I see your point. There is a much greater risk in letting them shoot at you vs just hacking them and that does also explain my misunderstanding. Not sure where I got the guaranteed 1 string idea from.FlowerChild wrote: Your understanding is wrong. They average 1 string drop (if they have any left), but it's not consistent. I think of it as you're hacking up this creature first killing it, then trying to salvage web stored in some organ, resulting in the variability based on how much string you ruin in the process.
Letting them shoot the web is indeed a more reliable way of extracting string from the spider, but also more time consuming. Both methods will result in the same amount of string accumulated over time. It's all a matter of whether you can afford the extra time or the extra risk, meaning the optimal approach will tend to vary based on circumstances.
I have a pretty low tolerance for gaminess, but I don't believe this qualifies. It's an intentional mechanic that engages the player in tactical decision making.
Just a side note(spoiler just in case)