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Old 10-10-2017, 12:51 AM   #11
DanHoward
 
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

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Maybe cultivated spiders are already a Thing, but just don't yield the same quality silk that wild ones do. No one knows why.
Those domestic cultivated spiders need to be fed a regular diet of dungeon delvers.
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Old 10-10-2017, 09:16 AM   #12
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

Farming large predators sounds expensive.
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Old 10-10-2017, 11:45 AM   #13
Kromm
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

It isn't just any giant spiders that yield the silk. Only the humongous species that inhabits the tunnels at the edges of the Kingdom of the Shadow Elves has webs strong enough for a DR 2 T-shirt and flexible enough not to cause a DX penalty. The webs of smaller spiders aren't strong enough, while those of humongous spiders from other regions aren't fine enough. Why do you think the shadow elves settled in the area all those millennia ago? They were spider-herders, of course!

You can't use webs strung in the caves. Those are full of dust, mineral residue from dripping stalactites, and creepy-crawlers ('pedes, regular-sized spiders, etc.). Generations of shadow elves have tried cleaning them up with magic, but spells ruin the webbing. You have to incapacitate or slay the spiders and then milk out the silk, which is a special IQ/Average skill that the shadow elves are reluctant to teach. That's a quest unto itself.

You can't expect to sell dead spiders to the shadow elves. They consider killing the spiders to be sacrilege against the scantily clad spider goddess from Hell that they totally don't worship. You can get paid a regular herder's wage if you bring back a live spider, though. Call it $120 per spider, divvied up among the whole party.

Basically, the whole thing is akin to enchanting items: Something NPCs do.
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Old 10-10-2017, 12:43 PM   #14
Flyndaran
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

I guess that would explain why that nobody you picked a fight with in the bar kicked your adventurer butt. Level 25 Spider Wrangler NPC.
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Old 10-10-2017, 01:37 PM   #15
martinl
 
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

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You have to incapacitate or slay the spiders and then milk out the silk, which is a special IQ/Average skill that the shadow elves are reluctant to teach.
My next DF PC needs to be a "Shadow Elf Giant Spider Milkmaid." I'm sure Paraj will be delighted.
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Old 10-10-2017, 03:26 PM   #16
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

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Basically, the whole thing is akin to enchanting items: Something NPCs do.
Come to think of it, in any world where you have spell granting gods of craftsmanship, there ought to be production processes that are basically are (clerical) enchanting. Perhaps successfully weaving Giant Spider silk fabric actually requires casting a spell bestowed only by She Who We Most Certainly Do Not Worship.
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Old 10-10-2017, 05:50 PM   #17
evileeyore
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

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... only by She Who We Most Certainly Do Not Worship.
You mean the Builder don't you. ;)
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Old 10-10-2017, 08:17 PM   #18
Steve Jackson
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Default Re: Monetizing Giant-Spider Silk

However, the weaker adhesive of other humongous species is ideal for the production of tape and sticky-notes, which is why She Whom We Etc. is also known as Our Lady of Office Supplies.

And many of her votaries are notaries.
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