Dropperweb

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-05

Overview

dropperweb is a prefab (not a standalone component) representing a spider den entity in the game. It functions as a persistent lair that gradually spawns spider dropper minions and occasionally webs nearby webbable entities (e.g., players or creatures). It integrates with the childspawner and health components for lifecycle and behavior management. It also responds to world generation settings via WorldSettings_ChildSpawner_* utilities.

Usage example

-- The dropperweb is instantiated as a prefab, not added as a component manually.
local den = SpawnPrefab("dropperweb")
den.Transform:SetPosition(x, y, z)

-- Once active, it spawns spider droppers automatically over time.
-- To force immediate spawning of all pending minions:
den.components.childspawner:ReleaseAllChildren()

Dependencies & tags

Components used: health, childspawner, groundcreepentity, minimapentity, transform, network
Tags added: cavedweller, spiderden
Tags checked: webbed, webbable

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
lastwebtime	number	GetTime() at spawn	Last time webbing activity occurred; used to track 1-day intervals.
SummonChildren	function	SummonChildren (local)	Public method to force immediate release of all available spider dropper children.

Main functions

SpawnInvestigators(inst, data)

• Description: Called when the den’s creep activates; spawns up to two spider dropper children at the den’s location and transitions them to the dropper_enter state. Does not remove the target.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the dropperweb instance; data (table) — event data (unused except for data.target).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: No effect if the childspawner component is missing.

OnEntityWake(inst)

• Description: Checks if 1 game day has passed since the last webbing event. If so, it finds unwebbed, webbable entities within range (TUNING.MUSHTREE_WEBBED_SPIDER_RADIUS) and converts them into mushtree_tall_webbed prefabs (web traps). Also updates inst.lastwebtime.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the dropperweb instance.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Skips webbing if less than one day has elapsed or if webbable count or webbed capacity limits are exceeded.

OnGoHome(inst, child)

• Description: Callback executed when a spider dropper child returns to the den; drops the child’s equipped head item (e.g., hats).
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the dropperweb instance; child (Entity) — the spider returning home.
• Returns: Nothing.

SummonChildren(inst, data)

• Description: Forces immediate release of all currently available spider dropper children if the den is alive (health > 0). Adds a debuff to each spawned child and transitions them to dropper_enter.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the dropperweb instance; data (table) — event data (unused).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: No effect if childspawner is missing or if health:IsDead() is true.

Events & listeners

• Listens to: creepactivate — triggers SpawnInvestigators when an entity enters the den’s ground creep radius.
• Pushes: None directly. However, child spiders created via SpawnChild or ReleaseAllChildren may fire their own events during state transitions.