Drider

A playable Race for 5th Edition

Synopsis:
Play as a Drider in 5th edition, with subraces for Lurkers and Pouncers.

by Michael Richter

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Drider
“I excel at pulling strings. I'm a spider!” Alignment. Driders tend very much to evil alignments.
—Arachne, The Mark of Athena Their transformation has left them scarred for life, and to
garner Lolth's interest to begin with, they were usually
exceptionally vile drow before it.
Appearance Size. Driders drow-bodies are of elvish proportions, but
Driders have the upper body of a drow, but their lower their lower spider-bodies make them count as large
body is replaced with that of a large spider, their waist con- creatures. For the purpose of using weapons and armor
necting to where the spiders head would have been. though, they still count as medium.
Different driders may have different types of spider bodies, Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
with common examples being tarantulas or black widows. Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you
as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim
light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of
History gray.
When a drow shows great promise, Lolth summons it to Spider Climb. You can climb difficult surfaces, including
the Demonweb pits for a test of faith and strength. Those upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an
that pass the test rise higher in the Spider Queen's favor. ability check.
Those that fail are transformed into driders, a living Web Weaver. You can produce spider silk and you ignore
reminder of Lolth's power. movement restrictions caused by webbing. You
instinctively know how to build a web.
Society Languages. You can speak, read and write Elvish and
Undercommon.
Drow transformed into driders return to the material Subrace. There are two main kinds of drider, depending on
plane as twisted and debased creatures. the type of spider their lower body represents: Lurkers and
Driven by madness, they disappear into the Underdark to Pouncers. Choose one of these subraces.
become hermits or hunters, either wandering alone or
leading packs of giant spiders.
Lurker
This more common type of drider lies in wait for its prey,
Over time, the madness may slowly settle. When this
trapping it in webs or simply ambushing it with deadly
happens, some driders return to drow society, although
precision. They are very accustomed to the darkness, but
they are feared and shunned by their former kin, who hold
shun the sunlight.
them in lower esteem than slaves, but tolerate their
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
presence as living manifestations of Lolth's will, as well as
Dark Lurker. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
a reminder of the fate that awaits all who fail the Spider
Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the longbow,
Queen.
shortbow and shortsword.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, you have
Others continue their solitary lives or band together
disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on
with other driders to form their own societies. These
Wisdom(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
societies tend to be even more vile than those of the drow.
Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision has a range of 120
Over generations this can change though, as with any
feet.
culture.

Pouncer
Drider Traits These driders are built more powerful. They also use
Your drider character has a number of traits in common stealth, but prefer more open spaces where they can jump
with all other driders. at their unknowing prey or outrun it. As a result they
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by sometimes venture to the surface world to hunt.
2. Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Driders have similar lifespans to drow. Vicious Pouncer. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the javelin,
longsword and hand crossbow.

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