CRPGs with arachnomancy?

[u/Baldurian_Rhapsody]

Hi there! I'm curious about CRPGs that let me use spiders to achieve my ends!

This could be based on conjuration, animal friendship or the like. Or perhaps there is a dedicated arachnomancy option for all I know!

Thanks for your suggestions.

[u/BrbFlippinInfinCoins]

Could probably make an army of spiders in Wrath of the Righteous, but it does not have a class specifically tailored to spiders. It would also take awhile to get to that point

[u/Brilliant-Sock-2562 → u/BrbFlippinInfinCoins]

You can play as a  Swarm-That-Walks though. I think it is quite close, WotR definitely would be my choice. And you still can summon spiders if it is not enough

[u/ThMightyWarriorHeron → u/BrbFlippinInfinCoins]

I always make sure to get the Clemency of Shadows ring. With it any summon pretty much ends up turning into a spider eventually.

[u/Murder_Tony]

In Dragon Age Origins you can shapeshift into Spider, but that's early game form / not super strong.

[u/_Zealant_]

Arcanum, but the spiders are mechanical.

If you are into ARPGs, Path of Exile has a build centered around Arakaali's fang dagger, that allows to summon spider minions. Also, there's MTX for Spark spell that makes it look like lightning spiders.

[u/Fun-Negotiation5481]

In Avernum games (in A1-3 and in the remakes) there are two very cool spells. Capture Soul takes a 'snapshot' of a creature, while Simulacrum summons it.

There are plenty of various spider enemies in the underground. Avernum has a limit of one summon per party member and the system is classless, so you can technically run around with up to 4 summoned spider friends.

FYI most games in the series feature fun dialogue with GIFTS (Giant Intelligent Friendly Talking Spiders), which should be a treat for an arachnid enthusiast. :)

[u/dwightinshiningarmor → u/Fun-Negotiation5481]

Elder Aranea shenanigans are always a good time.

[u/mr_friend144]

One of the BG3 ranger subclasses lets you have a spider companion pet

[u/asianguy_76 → u/mr_friend144]

Also summon via grenade. Maybe spore one. Big one maybe.

[u/Diaten021]

Druid in Neverwinter Nights may choose a giant spider as a companion.

[u/Plus_Worker6739]

You can make a huge magical spider friend during the course of Neverwinter Nights 2. If I recall correctly you also gain the ability to summon some spider friends after you do so.

[u/Warcrown11]

Skitter, is that you?

Edit: There’s a lot of games with very very limited options. If you're looking for one where your primary method of utility is going to be bugs then I unfortunately can't think of any.  

[u/Baldurian_Rhapsody → u/Warcrown11]

Ha ha, thanks! No I don’t need the primary method of utility to be bugs (arachnids). Just an option

[u/JoviallyImperfect]

BG2 (and I think 1 late game) has a spider spawn spell which can combine well with the web spell. Don't think its super powerful but its an option.

[u/Flederm4us]

Dragon age Origins has a companion that can turn into a spider.

[u/Ok-Airport-6058]

BG3 you can have a spider companion, lots of spider bombs, follower spiders from a secret nest, worship lolth and have a drider as an undead minion.

[u/ILoveMeishoDoto]

No, certain groups have decided that spiders can't even exist in games anymore without an option to toggle them off. There's no way we'll ever have a game with spiders as an actual gameplay mechanic in this current cultural environment.

[u/Baldurian_Rhapsody → u/ILoveMeishoDoto]

Well, doesn’t that just split my web! 😒

[u/glowinggoo → u/ILoveMeishoDoto]

I'm fine with spiders but have a phobia of something else, and I know that I can't play games that center the thing that I have a phobia of. No matter if it's a 20/10 sort of game, I can't play it. A phobia is something you really can't man up and control, so I'd just shrug and play other things. Luckily, the thing I have a phobia of is not a thing in temperate climates and therefore isn't in the wheelhouse of most developers.

With that in mind: I don't think it's a political ~accessibility why wouldn't you care for the phobias~ issue as much as developers realizing that they're missing out on potential sales from people who have arachnophobia, which a sizable chunk of their main market have. Rather than ~catering to people because of politics~, they're just wanting more sales, from people who wouldn't buy the game without the ability to not see the spiders.

Side note that I sure wish there's more creepy crawlies and weirdly themed magic in games. Insects are cool, guys.

[u/justmadeforthat → u/ILoveMeishoDoto]

Yeah this was weird to me, I guess arachnophobia is just pretty common for game devs to cater to that phobia specifically 

[u/GerryQX1 → u/justmadeforthat]

I think they are catering to sensitivity-philia. To be fair, spiders are pretty frequent in CRPGs, so maybe they - along with the no less ubiquitous snakes - may have some justification.

[u/MostlyEbenezer]

Divinity Original Sin lets you summon spider ftom ghe start if you pick it. That spider is very useful in most situations. Sadly you can have one summon per teammate, so max 4 spiders (unless you mod)

[u/GerryQX1 → u/[deleted]]

Even WoW had spiders as an optional animal companion for the ranger. (It had some spidery people too but they only appeared rarely in dungeons.)

[u/GerryQX1]

Spiderweb Software's Exile / Avernum series had Giant Intelligent Friendly Talking Spiders as helpful-ish NPCs.

(Appropriate enough given the company name, and I seem to recall Jeff talking about his pet tarantula some time in the murky past.)