Theme

Although Cobweb is a rather abstract game, it does have thematic elements. As discussed in the Rules, the rule that top discs are required to catch a prey means that the it's the first web that the prey encounters that it gets caught in and the rule that such discs move to the bottom means that the web has to be repaired afterwards.

How about the prey then? What does it mean that they are spread across the board instead of concentrated to specific areas, such as all flies in the center? Well, the main reason is that it makes the game more interesting but it could also be interpreted as the difference between a weaving spider and a huntsman spider. While the former passively weave thick cobwebs to catch any prey that passes by, the latter actively targets their preys. A player who plays his or her spider like the former will catch few preys frequently while a player who plays his or her spider like the latter will catch a lot of prey each time but work harder in between (to get the discs back to the top).

But why do catching prey result in more discs then? Elementary, the more the spider eats, the more energy does it get to weave more web.

The conclusion is that even abstract game benefit from and convey thematic ideas.

Spider

Maggot

Fly

Wasp