[rtyffg]

Hmm, an intresting collection of ideas to mod.
About that spider armor - i agree, that it should be lighter, and, maybe, less sturdy how about 2 variations:
- spider armor: prot 15, def -2, enc 2, rcost 26 (as light as ring mail, as protective as scale mail, but costly) -- made for bane spiders/spider warriors (raising their defence and allowing to give them mapmove 2) -- which, in turn makes them that mentioned stealth unit, as they are already stealthy.
- light spider armor: prot 11, def -1, enc 1, rcost 16 (as light as leather mail, as protective as ring mail, still costly) -- made for hoplites (as lighter armor would allow them fast move and, again iron plate armor in a rainy climate...)
- giving a javelin/poison javelin seems a viable idea as well, maybe plain javelin to most non-bowmen and a poison javelin to hoplites and heavy spider riders? But not to light spiders, as they already have web spit attack and a total of 4 weapons.
- About small spider battlesummon - i already did a spell of throving spiders into anemy ranks, not sure they need small spiders as an addition (since spell numbers are limited).
- About skull totem - i've tried to make simulat idea (immobile lifeless wards, shooting needles with nasty effects), but lacked skill to do sprites.