"Giant spiders" as a racial enemy

SharGuidesMyHand

When I select "giant spiders" as a ranger's racial enemy in BG1, does that mean he or she will get a bonus against all spiders (i.e: sword and phase spiders), or just the ones that are explicitly named "giant spiders"?

SharGuidesMyHand

Also, I just rechecked BG2, and I noticed that it lists "spiders" as the title of the racial enemy instead of "giant spiders," but the description is the same as in BG1.

So my second question is, is there a difference between spiders as a racial enemy in BG1 and BG2?

smeagolheart

sounds like a bug

Schneidend

Since all spiders you fight in both games are absolutely ginormous relative to normal spiders, it likely means Giant Spider racial enemy will affect all of them.

jackjack

I should hope so.

iAmGoatBoy

Yes I'm sure it includes all spiders, however I would advise against choosing this particular racial enemy. Even the toughest spiders in the game are pretty easy to kill in most cases so the bonus is pretty redundant... vampires or undead, for example, would be much more useful IMO.

SharGuidesMyHand

iAmGoatBoy said:

Yes I'm sure it includes all spiders, however I would advise against choosing this particular racial enemy.

Too late! :-(

But I'm still only in BG1, so I'll have the option of changing to another enemy when I import my char into BG2.

iAmGoatBoy

Ahh. Might actually be more useful in BG1, where sword/phase spiders are somewhat higher up the food chain than they are in BG2

Yamcha

Schneidend said:

Since all spiders you fight in both games are absolutely ginormous relative to normal spiders, it likely means Giant Spider racial enemy will affect all of them.

There are some small ones in the giant crypt located in Atkathla :P

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

elminster

Giant spiders apparently have their own "Giant spider" class, so I imagine the bonus (at least in BGEE) just uses that and just relates to giant spiders. Sort of like Skeletons (and not all undead),

Edit: Apparently you do get the +4 damage/to hit against all types of spiders.

JLee

I just did some testing and I received +4 to hit on Wraith Spiders and Phase Spiders with Giant Spiders as my racial enemy.

Edit: Derp, just noticed the OP specifically mentioned sword spiders. It works against them too.

Fardragon

Yamcha said:

Schneidend said:

Since all spiders you fight in both games are absolutely ginormous relative to normal spiders, it likely means Giant Spider racial enemy will affect all of them.

There are some small ones in the giant crypt located in Atkathla :P

Those are still significantly bigger than a cat.

Kouga

I preffer Ogre racial enemies, they seem the most powerful of them all. But then again I try to min-max (to a realistic level)!

SCARY_WIZARD

It's a pretty good choice for the first game, I have to say... They regular ones go down pretty fast, but ye gods phase, sword, and wraith spiders are bad news if you aren't prepared and they're on the other side of the battle!
Riiight next to skeletal undead. Skeleton warriors.

In the second game, I'd say to change to something a little more threatening and frequent, like perhaps beholders or mind flayers. Maybe golems! I've really only playted through Shadows of Amn after the first game, so take this suggestion with a grain of salt.

Wanderon

I usually take skeletons for BG1 (which I believe includes skeletal warriors) and vampires for BG2.

reedmilfam

I've found spiders to be a great choice for BG1, as well. Ogres are more susceptible to arrows than the fast-moving sword (and jumping phase) spider, so I usually mort them the old-fashioned way. However, the skeleton is probably a better choice because the damage bypasses pierce resistance and enables one-shot arrow kills on skelly hordes (the dart ones and composite bow ones, for instance).

Quartz

Spiders are a good choice for BG1. Several of the different Spiders have a -4 AC vs. Missile Weapons, so if you're firing from range and they're your racial enemy, you essentially get no penalty. And of course, additional damage to boot.

Ithual

I choose Giant Spiders with my Archer. At lvl 1 it helps in Beregost, and that screen in Cloakwood is possibly hardest part of the game.