The obvious other "tank" spider besides shelob is Ungoliant. Trying to make it powerful (she was Morgoth’s accomplice in attacking the Valar) without being overpowered, I’ve come up with this, what do you think?

.Ungoliant, Gloomweaver
Minion-Spider
Strength 12
Vitality 8
Site 8
Captain. Enduring. Fierce.
When you play Ungoliant, you may play two minions from your discard pile.

Nice idea! A few suggestions: drop the cost to 8 and the strength to 10. Boost the vitality to 10, and toss in a spotting requirement, such as "To play, spot 2 conditions in your support area. Good card!

I’m thinking that however powerful it is, a twilight cost with the abiltiy to play minions from your discard pile is a little twilight demanding. Maybe have some way to decrease her twilight cost? But how to do that without overpowering the card... I think the minion playing is a fitting ability, because Ungoliant is the first great spider, and the mother of all others.

Perhaps we could drop enduring to simply add to strength (captain won’t do much good in fierce skirmishes, well, maybe, if the other spiders are fierce...) and maybe add a toil cost?

Here’s a few ideas for gollums:

.Gollum, Riddle Master
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
When you play Gollum, spot a minion to reveal a card at random from the free peoples player’s hand. Add [x], where [x] is the twilight cost of the revealed card.

A little too powerful combined with the above Ungoliant. Change it to: "When you play Gollum, add X, where X is the number of threats you can spot." Spotting burdens is also an option.

.Gollum, Murderer
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
Lurker.
Each time another minion wins a skirmish, make Gollum strength +2.

Very nice text. This would be beastly with AC’s captain!

Thoughts?

.Ungoliant, Gloomweaver
Minion-Spider
Strength 12
Vitality 8
Site 8
Captain. Enduring.
All Spiders are fierce.
When you play Ungoliant, you may play up to two spiders from your draw deck.

You might have to raise the cost a little, though, this seems pretty powerful, if there are cheap spiders. However, Watcher in the Water with Huge Tentacle and Foul Tentacles was not that great of a combo...

.Gollum, Riddle Master
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
When you play Gollum, spot a minion to reveal a card at random from the free peoples player’s hand. Add [x], where [x] is the twilight cost of the revealed card.

How ’bout exerting him? He could add tons of twilight for the Spiders!

.Gollum, Murderer
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
Lurker.
Each time another minion wins a skirmish, make Gollum strength +2 until the regroup phase.

.Ungoliant, Gloomweaver
Minion-Spider
Strength 12
Vitality 8
Site 8
Captain. Enduring. Fierce.
When you play Ungoliant, you may play two minions from your discard pile.

.Gollum, Riddle Master
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
When you play Gollum, spot a minion to reveal a card at random from the free peoples player’s hand. Add [x], where [x] is the twilight cost of the revealed card.

.Gollum, Murderer
Minion
Strength 5
Vitality 4
Site 3
Lurker.
Each time another minion wins a skirmish, make Gollum strength +2.

• Smeagol, Forgotten Stoor
Companion
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, add a threat or exert a companion.
Each time Smeagol wins a skirmish, remove a burden or a threat.

• Stoor of Gladden Fields
Condition
Plays on Smeagol.
Fellowship: Discard a condition to discard the top card of your draw deck; if it is a card, heal X companions, where X is the twilight cost of the revealed card.