The Webbers

I had started these guys nearly a year ago after I first saw Tristyn's Random Humanoid Generator. I meant to finish this a lot sooner, and I think it's pretty much been finished. The result I got really got my mind spinning. I can't recommend this generator enough. It's really an excellent resource for making some new monsters.

I had initially written these monsters back when I was running LotFP. Since then I've started looking at S&W as something of a more default system, so I've tried to adjust them to this. That said, I believe morale is essential, so I've added that as well. I also have the stats for these friendly web-spinners as generic as possible OSR stats.

I figure that Webbers are most often preying on other monsters, so it might be profitable for PCs to attempt to make some kind of deal with their Queens (or the Low Mothers at an outpost). I envision Webbers as having a Neutral alignment, or perhaps Lawful given their propensity for strict hierarchies (I suppose it depends on how you want to define alignments). It is very easy, nonetheless, to picture a colony of Webbers as a Chaotic incursion, and power-hungry Queens no doubt would seek deals with demons or other Chaotic entities. I picture these guys mostly in wooded areas, generally attempting to expand caverns or create extensive burrows in the soil.

The Webbers (Web Men; Spiderfolk)
Worker (AC 8 [11] HD 1+2 Move 12; 1 Fist (1d3) or 1 Kick (1d4) or by Weapon; # Appearing 1d8; Morale 6; Save 17; Special: web; CL/XP 2/30)
Soldier (AC 6 [13] HD 2 Move 9; 1 Thrash (1d6) or 2 kicks (1d4) or by weapon; # Appearing 1d8; Morale 10; Save 16; Special Web; CL/XP 3/60)
Low Mother (AC 5 [14] HD 3 Move 9; 2 Thrashes 1d6+2; # Appearing 1d3; Morale 6; Save 14; Special Web; CL/XP 4/120)
Concubine (AC 5 [14] HD 3 Move 9; 2 Thrashes 1d8 or 2 kicks 1d4; # Appearing 1d6; Morale 7; Save 14; Special web; CL/XP 4/120)
Praetorian (AC 3 [16] HD 4 Move 12; 1 Thrashes 1d8+2 or 2 kicks 1d6 or by Weapon; # Appearing 1d6; Morale 9; Save 13 Special web; CL/XP 5/240)
New Queen (AC 4 [15] HD 4 Move 9; 1 Thrash 1d8 or 2 kicks 1d4; # Appearing 1d4; Morale 7; Save 13 (or F4); Special Web; CL/XP 5/240)
Queen (AC 3 [16] HD 6 Move 6; Thrash 1d10+2 and Bite 1d4; # Appearing 1; Morale 7; Save 11 (or F6); Special Stomp, Web; CL/XP 7/600)
Generic Stats
Worker: Shield, Normal MV, SV F1
Soldier: Leather + Shield, 3/4 MV, SV F2
Low Mother: Chain, 3/4 MV, SV F3
Concubine: Chain, 3/4 MV, F3
Praetorian: Plate, Normal MV, SV F5
New Queen Chain+Shield 3/4 MV, SV F6
Queen Plate, Half MV SV F6

These creatures have stubby fingers, the lower body of a spider, and live in a stricy hierarchy. The Webbers live in small colonies, separated into castes: Queens, Royals (Praetorians, New Queens, Concubines), Low Mothers, Soldiers, and Workers. Royals are generally intelligent, while Soldiers and Workers have the basest of intelligences, only enough to accomplish their tasks. All are born by a Queen and her Low Mothers. Queens lay the eggs for all castes while Low Mothers lay eggs for only Soldiers and Workers. Queens and Low Mothers are generally much larger than other Webbers. New Queens are about the size of a Praetorian until they copulate with a Concubine and begin laying eggs.

Eggs weigh between 5 to 10 pounds, are slightly oblong, and have an average diameter of 16 inches. Larvae hatch from the egg and remain in that state for 10-16 weeks. Larvae are all effectively identical, and the caste of the larva can be discerned only by pheremone. The larva then transitions into a pupa. Pupae have a more pronounced difference in how they look according to their caste. Worker and Soldier pupae mature much faster than Royal Pupae.

The Queen is both the unquestionable ruler of her domain and the mother of her people. Though it seems that she doesn't have the same kind of care for her children as a typical mother does, she does generally care for her royal children. A Queen is generally obsessed with defining, securing, and expanding her domain. Queens live for a very long time, generally three to four times as long as a typical Webber. A Queen generally has control over what kind of eggs she lays and how frequently she lays them.

New Queens and Concubines are typically sent out to found a new colony before they mate and begin reproducing. Two Queens producing royals within the same colony is a recipe for civil war and collapse. New Queens generally serve as administrators within the colony until the time where they settle their own Colony. The Concubines serve as aides to New Queens and to the Queen. The primary function of the concubines are to fertilize Low Mothers and New Queens so there are only so many concubines in a given colony.

Praetorians are noble protectors. Royal themselves, they are intelligent and extremely powerful. Praetorian pupae are extremely demanding, so a careful Queen will not breed too many. With thick carapace and fiercely strong arms, Praetorians are much stronger than soldiers. Occasionally when a troop of Soldiers requires a careful strategist, a Praetorian will command them.

Low Mothers are the Worker and Soldier breeders of the colony. They are of average intelligence. Their primary role that of birthing worker and soldier eggs, the Low Mother doesn't generally have too much of an active role in the colony. Occasionally, a Low Mother will be stationed at an outpost with only itself, some Praetorian guards (watching her as much as protecting her), and workers and soldiers. Rarely, a Low Mother breaks away from her Queen and founds her own colony, though she is only able to birth workers and soldiers and the project has no real stability. Workers and Soldiers raised in said scenario, however, are generally much more intelligent than their counterparts under a Queen.

Soldiers generally look like larger workers. They have powerful arms and thicker chitin. Soldiers are the least intelligent of all Webbers. They generally patrol the colony's territory or perimeter on the look out for intruders. They also venture out for raids on other colonies, monstrous humanoids, or demihuman settlements. Occasionally, there will be workers that are slightly stronger than other Soldiers, possess a higher intelligence on a par with a Low Mother, and bear a slight resemblance to a Praetorian. These Soldiers are sometimes called High Soldiers and generally fill the role of Sergeants. High Soldiers have 2 Hit Dice.

Workers don't necessarily have low intelligence. They mostly lack ambition, creativity, and enterprise. Workers are, however, quite capable at problem-solving, intricate tasks, and hard labors. They don't seem to exhibit any kind of self-interest. They can be very skittish. Any time they encounter a group outside of the colony, even if they outnumber the opposing party they must check morale. If they must fight, their goal is to organize a retreat.

Their many legs protects them from trip and bullrush attempts. They have a /web/ ability which allows them to construct web traps throughout their lairs. A Webber can also attempt to spray an opponent with web. A character sprayed with a web must Save vs Paralyze; from a worker's web one Saves at +4, from a Praetorian's at +0, and from all others at +2. The Queen can /stomp/ the ground ferociously; all creatures adjacent to or within 10' of the Queen must Save vs Paralyze or fall prone.

Most Webbers are very confused by bipeds and their fascinating ability to defy the laws of physics and stand on only two legs. How two-legged creatures are able to walk is beyond them.