There's arachnids in them thar forests.

[Dirigible]

"Look alive, recruits! The woods are alive with giant spiders!"

What is the association between forests and spiders? Every time I've been camping, sure, there've been spiders, but more common were worms, moths, slugs and countless mosquitos. Yet the first monster that comes to mind when populating an RPG forest is our eight legged friends.

Is this a Tolkein legacy, again (the Mirkwood spiders)? Are there other sources?

 

[demiurge1138]

Giant spiders are definately very Tolkien. But DMs aren't the only ones to fall into that trap. Remember Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Giant spiders in the woods. It's just sort of a cliche.

Besides, there are giant mosquitoes in D&D. Stirges. But I don't think giant moths would inspire that much terror in the hearts of players.

Demiurge out.

 

[ConnorSB]

Unless they are Perdido Street Station style Slake-Moths. Then they inspire plenty of terror.

 

[Galethorn]

But I don't think giant moths would inspire that much terror in the hearts of players.

Sorry, but that just cracks me up . It's one of those cases where it's funny because it's true. However, that does get me thinking...what could a giant moth do exactly? They don't have stingers, and I don't think they're predatory, so I doubt they'd bite or sting...if it was a big enough moth, though, its wings might be a threat...

As for spiders, I think it's partly a tolkien thing, but also a "they're the only common forest invertibrate that would pose any real threat, big or small", unless of course one of the PCs is a Dead Leaf Genasi, in which case he'd have plenty reason to fear giant worms.

 

[elforcelf]

I guess you never saw any Japanese monster movies.elforcelf.

 

[Dirigible]

unless of course one of the PCs is a Dead Leaf Genasi...

From the pseudo-elemental plane of hummus?

 

[demiurge1138]

I guess you never saw any Japanese monster movies.elforcelf.

They have to be really giant moths, I think. Besides, when I think of Mothra, I don't think "terror". I think "cuddly". The size of a building, perhaps, but still cuddly.

I haven't read Perdido Street Station. Why are the slake-moths scary?

Demiurge out.

 

[TimSmith]

Surely the spider thing comes from 2 roots.

1) They can be dangerous even if they are an inch in size (or less)

2) Every right thinking person hates the disgusting, bloated, abominations that are spiders, big or small (Well, that goes for all us arachnophobes, anyway, and its probably one of the most common phobias. Though I haven't been so bad since I killed a tarantula on my bed in Cyprus some years ago-somehow, ordinary house spiders seem a lot less threatening after that!)

Really, mosquitoes (especially giant ones) would also potentially be very dangerous. I think the spiders get the edge, though, because they attack from ambush and/or trap their prey in webs. They have poison (frightening) and to top it off they like sucking their prey dry whilst its helpless-yukk. These are all "horror" elements. I'm with professor Tolkien on this one...

 

[Ashwyn]

Because they're SPIDERS, man. In the FOREST. It's scary.

 

[knitnerd]

Giant Moths

Giant spiders are definately very Tolkien. But DMs aren't the only ones to fall into that trap. Remember Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Giant spiders in the woods. It's just sort of a cliche.

Besides, there are giant mosquitoes in D&D. Stirges. But I don't think giant moths would inspire that much terror in the hearts of players.

Demiurge out.

Unless they are knitters with a stash of yarn to protect.