I have some new players that are going to be playing with me. One of them will be playing a Drow Cleric of Lolth, who is deathly afraid of spiders. Do you fellow DMs have any ideas about how I can integrate this characters phobia into my game story? I find this idea of a Drow being afraid of spiders, fascinating, especially since they have chosen to be a Cleric of Lolth and want to make this part of my game story. I am a bit rusty at telling stories as I haven't DMed for a while though.
If you have any ideas or suggestions that you would be willing to share, about how I could make this whole arachnophobia thing part of my game, then I would be most grateful.
Cheers
Foxes
PS: It isn't going to be a long campaign or anything. I am doing 12 weeks, to cover for one of the other DMs and want to run my own story, rather than trying to pick up his.
Maybe they notice small groups of spiders watching their every move so it could seem like not only the spiders are watching but Lolth herself is spying on the cleric. Obviously you could also include spider enemies (giant spiders, swarms, driders, etc).
I have some new players that are going to be playing with me. One of them will be playing a Drow Cleric of Lolth, who is deathly afraid of spiders. Do you fellow DMs have any ideas about how I can integrate this characters phobia into my game story? I find this idea of a Drow being afraid of spiders, fascinating, especially since they have chosen to be a Cleric of Lolth and want to make this part of my game story. I am a bit rusty at telling stories as I haven't DMed for a while though.
If you have any ideas or suggestions that you would be willing to share, about how I could make this whole arachnophobia thing part of my game, then I would be most grateful.
Cheers
Foxes
PS: It isn't going to be a long campaign or anything. I am doing 12 weeks, to cover for one of the other DMs and want to run my own story, rather than trying to pick up his.
NPC People with spider families they encounter, maybe fudge some random encounters to be spider based, dilapidated places they go to/search have spiderwebs and might have spiders.
(sadistic) have a sorcerer enemy polymorph them INTO a spider...
For heightening tension, give player opportunity to RP the phobia: thinks he/she feels a spider crawling on hand, shoulder, but there's nothing there (or some other sort of bug/arachnid like a scorpion or beetle) bc in the dark even with darkvision still only small shades of gray; also, nothing wrong with spiders really crawling on overnight during sleep and only find out about it in the morning or there's a spider in the boot when getting dressed. Just small things could be very fun, without shoehorn ing giant spiders into combat if the location doesn't make sense;
First thing I thought of was Indiana Jones and snakes...honestly it would be kind of funny to recreate the snake pit scene but with spiders. :-)
But seriously, throw in some spiderwebs and spiders here and there in your dungeons and let the player do the rest! She'll do the roleplaying/development, you just need to provide a trigger.
An enemy spellcaster targets with Phantasmal Force. Or A glyph triggers when they enter an area that casts the same spell, potentially causing them to see giant spiders.
I agree with the people who are remembering that seeing a spiderweb can be just as panic-y as seeing a spider for people who have real fear. I would say watch for times when that character walks ahead of others in a wooded area, or tunnel, or enters a room first. You narrate that they feel a strand of silk stick to their face, and stretch and break as they walked through a web. Now they need to make a wisdom save or they have a full panic attack and ruin stealth by screaming, or wet themselves, or have disadvantage on ability checks for the next 5 minutes due to distraction, or just flat out become Frightened.
Which reminds me. The Frightened condition is a legit mechanic in the game. They could/should make a save any time they see a spider or they play that encounter under the frightened condition.
One note of caution: One of my players (a good friend) has arachnophobia. I would make sure to ask the player if they have this phobia or if they're just playing a character with it. If the PLAYER has this phobia, then you do NOT want to upset them by bringing in spiders.
One note of caution: One of my players (a good friend) has arachnophobia. I would make sure to ask the player if they have this phobia or if they're just playing a character with it. If the PLAYER has this phobia, then you do NOT want to upset them by bringing in spiders.
I mean, they're playing a priest of Lolth. If anything, players when choosing a deity, look at the holy symbol. I can't imagine someone who actually has arachnophobia choosing their character to worship the queen of spiders. If they weren't comfortable with spiders in-game, they probably wouldn't have designed their character substantially around spiders. There is a pretty significant chance that spiders are going to come up if you do that.
Not sure if you’re also talking about mechanics, but one of my characters was killed by a spider swarm. Couldn’t get loose of webs and his health got whittled down. He was resurrected at a temple but the DM and I decided that he should have a mental scar. So now whenever he sees a spider or insect kinda thing he has to make a wisdom save or panic. The DM lets me role play as I want like whether he falls down and curls up in a ball, runs away screaming or just is frozen in fear. He gets a save on each turn to overcome it. It adds an interesting flavor to things since his reaction can be unexpected by the rest of the party.
Modify the hold person spell, instead of just standing there paralyzed, it causes them to double over and vomit live spiders until they make their save. Describe as they crawl out their nose and across their face. I had a drow priestess of Lloth cast it, so it stayed in theme.
Google spiders. There are some crazy-looking spiders out there, including ones that look like just a bump on a branch. Now, turn that into a giant spider camouflaging on a tree trunk... or a giant rock spider...
Or have one of the other characters befriend a spider who in turn wants to be friends with the drow! It offers the drow webbed up meals and other bits.
Hi guys,
I have some new players that are going to be playing with me. One of them will be playing a Drow Cleric of Lolth, who is deathly afraid of spiders. Do you fellow DMs have any ideas about how I can integrate this characters phobia into my game story? I find this idea of a Drow being afraid of spiders, fascinating, especially since they have chosen to be a Cleric of Lolth and want to make this part of my game story. I am a bit rusty at telling stories as I haven't DMed for a while though.
If you have any ideas or suggestions that you would be willing to share, about how I could make this whole arachnophobia thing part of my game, then I would be most grateful.
Cheers
Foxes
PS: It isn't going to be a long campaign or anything. I am doing 12 weeks, to cover for one of the other DMs and want to run my own story, rather than trying to pick up his.
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Maybe they notice small groups of spiders watching their every move so it could seem like not only the spiders are watching but Lolth herself is spying on the cleric. Obviously you could also include spider enemies (giant spiders, swarms, driders, etc).
NPC People with spider families they encounter, maybe fudge some random encounters to be spider based, dilapidated places they go to/search have spiderwebs and might have spiders.
(sadistic) have a sorcerer enemy polymorph them INTO a spider...
Blank
For heightening tension, give player opportunity to RP the phobia: thinks he/she feels a spider crawling on hand, shoulder, but there's nothing there (or some other sort of bug/arachnid like a scorpion or beetle) bc in the dark even with darkvision still only small shades of gray; also, nothing wrong with spiders really crawling on overnight during sleep and only find out about it in the morning or there's a spider in the boot when getting dressed. Just small things could be very fun, without shoehorn ing giant spiders into combat if the location doesn't make sense;
Boldly go
First thing I thought of was Indiana Jones and snakes...honestly it would be kind of funny to recreate the snake pit scene but with spiders. :-)
But seriously, throw in some spiderwebs and spiders here and there in your dungeons and let the player do the rest! She'll do the roleplaying/development, you just need to provide a trigger.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
wizard with a spider familiar....either player or npc.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
An enemy spellcaster targets with Phantasmal Force. Or A glyph triggers when they enter an area that casts the same spell, potentially causing them to see giant spiders.
I agree with the people who are remembering that seeing a spiderweb can be just as panic-y as seeing a spider for people who have real fear. I would say watch for times when that character walks ahead of others in a wooded area, or tunnel, or enters a room first. You narrate that they feel a strand of silk stick to their face, and stretch and break as they walked through a web. Now they need to make a wisdom save or they have a full panic attack and ruin stealth by screaming, or wet themselves, or have disadvantage on ability checks for the next 5 minutes due to distraction, or just flat out become Frightened.
Which reminds me. The Frightened condition is a legit mechanic in the game. They could/should make a save any time they see a spider or they play that encounter under the frightened condition.
Lots of good ideas.
One note of caution: One of my players (a good friend) has arachnophobia. I would make sure to ask the player if they have this phobia or if they're just playing a character with it. If the PLAYER has this phobia, then you do NOT want to upset them by bringing in spiders.
I mean, they're playing a priest of Lolth. If anything, players when choosing a deity, look at the holy symbol. I can't imagine someone who actually has arachnophobia choosing their character to worship the queen of spiders. If they weren't comfortable with spiders in-game, they probably wouldn't have designed their character substantially around spiders. There is a pretty significant chance that spiders are going to come up if you do that.
Well technically Lolth would want her clerics to be afraid of her. But I don't think it would work for a Drow Cleric to be afraid of spiders.
Not sure if you’re also talking about mechanics, but one of my characters was killed by a spider swarm. Couldn’t get loose of webs and his health got whittled down. He was resurrected at a temple but the DM and I decided that he should have a mental scar. So now whenever he sees a spider or insect kinda thing he has to make a wisdom save or panic. The DM lets me role play as I want like whether he falls down and curls up in a ball, runs away screaming or just is frozen in fear. He gets a save on each turn to overcome it. It adds an interesting flavor to things since his reaction can be unexpected by the rest of the party.
Modify the hold person spell, instead of just standing there paralyzed, it causes them to double over and vomit live spiders until they make their save. Describe as they crawl out their nose and across their face. I had a drow priestess of Lloth cast it, so it stayed in theme.
Only female Drow can be clerics of Lolth
Google spiders. There are some crazy-looking spiders out there, including ones that look like just a bump on a branch. Now, turn that into a giant spider camouflaging on a tree trunk... or a giant rock spider...
Or have one of the other characters befriend a spider who in turn wants to be friends with the drow! It offers the drow webbed up meals and other bits.
Carrion
Ooh...The party has a patron who gifts one of them a Familiar. But it can only use the spider form.