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The itsy-bitsy spider came out the water spout, and it was the servant of a spider god that lured you into a trap and ate you into pieces. The world ofDungeons & Dragonsis filled with creatures of all shapes and sizes, particularly ones that leave us with nightmares. Driders are a prime example; standing around eight feet tall, they lurk in dark tunnels, entrapping their targets with webs.
Surprisingly, Driders are deeply entangled in the lore and history of Dungeons & Dragons. That being said, while any Dungeon Master can simply throw Driders at their party as opposition, there are a couple of ways you can get creative with how they are incorporated.
What Are Driders & Where Did They Come From?
Driders are the Spider Queen Lloth servantswho have failed her when tested. More specifically, theDungeon Master’s Guidedescribes Driders as Drow who have been summoned by Lloth to complete a test, only to fail and be turned into a Drider.
When cursed,Driders do whatever they can to please the Spider Queen, whether in the hopes of being transformed back into normal Drow or to prove themselves worthy of their new form.
While most Driders end upalone wandering the world, some may work in groups to support each other.
Drider Abilities & Features
Driders alone are incredibly strong, especially against an unsuspecting party. Naturally, being Chaotic Evil, they have anArmor Class of 19and123 Hitpoints.
Being mostly part-spider, Driders canmove naturally and climb on any surface(yes, including upside down) for up to 30ft per turn while also having 120ft of Darkvision. Driders are also known to be stealthy hunters, so they have19 Passive Perceptionand additional skill bonuses of+5 Perceptionand+9 Stealth.
Driders have Sunlight Sensitivity, so they will rarely be active in the daytime or daylight. This also means that parties can effectively use Radiant damage against them to hurt them brutally.
Coming from a mystical realm of existence, Driders havemild spellcasting, being about to use visionary-focused spells to aid in hunting, includingDancing Lights,Darkness, andFaerie Fire.
Driders can attack three times in a single turn, being able to choose between itsBite,aLongsword, or aLongbow(each besides the Longsword uses Poison to deal extra damage).
Using Driders For Storytelling
The lore and background behind Driders are already tragic, which means they are excellent creatures to use for story elements in your campaign.
Whether tosend your party against the Spider Queen herselfor to provideredemption for a lucky few, Driders can be used in various ways. Brief examples include:
Roleplaying Driders can be challenging, as each can have goals and motivations, especially after being transformed. While some may be willing to communicate and find peace for themselves, most will be arrogant and devoted to the Spider Queen to even be reasonable to talk with.
Roleplaying Driders comes down to the specific plot point and storytelling you use for each Drider.
Not specific to Driders,adding your flair and personality to Driders can help reveal elements of the world itself. Does a Drider with a metal arm and reinforced legs mean they are learning to make their augmentations, or is someone purposely helping them for an unknown reason?
Using Driders For Combat
Since Driders are natural hunters, it is common foryour party to be their prime target.
First, have your Dridersset web traps in narrow spaces while using webs as obstacles in other areas.Driders will do what they can toconstrict and limit the movement of an unsuspecting party,so they have the best advantage when hunting them.
While some Driders will go out and purposely hunt outside their homes, it is usually only for a specific reason.
Once your Driders have set their webs,have them patiently wait from the ceiling of a tunnel or a hidden tunnel. When someone gets their foot trapped in a web, they can climb from their hiding spot and pick off the party individually.
From here, it’s simply a game of eitherfrightening off the partyto have them leave a Drider’s domain orsecure and ensnare all of themto succeed in the battle.
