D&D 5E Swarm of insects (spiders) -- How do you run this monster?

[Prakriti]

I'm about to run Ghosts of Saltmarsh, which includes a few encounters with insect swarms (spiders). As I read the stat block, it occurs to me that I have no idea how to run this monster. Unlike a swarm of flying insects, the spiders need to crawl onto a target to attack it (I assume, because that's the only thing that makes sense). But I'm not sure how to describe this action without giving the players the impression that they're being engulfed in spiders and can't attack for fear of hurting themselves or their companions. (How the hell do you stab a spider when it's crawling on someone, anyway?)

I guess I need to make it clear to the players that the "swarm" is a monster that can be attacked, and not some sort of trap/hazard that must be dealt with creatively. But how do I do that?

(Also, the swarm has 22 HP and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, which is effectively 44 HP. That's nuts for its 1/2 CR, isn't it?)

 

[iserith]

Maybe don't say anything about it other than describing it faithfully (and disgustingly) and let them deal with it however they want. Have creative attempts to deal with that fall short of totally dispersing the swarm (e.g. throw a bucket of water, blast of wind, etc.) do some measure of damage to its hit points, just as a way to track progress.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Yup. Don't. Let them flail around. Swarms are kinda nerfed from Pathfinder anyway.

 

[Oofta]

I simply describe the spiders as crawling all over the individual and get as detailed as I think my party will enjoy. I also describe the spiders as small fist-sized tarantula like spiders big enough to be hit, even if a single attack hits multiple.

Attacks are described as scraping the spiders off or slapping at them with the flat of a blade and so on. It's not perfect and "killing" the swarm just means killing enough that it's no longer a threat.

 

[jasper]

I'm about to run Ghosts of Saltmarsh, which includes a few encounters with insect swarms (spiders). As I read the stat block, it occurs to me that I have no idea how to run this monster. Unlike a swarm of flying insects, the spiders need to crawl onto a target to attack it (I assume, because that's the only thing that makes sense). But I'm not sure how to describe this action without giving the players the impression that they're being engulfed in spiders and can't attack for fear of hurting themselves or their companions. (How the hell do you stab a spider when it's crawling on someone, anyway?)

I guess I need to make it clear to the players that the "swarm" is a monster that can be attacked, and not some sort of trap/hazard that must be dealt with creatively. But how do I do that?

(Also, the swarm has 22 HP and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, which is effectively 44 HP. That's nuts for its 1/2 CR, isn't it?)

I use the flat of my sword to kill those spiders on Jasper. I use the edge to.... SPIDERS ! AGGGH RUN AWAY GOODBYE JASPER!
Yes make it clear that a swarm can occupy the same space as Jasper. And you don't damage Jasper when you hit the swarm.

 

[tommybahama]

My DM just said "a swarm of spiders crawls out of the fireplace" and put two checker pieces down on the battle map with a crude spider drawn on each. There was no need to get more descriptive. I guess you could say more to up the creepiness factor. Like when they attack, "the spiders crawls up your legs in an attempt to swarm over you" and then roll to hit.

When someone hit them with a weapon he would say "you strike at the swarm of spiders but most just scurry around the blade." I took it as meaning they had a lot of hit points. I never caught on that they had resistance to the damage. So I suggest that you make it expicit that weapon attacks don't seem effective.

 

[BookBarbarian]

DM: You are attacked by a Swarm of insects (spiders)
Me: Spiders aren't insects
DM: You win D&D
Me: puts on sunglasses
DM: You are the DM now
Me: takes of sunglasses

 

[iserith]

Also, when presenting swarms of insects or spiders, always ALWAYS leave open the possibility in your description that a bug crawled into one of the PC's ears and is now laying eggs in his or her brain.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Also, when presenting swarms of insects or spiders, always ALWAYS leave open the possibility in your description that a bug crawled into one of the PC's ears and is now laying eggs in his or her brain.

Related: my PCs were on a ship that was attacked by pirates who threw baskets of giant centipedes aboard as a terror tactic before coming over the sides. Giant centipedes of course do not fight to the death and flee when injured if not slain outright. So over the course of the battle four or five of them dashed off into some nook or cranny somewhere aboard the ship... and stayed there,

 

[jasper]

Centipedies are evil but what is more evil that is nickelipedies and what is more evil that than dimeipedies and what is more evil than than quarteripedies!