Spider, Monstrous

Spiders are found in all regions except those which are frigid, and legends tell of giant, fur-clad, white spiders inhabiting polar climes. All spiders are aggressive predators. Even if not hungry, they will attack creatures which disturb their web. They dwell both above and below ground.

Most listed here are poisonous and bite prey first, because unconscious victims are easier to carry to a lair. Spiders have eight legs and eight eyes. They usually fit into two categories: web-spinners, which have bulbous abdomens and thin, sleek legs; and hunting spiders, which have smaller bodies, larger heads and fangs, and hairy bodies and legs. All spiders have the arachnid type.

Giant Spider (Giant Wolf Spider)

Neutral Large Monster (8 ft. to 12 ft. diameter)

Surprise normal; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 4

Hit Points 34 (HD 4+4; 4d8+16)

Move 3”, climb 12" (climb 15"; jump up to 6")

Poison 11, Petrify 12, Wand 13, Breath 13, Spell 14

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 15

Melee bite (2d4 plus poison)

Special Attacks (jumping attack), poison, webs; Hits As +1

Morale 69%

Intelligence low (5-7)

Languages none (Undercommon)

Level V

Poison. The bite of a giant spider is poisonous. A victim must save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

Webs. Giant spiders are web builders. The use their webs to entrap prey in a variety of configurations: Horizontal webs (a horizontal net with at least two supporting structures), Floor webs (sticky webbing attached to the floor), Vertical webs (a vertical net with at least two supporting structures) and Web stands (a dangling vertical strand up to 100 feet long which waits for a creature to bumble into or a dangling strand actually wielded by the spider to attach to a victim). If contacted by a non-web-building-spider, the web will entangle the creature until they break free. In conditions of dim light (less than daylight or continual light), webs set as traps, which are difficult to see, may surprise creatures (standard chances of surprise; who will then have a chance to contact them; usually a % chance of contact determined by the DM).

Entangled. The creature is immobile and partially bound due to the webs. Attacks against entangled creatures are at +4 “to hit” and the creature gains no AC bonus for Dexterity or shield protection.

Breaking Free. Any creature with a Strength ability score over 12 can break free of the webs. If the victim has stumbled into webs and is on the periphery of them, they may break free in an amount of time based on their Strength score (Strength 18: 10 segments; Str 17: 2 rounds; Str 16: 3 rounds; Str 15: 4 rounds; Str 14: 5 rounds; Str 13: 6 rounds; Above a Strength of 18, it takes a major action and 1 segment to break free). If the victim is fully encompassed by the webs (having fallen into them, etc.), the time is determined by the mass of webbing involved: Creatures with a Strength of 13 through 17 can break through 1 ft. of webs per turn. Creatures with 18 or greater Strength break through 1 ft. of webs per round. (Sufficient mass equates to great Strength in this case, and great mass will hardly notice the webs. Strong and huge creatures will break through 1 ft. of webs per segment.) One creature may free another on the edge of the webs by making a successful Bend Bars (Strength) roll.

Attacking with a Web Strand. (major, 3 segments) If a spider is actively attacking with a web strand, it can roll a standard to-hit score with the strand and, if contacted, the victim is entangled. Range is the length of the strand from the spider (but limited to a 30 foot diameter area from the spider is perched—these spiders do not "shoot" webs at their victims). The spider may anchor the strand, or, if the victim is Smaller than Man-sized, it can reel it in (at 60 feet per round; victims can hold themselves in place if they have an anchor and a Strength score of 16 or higher). Time Required: Attacking with a web strand is a major action requiring 3 segments. Reeling in a victim is a major action taking time depending on the length of the strand (movement at 6 feet per segment).

Flammable. It is important to note that the strands of a monstrous' spider's web are flammable. A flame tongue sword will slash them away as easily as a hand brushes away cobwebs. Any fire—torch, flaming oil, flaming sword, etc.—will set them alight and burn them away in a single round. All creatures entangled by the webs will take 2d4 hit points of damage from the flames, but those freed of the strands will not be harmed.

Most giant spiders resemble web-building garden spiders with the bodies the size of a horse. In certain areas, mainly underground, giant versions of intelligent black widow spiders are found, working with some evil agency—some with more potent than usual poisons (-2 on the save).

If badly wounded, a giant spider will flee from an encounter with a superior foe, typically hiding in some secret spot for safety.

Giant Hunting Spiders. Some giant spiders are of the hunting variety, not web-builders. These spiders move and climb at 15" and can jump into melee and attack. They do not spin web traps.

Jumping Attack. Giant hunting spiders can jump into melee range as a special charge attack. This grants the normal charge modifiers (immediate attack, +2 to-hit, -1 on the spider's AC, and longer weapon or brace weapon offering an immediate attack). Such spiders can jump up to 6" (60 feet) in one segment and attack a creature at the end of the jump as a charge attack. The jump can be up to 30 ft. high (clearing obstacles) and will be in a straight line from where the spider is facing (or up to 90 degrees to either side). A giant hunting spider may use a jumping attack whenever it chooses against a foe not already in melee (unlike a charge that is restricted to once per turn). Jumping also allows the spider to leave melee without suffering a free attack.

Giant Black Widow. These giant spiders are Chaotic Evil web spinners with deadly poison (save is a -4). They are very cunning and will frequently work with evil creatures to ensure a steady supply of humanoid prey.

Giant Spider, Water (fresh)

Neutral Man-sized Monster (6 ft. ft. diameter)

Surprise normal; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 5

Hit Points 22 (HD 3+3; 3d8+9)

Move 15”, climb 15"

Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 16

Melee bite (1d4 plus poison)

Special Attacks poison, webs; Hits As normal

Morale 63%

Intelligence semi- (2-4)

Languages none

Level IV

Poison. The bite of a giant spider is poisonous. A victim must save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

Webs. See giant spiders.

Fresh water dwellers, giant water spiders are found only in large lakes. They build great nests of air amidst underwater vegetation. These spiders are able to run along the bottom or up and down vegetable or mineral surfaces underwater. They snatch passing prey, deliver a poisonous bite, and bring the victim to their lair to be drained at leisure. The clever airlock allows free passage without loss of vital air. On occasion such water creatures as nixies will be on friendly terms with giant water spiders, for they are semi-intelligent and can be approached with offerings of food. Abandoned water spider lairs are excellent places of refuge for air-breathers.

Giant Spider, Water (marine)

Neutral Man-sized Monster (12 ft. ft. diameter)

Surprise normal; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 4

Hit Points 80 (HD 7+7; 7d8+49)

Move 15”, climb 15"

Poison 8, Petrify 9, Wand 10, Breath 9, Spell 11

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 12

Melee bite (3d4 plus poison)

Special Attacks poison, webs; Hits As +2

Morale 87%

Intelligence semi- (2-4)

Languages none

Level VI

Poison. The bite of a giant spider is poisonous. A victim must save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

Webs. See giant spiders.

Giant marine spiders inhabit shallow seas and ocean waters in semitropical and tropical areas. Much as their fresh water cousins do, giant marine spiders build huge air-filled underwater nests from webs and vegetation. They hide in seaweed along the ocean floor, rush out and bite their prey. The bite will induce a coma and the spider will carry it's victim back to the underwater nest. In all respects other than those noted above, giant marine spiders resemble giant water spiders.

Huge Spider (Huge Web-spinner)

Neutral Man-sized Monster (6 ft. diameter)

Surprise others 85%; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 6

Hit Points 13 (HD 2+2; 2d8+4)

Move 18", climb 18"; jump up to 3" (move 6"; climb 12")

Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

Special Defenses none

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 16

Melee bite (1d6 plus poison)

Special Attacks jumping attack, poison (+1 save), (webs); Hits As normal

Morale 57%

Intelligence animal (1)

Languages none

Level III

Poison. The bite of a huge spider is poisonous. A victim must make a +1 save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

Jumping Attack. Huge spiders can jump into melee range as a special charge attack. This grants the normal charge modifiers (immediate attack, +2 to-hit, -1 on the spider's AC, and longer weapon or brace weapon offering an immediate attack). Such spiders can jump up to 3" (30 feet) in one segment and attack a creature at the end of the jump as a charge attack. The jump can be up to 15 ft. high (clearing obstacles) and will be in a straight line from where the spider is facing (or up to 90 degrees to either side). A huge spider may use a jumping attack whenever it chooses against a foe not already in melee (unlike a charge that is restricted to once per turn). Jumping also allows the spider to leave melee without suffering a free attack.

The typical huge spider is not a web builder but a roving hunter such as a wolf spider. It can leap 3" upon prey and deliver its deadly bite. Others of this ilk build carefully hidden places of concealment and rush forth upon prey, i.e. trapdoor spiders of huge size.

Huge Web-Building Spiders. Some huge spiders are web-builders. These spiders move at 6" and climb at 12". They cannot jump and their webs are like a giant spider but at half strength (i.e. half the time to break free, but a minimum Strength of 13 is still required).

Webs. See giant spiders.

Large Spider

Neutral Small Monster (2 ft. diameter)

Surprise normal; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 8

Hit Points 5 (HD 1+1; 1d8+1)

Move 6”, climb 15"

Poison 14, Petrify 15, Wand 16, Breath 17, Spell 17

Special Defenses mindless

Weakness mindless

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 18

Melee bite (1 plus poison)

Special Attacks poison (+2 save); Hits As normal

Morale 50%

Intelligence non-

Languages none

Level III

Mindless. This creature is immune to mind-affecting magic. Mindless creatures make saving throws as if they were half of their listed hit dice with the exception of poison or death magic saves. The creature will use tactics instinctively, normally attacking the nearest opponent (or if several, one picked at random). Unless attacked by more than one opponent, it then attacks the same creature until it's prey drops—then it uses one round of coup de grace attacks before beginning to consume it (unless the description notes a different behavior). Otherwise, a mindless creature will attack the same opponent until it is damaged in melee by another opponent. The creature will then attack the opponent that last damaged it until it drops as noted above. Mindless creatures will only attack those not in melee unless all creatures in melee have dropped and are not moving. If a mindless creature has a special attack not related to it's melee weapons, it will use that attack if it rolls under 51% in any new round unless the description of the creature notes otherwise. Area attacks will target melee range creatures first and any creatures outside of melee range will be incidental (simplest placement to hit melee combatants or, if necessary, random placement of the ability). Some mindless creatures will have a preference in terms of prey (for example, attacking smaller creatures first) and this must be assessed when determining the creature's actions. Mindless creatures do not use regular rules for morale. A mindless creature always has a flat 50% for morale and begins checking for morale once it has reached under 50% of its hit points in damage unless the description states otherwise. A mindless creature cannot communicate with creatures not of it's type (and even then only at a very basic level; e.g. Threat Perceived, Food, etc.), has no languages, and has an Intelligence Rating of "Non-" (effectively "0").

Poison. If a bite attack is successful, it does no damage but the creature bitten must make a +2 save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

These creatures scuttle and scurry about—on walls, ceilings, and floors, in and out of their webs, always searching for victims.

They are 90% likely to attack any creature within 3". Their poison is relatively weak in most cases, so saving throws are at +2.

Phase Spider

Neutral Large Monster (15 ft. ft. diameter)

Surprise normal; Senses detects vibrations within 60 ft.; good night vision; poor eyesight in bright light

Armor Class 7

Hit Points 47 (HD 5+5; 5d8+25)

Move 6”, climb 15"

Poison 10, Petrify 11, Wand 12, Breath 12, Spell 13

Special Defenses phasing

Magic Resistance standard

To Hit AC 0: 13

Melee bite (1d6 plus poison)

Special Attacks poison (-2 save), webs; Hits As +1

Morale 75%

Intelligence low (5-7)

Languages none

Level VI

Poison. The bite of a phase spider is poisonous. A victim must make a -2 save vs. Poison or immediately fall into a coma and die (a save negates).

Phasing. (minor, 1 segment, see description) When attacking or being attacked the phase spider is able to shift out of phase with its surroundings, bringing itself back only when it is ready to deliver its poisonous bite. When out of phase they are invisible and impervious to nearly all forms of attack, although a phase door spell will cause one to remain in phase for 7 melee rounds. Oil of etherealness and armor of etherealness also put their wearers into the same phase as this monster when it shifts out of phase. When fighting creatures unable to fight out of phase, the phase spider has no limitation on its ability to charge and bite.

How This Works. A phase spider's bite attack requires a major action of 1 segment. Phasing in or out is a minor action requiring 1 segment each. Commonly, the spider will declare a charge and use the first segment to phase in, before a charge and bite. After the bite attack, the spider can spend 1 segment to phase out. Once in melee, the spider must use the first segment to phase in before biting and then can phase out again at any time. Sometimes, the spider will purposely delay to confuse it's foes (delaying the phasing in, then bite, then phase out). A spider that is out of phase gains no immediate or free attacks for creatures entering or leaving melee. Spiders that are out of phase can move through solid obstacles. Phase spiders that are more intelligent than normal will use tactics like phasing in from behind their foes for rear attack bonuses.

Webs. Phase spiders are web builders. The use their webs to entrap prey in a variety of configurations: Horizontal webs (a horizontal net with at least two supporting structures), Floor webs (sticky webbing attached to the floor), Vertical webs (a vertical net with at least two supporting structures) and Web stands (a dangling vertical strand up to 100 feet long which waits for a creature to bumble into or a dangling strand actually wielded by the spider to attach to a victim). If contacted by a non-web-building-spider, the web will entangle the creature until they break free. In conditions of dim light (less than daylight or continual light), webs set as traps, which are difficult to see, may surprise creatures (standard chances of surprise; who will then have a chance to contact them; usually a % chance of contact determined by the DM).

Although these monsters appear to be nothing more than very great spiders, they are something quite beyond this. Phase spiders are web-spinners with a raised thorax and a human-like head. They have a unique ability to phase in and out of the Prime Material plane. They phase in, attack, and phase out, all in a single round. Phase spiders will seek to evade encounters which are unfavorable.

ENCOUNTERS

Levels Large/Huge. III.; Giant (black widow, water). V.; Phase. VI.

Frequency. Common; In Lair Giant. 70%; Huge. 50%; Large. 60%; Phase. 75%; Water (fresh). 90%; Water (marine). 70%

Number Appearing. Giant. 1-8; Huge. 1-12; Large. 2-20; Phase 1-4; Water (fresh) 1-10; Water (marine) 1-6 (Level III. Large. 1d4+1; Huge. 1d3; Giant. Level V. 1d2; Phase. Level VI. 1d3)

Environment. Phase. Ethereal plane; Temperate/sub-tropical, uninhabited/wilderness areas (All Excluding Water. plain, scrub, forest, rough, desert, hills); Tropical/near-tropical, uninhabited/wilderness areas (Large. scrub; Huge/Giant. forest; hills, mountains, marsh); Underwater, fresh (Water [fresh]. shallow, deep); (giant water, marine) Underwater, salt (Water [marine]. shallow); Waterborne, salt (Water [marine]. shallow/coastal); Underground

Treasure Type. Giant. C; Huge. J-N, Q; Large. J-N; Phase. E; Water (fresh). J-N, Q; Water (marine). Incidental

Experience. Giant. XP 375 (or 205+5 per h.p.); Huge. XP 144 (or 105+3 per h.p.); Large. XP 120 (or 110+2 per h.p.); Phase. XP 607 (or 325+6 per h.p.); Water (fresh). XP 238 (or 150+4 per h.p.); Water (marine). XP 1,625 (or 825+12 per h.p.)

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