the Hydra. If you can reach a hero over the screen, all the better. The hard part comes when you try to coordinate advancing the screen and hydra(s). I've actually had better luck with multiple Hydras since that gives you multiple options. Bonding would have been beneficial here, but I think this limitation goes a long way to balance this figure. Good job play-test team!

[Taeblewalker]

I have found that the Fen Hydra is greatly balanced - it will fall to frenzied attacks from the Aubrien Archers, backed up by Tagawa Samurai Archers, but not before taking out a few of the archers and killing Kaemon Awa.

My initial impression was that Move 5 made Slither kind of useless - but then I realized the Point of Slither is not to that to make it "at home" in water, but instead to ensure that it is not slowed down on maps with water in the way.

[drewcula]

I ran into this situation last night and would appreciate any clarity:
Fen Hydra uses 'reach' to attack a Zettian Guard. The Zettian Guard is standing beside a jungle tree. Does the Guard receive an extra defense die? We applied the jungle tree defense with the raitonale that 'reach' is now a 'non-adjacent' normal attack.

Thanks in advance.

[Riggler]

Originally Posted by drewcula

I ran into this situation last night and would appreciate any clarity:
Fen Hydra uses 'reach' to attack a Zettian Guard. The Zettian Guard is standing beside a jungle tree. Does the Guard receive an extra defense die? We applied the jungle tree defense with the raitonale that 'reach' is now a 'non-adjacent' normal attack.

Thanks in advance.

You played correctly.

[Taeblewalker]

Originally Posted by Riggler

You played correctly.

The same thing applies if Jotun is standing next to a figure, uses Wild Swing, and a figure on the other side of the target is next to a jungle tree.

Jotun Target1 Target2 JungleTree

Target2 gets the bonus.

[spiteofthedice]

Originally Posted by Riggler

You played correctly.

Agreed and Book-ed.

[Taeblewalker]

Originally Posted by spiteofthedice

Agreed and Book-ed.

Great point! In a recent game, the Hydra tried to stay two spaces away from the Tagawa Samurai Archers, so as not to give Counter Strike to them, but they rushed up and engaged. Unforunately for them (and happily for Chas, there was never a surplus of shields rolled anyway. But we still won!

[vertigosmooth]

It also ignores the Warriors of Ashra melee defense. This came in very handy with a rat in between my Hydra and his WoA, hehe. Hydras also shred heroes, I took out Tandros in one turn. Honestly, I was really impressed with the hydra, and the fact that you can draft more than one in case you lose one early. Just one of mine did over 300 points of damage!


Dustin

[Red_Sox_1]

OK so the Hydra has four points marked on the card to determine line-of-sight from. When using the Reach power, line of sight is required as it is a ranged attack. So what would the rule be about using the different targeting points? Can you use one targeting point for more than one attack in one turn? Thematically, it wounds like each targeting point should be used once if the Hydra has enough lives left to attack multiple times, but to my knowledge the rulebook says nothing on this subject. Just wondering...

[tcglkn]

Originally Posted by Red_Sox_1

OK so the Hydra has four points marked on the card to determine line-of-sight from. When using the Reach power, line of sight is required as it is a ranged attack. So what would the rule be about using the different targeting points? Can you use one targeting point for more than one attack in one turn? Thematically, it wounds like each targeting point should be used once if the Hydra has enough lives left to attack multiple times, but to my knowledge the rulebook says nothing on this subject. Just wondering...

Rules wise you can attack with the same head four times if you have no wounds. Themeatically it doesn't make sense.