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[Urist Da Vinci]

In my current 34.05 fort, I fought a concerning battle with a single giant cave spider (GCS) in the caverns. It spammed webs at all nearby dwarves after I sent troops to help a lone miner. It was able to keep most attackers perma-webbed, and marksdwarves couldn't shoot at it because of the cavern pillars and the webs. I managed to take it down by having dwarves approach from behind while it attacked a soldier. Deaths:2, Injuries:2.

GCS survival tips:
1. Wear helmets. GCS combat doctrine is to web, and then to bite in the head. Over and over again if necessary.
2. Webs are spammed at the closest victim. Don't try to approach from behind unless it is standing next to a victim already.
3. The most elite axedwarf is still useless if kept webbed. He is also dead without a decent helmet (Steel worked for me). If the head bites don't kill, the paralysis poison can lead to suffocation.
4. If you can fight them in the open, marksdwarves may be able to engage from outside it's webbing distance, provided that it can't run towards them. GCS no longer need a path to be able to shoot webs.

[Mitchewawa]

I prefer to catch them in cages, and clothe my dwarfs in their silk.

[dragginmaster]

How do you know which side is "from behind"?

[Reudh]

Whichever direction is opposite to its web spray.

[martinuzz]

We are assuming that the GCS shoots webs from the front. Perhaps that's incorrect if we look at general spider anatomy. Anatomically correct, the right side to attack the GCS from the OP, would be the front

[Mitchewawa]

We are assuming that the GCS shoots webs from the front. Perhaps that's incorrect if we look at general spider anatomy. Anatomically correct, the right side to attack the GCS from the OP, would be the front

'Attack the fangs, it's its' only weakness!

[Reudh]

Most fantasy style spiders raise their abdomens high and can point their spinnerets at an opponent, rather than having to spray backwards.

[Loud Whispers]

...So basically .31 tactics still apply.

Individual station commands = Flank WOOO

[Garath]

with the combat system, pot shots at the head get priority over other attacks, which causes the bite head spam, regardless if it can actually harm the head.

[Loud Whispers]

with the combat system, pot shots at the head get priority over other attacks, which causes the bite head spam, regardless if it can actually harm the head.

And creatures that are unconscious/stunned by web are always hit, regardless of the spider's skill.

So they always hit the head.

[Girlinhat]

"Ere Lodom, take this helm and go distr- um, take down that spider."
"What?  Wiff just this helm?  Ye didn' even give me a weapon!  Wha happens when I get bit in the chest?"
"Trus' me, yer gonna be fine."

[rtg593]

Most fantasy style spiders raise their abdomens high and can point their spinnerets at an opponent, rather than having to spray backwards.

Huh. I always pictured them curling it under and firing forward from underneath, from between its legs.

[Jacob/Lee]

Most fantasy style spiders raise their abdomens high and can point their spinnerets at an opponent, rather than having to spray backwards.

Huh. I always pictured them curling it under and firing forward from underneath, from between its legs.

Yeah, I do, too. Anyway, why didn't you try catching the GCS? Those things are very useful.

[psychologicalshock]

Even bronze helms block all of the hits from a GCS. Against the military they're a joke.

[Loud Whispers]

Even bronze helms block all of the hits from a GCS. Against the military they're a joke.

Eyes are never protected, and I've seen GCS go through steel with ease.

Nom nom nom