Homebrew Drider, Tarantulaic Variant Species Details

Born of the Feywild, the strange magics there have made many unique beings - and Tarantulaic Drider are no exception to this. Massive, with powerful muscles and shining coats of fine hair on their arachnid bodies, these folk are respected for their hardiness and strength. While they cannot spiderclimb as their smaller cousins can, they can hurl the sharp, long hairs as needles from their legs, and they have a unique sense of the ground through them. They make for excellent guardsmen, at the very least.

Similar to their smaller cousins, Tarantulaic Drider are typically Lawful in nature. They find value in duty, and often work to prove themselves useful in every situation. Should a Tarantulaic Drider be bested in a task, they will find this as a challenge to themselves - and work to improve.

Arachnid Form

The Tarantulaic Drider are soundly within the Large category. Weapons that are meant for medium creatures are less effective in their hands, and armor must be sized for them properly. They often take the appearance of a brawny half-elf, perched atop a massive arachnid body, until closer inspection. Typically, they have anywhere from fair to walnut brown skin tone, and their arachnid bodies can be as colorful (or as plain) as their spider cousins. Their facial features are usually very symmetrical and attractive, two eyes below a pointed brow and pronounced cheekbones. Their eyes appear nearly without pupil, a solid color of iris among a white eye. Their torso remains humanoid until the waist, where their abdomen merge with that of a large spider.

The Tarantulaic Drider can reach heights of 13 feet, though this is particularly large, even for them. Their bodies are nearly 10 feet in length, and they often require accomodation to fit within carriages or ships - a fact that many of them accept, and often choose instead to travel nearby. Their naturally faster pace means they can often keep up with such situations.

Their spider bodies are coated in fine hairs, but these are much more pronounced on their legs. When in times of stress, the hairs on their legs harden and point away from the body, forming a needle-like coating that can be hurled towards threats.

Duty First

As many Tarantulaic Drider are seen as warriors and soldiers, it is almost expected of them when found in the wild to be organized as such - and they often support this idea themselves. While not true for all, Tarantulaic Drider find comfort and honor in the code of law and battle, and are profound in their adherence to these codes.

A Sense of Vibrations

Tarantulaic Drider, cousins to many a ground spider, have a very highly developed sense of the world around them. They can feel the vibrations of other creatures moving about on the same surface as them, and as such, have a natural Tremorsense to a distance of 30 feet. Unfortunately, this can mean they can be more susceptible to Thunder based magic.

Natural Defense

The Tarantulaic Drider, a number of times per day equal to it's Constitution Modifer (a minimum of 1), may hurl the spines from it's legs towards a target, making a ranged weapon attack. These spines are considered finesse weapons with a range of 30 feet, and deal 1d4 piercing damage to a target. These spines do not require a hand to wield, and can thus be used without a hand being available to wield them.

Mighty Frame

Tarantulaic Driders are powerful in stature, and thus have advantage on strength checks to move, lift, or push an object or creature that weighs up to twice the Tarantulaic Drider's weight, or is no more than 1 size category larger than it.

Drider, Tarantulaic Variant Traits

The Tarantulaic Drider is Large, powerful, and versatile - favoring strength and unique senses to perform it's duties.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength Score increases by 2, and your Wisdom Score increases by 1.

Alignment

Tarantulaic Driders can vary in personality though they frequently act according to laws or a code. Those that do join society are usually lawful, though they can be good, evil, or anywhere in between.

Age

Tarantulaic Driders reach maturity at the age of 20. Compared to humans, Tarantulaic Driders can live a long time, some reaching beyond 400 years of age.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet. 

Size

Tarantulaic Driders are Large creatures. They are often over 12 feet in height and over 10 feet in length. They can weigh 800 to 1200 pounds, depending on their build and height.

Languages

You can read, write and understand Common and Sylvan.

Natural Defense

As an attack, you may launch the spines on your legs towards a target you see or sense. The spines can be treated as any mundane weapon, and can be coated in poison without adverse effects to you. You regain the use of your spines after a long rest once you have expended all of them. At higher levels, the spines deal more damage, and no longer require a rest to recover them.

As your Tarantulaic Drider grows in experience, the spines become more potent. At level 5, the spines damage increases to 2d4 piercing. At level 10, the damage increases to 4d4 piercing, and no longer requires a long rest to recover. At level 15, the damage increases to 4d6 piercing, and is considered magical. At level 20, the damage increases to 4d10 piercing.

Mighty Frame

Tarantulaic Drider's are strong, and their bodies are meant to lift and move heavy things. You have advantage on Strength checks to move, lift, or push an object or creature that weighs up to twice the Tarantulaic Drider's weight, or is no more than 1 size category larger than it.

A Sense of Vibrations

You have Tremorsense out to 30 feet. Additionally, you have disadvantage on saving throws against spells and abilities that deal Thunder damage.