D&D 5E Druid Spider Form

Jaracove

First Post
When a druid turns into spider form, how strong is that spider's strand of web, strong enough to allow fellow pcs to climb up its length?

Is there a rule for this?
 

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this is one for dm's to judge, as there is no rules as far as I know. I would say though that it is fine. Let the druid player feel important :)
 

I would say very much strong enough for that, but also way too sticky to climb. I can't imagine attempting to climb a spiders web, you could not grab the next bit higher up, as the bit you are holding would be stuck in your hands. There is a reason you don't see insects, that are great at climbing, climbing their way out of spider webs.
 


Spiders generate sticky and non-sticky strands, from different spinnerets on their abdomen.

Wikipedia on web construction: "It makes a spiral of non-sticky, widely spaced threads to enable it to move easily around its own web during construction, working from the inside outward. Then, beginning from the outside and moving inward, the spider methodically replaces this spiral with a more closely spaced one made of adhesive threads."
 

When a druid turns into spider form, how strong is that spider's strand of web, strong enough to allow fellow pcs to climb up its length?

Is there a rule for this?

I don't think that the strand of web from a Tiny, CR0 , Str 2 spider would be strong enough to climb on. However, the web of a Giant Spider is a completely different story.
 

When a druid turns into spider form, how strong is that spider's strand of web, strong enough to allow fellow pcs to climb up its length?

Is there a rule for this?

As a DM, I would rule that it could support anything of roughly equitable weight to the spider form. Stickiness however might require a little bit of granularity as some spider webbing is not sticky, while some spider webbing is very sticky. On the whole, I would rule that it is too sticky for anyone besides the spider-form druid to climb.
 

I would of course remind the climbing PCs that they are covering themselves in their companions excretions. Make sure to mention the tiny chunks of corn and carrot stuck in the webs, and the fact that they are picking it out of their hair for days.
 

I would of course remind the climbing PCs that they are covering themselves in their companions excretions. Make sure to mention the tiny chunks of corn and carrot stuck in the webs, and the fact that they are picking it out of their hair for days.
Do you believe the spider poops out its silk???

Otherwise, I don't understand...
 

Spiders generate sticky and non-sticky strands, from different spinnerets on their abdomen.

Wikipedia on web construction: "It makes a spiral of non-sticky, widely spaced threads to enable it to move easily around its own web during construction, working from the inside outward. Then, beginning from the outside and moving inward, the spider methodically replaces this spiral with a more closely spaced one made of adhesive threads."


I was going to mention this but you beat me to it :) A spider can choose to put out a non sticky strand if it wants. I'd also rule that a giant spider (large beast) can hold just about anything the party wants to put on it. Spider webs (especially anchor webs) are incredibly strong and can hold things many times the spider's weight. There are spiders that catch birds and lizards with them. Think of it like this. Me, as a freaking giant compared to a spider only an inch in size, can routinely flick an anchor web with my fingers and not break it. A giant spider? No problems.
 

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