Roman Gladiators
Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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The Definite Roman Gladiatorial Games GeekList!
I have done my best to include every historical, Roman gladiatorial miniatures system and board game, but please let me know if I have missed any. Please don't add any games with a fantasy, sci-fi or modern setting, they don't belong here.
List Rules
1) Strictly historical and Roman
2) Strictly about gladiatorial combats and gladiators
3) Strictly tabletop games with miniatures (or a board and tokens at minimum)
4) No pure card games
5) No thinly disguised abstracts (my opinion)
Since it is fairly difficult to find many of these games, I include details on how to obtain each game.
Game Rules
A  means that the particular rule is included in the game, while a  means it's not:
- One-on-One Combats
- Free-for-All Combats
- Team-vs-Team Combats
- Gladiators vs Animals (Bestiarii vs animals)
- Campaign and Experience (i.e. will your gladiators improve over time)
- Lanista (players as managers of ludi, i.e. a gladiator school)
- Horsemen (Equites)
- War-Chariots (as used by the Essendiarii)
- Chariot Races (off-topic, but illustrates the completeness of the rules)
I also cover the following details:
- Gladiator Types (how many types are included in the rules?)
- Historical Accuracy (how historically accurate are the rules and gladiator types?)
- Animals (how many are detailed in the rules?)
- Board (what bord is the game played on, and is it included?)
- Page Count (how many pages of rules?)
GeekList Presentation
The list is sorted according to how I informally rate each game in the following categories:
- Accessibility and Fun-Factor (gateways and fillers)
- Availability (free games rate highly, OOP ones poorly)
- Reputation/Popularity
- Rules Completeness and Historical Accuracy
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Is Ludus Gladiatorius 2 basically more of the same? You bet!
However, they have added campaign rules, there's now a game controlled lion, there are more special moves, etc. However, the game is still very light. You will want to play this as a beer-and-pretzels style game, or perhaps with kids. If you want some deep miniature rules, or a simulation of gladiatorial combat, this is not it.
The Publisher wrote: New Gladiators - Retiarius; Amazon; Bestiarius; Criminal; Lion. New rules. A complete Campaign system. Colour-coded dice.
New Stuff. More Stuff.
A complete game in it's own right and also totally compatible with Ludus Gladiatorius 1.
Gladiators supplied painted. Playsheet included. Everything required to play is supplied, including a pouch to randomly pick counters from!
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 4 (Condemned Criminal, Amazones, Bestiarius, and Retiarius)
Historical Accuracy:    (read my full review of the miniatures explaining the rating)
Animals: 1 lion
Board: Hexes (arena playmat included)
Page Count: 2 double-sided sheets, printed in three columns and folded up like booklets
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher; em4miniatures.
Support:
The designer is active in the game's Yahoo Group. The game also has a VASSAL module.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Glory in the Arena is ranked this high on the list since it's free, very light, and a great filler. So now that you have the ten painted gladiators from the first two games on the list along with the arena play mat, why not try some more entertaining rules?
In Glory in the Arena each gladiator is defined by Strength, Agility, Movement Rate, and Damage and are all determined randomly. The turn sequence starts with rolling for initiative, then movement and attacks. The combat system is really simple, roll 2d6 each, add in bonuses for armament and having a higher agility than your opponent, check modifiers for flanking, you are penalized -1 per damage box checked off, and lastly deduct the low result from the high one. Look up the difference in a chart to find the outcome.
The fun part of the rules is really the movement system, and how the damage chart has your gladiators moving across the playing field. The game really comes alive thanks to this. However, the rules are very simple, and the net of the Retiarius is seriously nerfed.
Read my full review for more details.
The BGG Description wrote: A short set of Gladiator rules.
Gladiators have four characteristics:
- Strength
- Agility
- Movement Rate
- Damage
The game is built to handle 1-on-1 fights.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Note: While the publisher claims that the game is built to handle 1-on-1 fights, you can easily play this with more, and I think the game will truly shine when more than two players participate in the arena.
Gladiator Types: The Retiarius and Gaul are mentioned and both come with special rules, the Samnite and Secutor are pictured as well.
Historical Accuracy: (doesn't try to be historical, just quick and easy)
Animals: None
Page Count: 2
Purchasing the Game:
You can download the free PDF directly from the publisher; Outland Games.
Support:
None that I know of.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Familia Gladiatoria is one of the most highly regarded free gladiatorial games, and for a good reason. The novelty here is that you select three action cards at the start of the turn, prior to rolling for initiative. In a one-on-one match-up the loser of the initiative will then have to replace one of his cards with the Defend action. If the combatants are already in close quarters you start resolving the actions one at a time, by comparing the actions selected by the combatants to each other and using dice to determine the winner. Normally only the winner gets to actually perform his action.
You roll 2d6, add your Strength or Agility score, based on the action selected, any modifiers such as for having a large shield, or being knocked on the ground, and the higher results wins.
Full Review.
The Publisher wrote: The Games of Ancient Rome
Familia Gladiatorius is a simple gaming system for recreating the murrus, the gladiatorial combat, using miniature figures. In the larger campaign game, the player takes the role of a ludus, the operator of a gladiatorial school. The ludus owned a number of slaves trained to fight as gladiators. These slaves and their trainers (often retired gladiators themselves) made up the familia gladiatorius of the ludus. Normally, the ludus was contracted by the editor to provide fighters for the murrus. It was a risky business, and its practitioners were reviled by Roman society. Yet fortunes could be made by providing a bloodthirsty populace with bloody entertainment.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats*
Team-vs-Team Combats*
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
*It claims to handle these, but I think it would be really hard to handle more than 1-on-1 combats, since there are no examples or rules for multiple combatants.
Gladiator Types: 10 (Samnite, Myrmillo, Thraex, Hoplomachus, Secutor, Dimachaeru, Provocator, Retarius, Laquerius, Velite)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: None
Page Count: 4 (more like 8 with the double-column landscape layout)
I highly recommend this game. If you buy Ludus Gladiatorius for the miniatures and the pretty poster map, then start with Glory in the Arena for some fun and light-hearted action, by the time you play Familia Gladiatoria you should be hooked on the genre, and like me trying to find the ultimate game of gladiatorial combat.
Purchasing the Game:
It's free from the designer, Jeffery S. Koppe, at Petite Guerre. What are you waiting for, download it already!
Support:
None, but the simple system will have you experimenting with house rules and tweaks in no time, or at the very least seeing how the 10 included gladiators stack up against each other.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Morituri Te Salutant is in contention for best gladiatorial game on The Miniatures Page, and is generally very highly regarded. I have yet to play myself, but am impressed by the rules. They include a bit of historical background in regards to classical gladiator types, match-ups and festivals, and the campaign rules look like a lot of fun.
Combat is done by each player secretly selecting a move of their character sheet, and then revealing them simultaneously. Order of play is determined by each gladiator's speed, armor, and action plus a d6 roll. You compare the combatants' moves on a matrix, it directs you to a chart, where you roll a d20 and find the result. Based on which maneuver you selected, you have some limited options for changing it after the fact, and each move also limits your options next turn (similar to Lost Worlds).
The Publisher wrote: These are the third edition of the popular Gladiatorial combat rules.
They cover:
- creation of Gladiators
- detailed combat system
- single and multiple combats
- mounted gladiators
- lions, tigers and other beats (including random movement)
- Gladiator School Campaign system with experience
52 pages plus card covers and reference sheets.
From what I've heard, an 8-player free-for-all to the last man standing plays in 1-2 hours.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 12 (Cataphractarius, Contra-Retiarius, Diamachaerius, Hoplomachus, Laquearius, Myrmillon, Provocator, Retiarius, Sagittarius, Samnite, Thracian, and Velite)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: (horse, bear, lion and tiger with the same stats, and "large exotic" - they mention hippos and rhinos; run by the game system)
Board: Hexes (not included)
Page Count: 55
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher, Black Hat Miniatures as a PDF or in print.
I recently purchased both versions and was very pleased with the service, as I promptly received the PDF.
Support:
The publisher is active in the game's Yahoo Group.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Gladiator - Deadly Arena Combat in Ancient Rome is a fantastic production! The book is printed in full color on glossy paper of very good stock. There are full color photos of painted miniatures or drawings of gladiators on every page spread.
I have yet to play the game, but the historical facts are spot on and there is a lot of historical background in the book, including a great bibliography. I would recommend this to any gamer remotely interested in the gladiatorial spectacles of ancient Rome, even if this is your first book on the topic.
This book definitely blows away all its competition, it is a much nicer production than any other game on Roman gladiators that I have seen. The rules look a tad simple though, please see my quick summary below.
Close combat has both fighters roll one six-sided die and the high roller wins, and the winner then rolls to see if he manages to score a wound. A novice gladiator has a Wound rating of 2 and must appeal to the crowd for his life after a 2nd wound. A gladiator's Fighting value only comes into play as a tie-breaker when both combatants roll the same result.
Unfortunately if you have more attacks, such as the Dimachaerus with his two short sword, then you roll two six-sided dice and use your highest roll. This gives an unhistorical advantage to a fighter without a shield. The only use of a shield seems to be to block instead of attacking, and then getting to roll 2d6 instead of 1d6.
While there are advanced rules for hit locations, you can only choose between a high stab or a low slash and then roll 1d6 to see where you actually hit. Hits to a weapon arm lowers a gladiator's fighting value, hits to a shield arm lowers a gladiator's toughness, and a leg hit reduced a gladiator's movement rate and initiative roll. Sadly there are no critical hits, and head hits only make you upset as helmets are the hardest type of armor in the game.
Based on just reading the rules and not having played it yet, I feel like using this book as inspiration for my players, while using another set of rules such as Familia Gladiatoria.
The Publisher wrote: "Written by Barry Hill, Gladiator enables players to recreate the brutal arena combat of the Roman Empire on the wargames table.
This full colour 144 page hardback rulebook contains rules for gladiatorial arena contests featuring human combatants, wild animals, elephants and chariots as well as mass battle spectacles and mock sea battles. Full rules and background are provided for gladiators of both the Imperial and Republican eras, along with ten action-packed scenarios and a detailed campaign system that allows rival gladiatorial schools to compete in several different periods of Roman history.
The Gladiator rulebook is packed with inspirational photography and a detailed hobby section covering collecting, assembling and painting gladiatorial miniatures."
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats (including rules for naumachia)
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 24! (Republican Period: Samnite, Thracian, Gallus, and Eques. Imperial Period: Retiarius, Thracian, Hoplomachus, Secutor, Myrmillo, and Provocator. Less Common: Laquerarius, Contra-Retiarius, Dimachaerus, Gladiatrix, Dwarf, Velite, Sagittarius, Eques, Essedarius, and Venatores. Very Rare: Scissori, Cruppellarius, Cataphractus, Gaetulian, and Helmeted Retiarius. Note that there are also a bunch of other famous characters and mythological creatures, plus slaves and other figures that appeared in the arena.)
Historical Accuracy: (This deserves full marks for the gladiator types, but loses a half-star for the rules which make the Dimachaerus (2-weapon fighter) the most dangerous gladiator)
Animals: 26! (6x dogs, boars, bears, 4x bulls, 6x cats, 2x elephants, and 6x exotics, there are also polar bears, camels, Barb horses, wild white English cattle, and African buffalo in the free expansion, Barbarians in the Arena.)
Board: None, a measuring tape or a ruler is needed to play.
Page Count: 144 (hardback book)
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher, Warhammer Historical.
Support: There's a free PDF supplement available from the publisher's web site, along with a reference sheet. You can also preview the book here.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Habet, Hoc Habet! is a gorgeous book, and well illustrated with a mix of photos and original art. It is a highly regarded gladiatorial game, mainly for being such a complete game. It is one of the favorites on The Miniatures Page, but there are those who find it too heavy. It features realistic combat rules with a unique initiative system, rules for venatio and chariot races, campaign rules, gambling and more.
The Publisher wrote: Whenever a gladiator would fall in the arena, the bloodthirsty crowds would shout, "Habet, Hoc Habet!", which translates as, "He's down! He's had it!"
Now you can relive those days of personal glory as you recreate the battles between the original sports superstars - The Gladiators!
Our rules, "Habet, Hoc Habet!" (or HHH! for short) allow you to recreate fast, action-packed arena combat! The HHH! rules include:
- Rules for combat with all the weapons used by the actual gladiators, including the trident, spear, sword, net, lasso, and many more!
- Realistic combat rules utilizing a unique initiative system, allowing for quick and disturbingly realistic action!
- Rules for chariot races and combat!
- Rules for recreating the venatio - the beast hunts held for the delight of the crowds!
- Gambling on the gladiatorial events!
- Campaign rules that place you at the head of a ludus, or gladiatorial school, seeking fame and fortune through the efforts of your gladiators!
- Lots of photos, examples and illustrations to help you get learn the rules and get started quickly!
- And, as a bonus: Fantasy Gladiator Combat rules!
Hoist your gladius and don your armor for it is time to enter the arena. For Glory and Rome!
The game has been critized by some for the silly chart results and humor elements that appear in the game. For instance, there's a "banana peel" entry on the fumble chart. While other elements of the game are brutal simulations. For instance, you randomly roll up your gladiators, based on the base quality purchased, and as a lanista you can end up buying a new slave that dies shortly after being purchased - without ever making it to the arena! In this regard the game can feel a bit conflicted.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals (even has rules for Venationes)
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot
Gladiator Types: 0 (freeform character design that allows for all the historical types)
Historical Accuracy: (freeform, with fantasy rules included)
Animals: 13 (giraffe, camel, zebra, gazelle, elephant, rhino, hippo, wild boar, alligator/crocodile, bear, lion, tiger, and panther)
Board: Gridless (no board included, use a tabletop)
Page Count: 120 (spiralbound book)
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it from Scale Creep Miniatures who have acquired the rights of the game from the now defunct Flagship Games.
Support:
You can e-mail Scale Creep Miniatures through their web site.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Red Sand, Blue Sky: Heroes of the Arena is a reimplementation of Red Sand, Blue Sky: Death in the Arenas of Rome and a highly regarded one at that. another of the contenders for the heavyweight title of gladiatorial games. The basic game has been changed to be played on a zone map, rather than movement being measured with a ruler. There are also now three basic gladiator statistics (Savvy, Strength, and Speed) and one derived statistic (Stamina) in contrast to the original edition which had only one, Rep.
The Publisher wrote: GLADIATORS!
Just saying the word conjures up visions of vicious combat between desperate men who fought to the death for the amusement of the crowd. These games of death, originally started to honor the dead (the munus), began in 264 BC and continued through the Roman Empire in one form or another for over 900 years until abolished in 681 AD. Now with Red Sands Blue Sky - Heroes of the Arena you can recreate the glory and splendor of these games on three levels.
As a gladiator you fight your way through the Empire in hopes of reaching the Colosseum in Rome and perhaps the ultimate glory, the wooden sword of freedom, the rudis.
Or perhaps you would rather be a lanista, the trainer or manager of gladiators forming your own troupe or familia gladiatoria...
And the third way to play Red Sand Blue Sky - Heroes of the Arena is as the owner of a ludus or gladiator school seeking to reach the ultimate honor, a school in Rome herself.
I hope that this new version has tougher decisions on the part of the player, the original almost played itself like many old-time sport simulations.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 6 (Murmillo, Dimachaerus, Hoplomachus, Retiarius, Secutor, and Thraex)
Historical Accuracy: (Based on the gladiator types as statted up, but the historical background and campaign system in the old edition was great, and this hopefully follows suit.)
Animals: 10 (Bear, cheetah, hyena, leopard/panther, lion, lioness, tiger, war dog, wild dog, and wolf.)
Board: Color playmat, featuring zone-to-zone movement.
Page Count: 80
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher, Two Hour Wargames, in PDF or in print. Their service is very prompt.
Support:
The publisher is active in the game's Yahoo Group.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Red Sand, Blue Sky: Death in the Arenas of Rome is another of the contenders for the heavyweight title of gladiatorial games. It is highly regarded by most players both on BGG and The Miniatures Page, but some just don't like it at all. One of its premiere selling points is that it comes with very good solitaire rules, in which you can create and play the entire career of your very own gladiator. The campaign rules are a very good.
The game featuress a unique dice pool system and is best for classic one-on-one combats. You use up dice from your pool for attacks, defense and being injured, and when you're out of dice you're toast! It is not as detailed as Morituri Te Salutant, or complex as Habet, Hoc Habet!. In RSBS gladiators only have one stat, called Rep.
With the focus on your Rep x 5 dice pool the game isn't about plotting out moves and second-guessing your opponent, the focus is on conserving enough energy to outlast and defeat your opponent before succumbing to exhaustion. One-on-one matches are easily played in 10-15 minutes and you can easily play a dozen combats or more in a 2-hour session.
The Publisher wrote: "HAIL EMPEROR! GREETINGS FROM THOSE ABOUT TO DIE!"
These were the words that signaled the beginning of the violent spectacle known as "The Games". Held in arenas all over the Roman Empire, these bloody combats offered the gladiators fame, fortune, and the chance for freedom. But while these benefits were attained by a fortunate few nothing short of a quick death awaited most.
Now, with "Red Sand, Blue Sky (RSBS)", you can recreate the excitement of these combats that for thousands of participants was anything but a game.
Whether you seek fame as a solitary gladiator or operate a gladiator school with many fighters the choice is yours. With RSBS you can play either solo or with others and with any figures you may already have. RSBS provides big fun for a small price. Hmmm, big fun... small price? What a concept!
The game is fun, but lacking in tough decisions. The player has little control over what happens, apart from choosing his initial maneuver. The game pretty much plays itself, similarly to a lot of sport sims and wrestling games such as Champions of the Galaxy.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 9 (Retiarius, Secutor, Hoplomachus, Provocator, Murmillo, Thraex, Dimachaerus, Laquerarius, Sagittarius, plus Noxii and Condemned Legionary)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: 1 ("big cat")
Board: Gridless (no playmat included, surface 12" x 24" recommended)
Page Count: 34
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher, Two Hour Wargames, in PDF or in print. Their service is very prompt.
Support:
The publisher is active in the game's Yahoo Group.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Arena Games is a light, beer and pretzels game. It focuses on fast gameplay and combats between multiple gladiators. It is frequently played at conventions, and TheMiniaturePage.com's users rave about it.
You stat up your gladiator based on your chosen miniature's armor, then take it to the arena. There are historical notes on Roman gladiators, and good rules for all the usual (and some not so usual) weaponry including nets and lassos. However, the rules allow for use of almost any miniatures imaginable - fantasy, sci-fi, whatever.
The game features lots of dice rolling. You roll 6d6 to attack, along with 1d6 of another color for the hit location, any 6s rolled are hits. Your opponent then rolls a 1d10 Armor Save versus each hit, needing to roll equal to or over his rating (my Retiarius rated a 9, the Secutor 6, the Thraex 5, and the Murmillo 7) to avoid damage. The fact that you might roll as many as 9 attacks per combat phase, perhaps 15 total over a combat round, and repeat this over 6 rounds or so, made me lose interest. It is a bit too much dice rolling for my tastes.
However, I think the right crowd, with the right mindset will have a good time playing this game, and can see why it's infectious at conventions - especially with a large number of players.
The BGG Description wrote: Wargame rules that simulate Roman Gladiatorial Combat.
Rules: The rulebook is an 8.5 x 11.0 booklet with photographs that illustrate the game being played. All charts and tables are included in the booklet. The hex grid card that comes with the rules can be used as a "start up" arena so that players can play the game without purchasing a hex board.
Game Set-up: Each player chooses a gladiator and the figure's armor is noted. By using a very simple process, the gladiator's movement and save points are determined from what the miniature actually has on it. Once this is determined, the game can begin.
Scale: Man to man skirmish. 1 Hex = 3-4 feet across. Intended for 25mm figures, although with a smaller or larger hex grid, 15mm or 54 mm figures can be used.
Contents: The game consists of an 18 page rule book with gladiator and animal record sheets, a hex grid card for 25mm figures, a sheet of markers, and a gladiator tournament form.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races*
Gladiator Types: None (freeform gladiator design, based on how your miniature is kitted out)
Historical Accuracy: (it depends fully on your miniatures)
Animals: 1 (just one generic animal run by the game's rules)
Board: Hexes (25mm scale hex card included)
Page Count: 30
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the designer, Michael Vasile.
Support:
FAQ and a free expansion is also available on the game's web site (although the expansion was actually incorporated into the PDF version of the game that I received from Michael).
* The designer is working on a set of Chariot Racing rules.
Edit: Updated the web site link.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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The Games of War: A Treasury of Rules for Battles with Toy Soldiers, Ships and Planes features a set of gladiatorial combat rules called "We Who Are About to Die Salute You!"
It is a very light game and features strictly 1-on-1 combats. The minis used determine the combatants armament and are otherwise only used to keep track whether a fighter is down or not; there's no movement in this game. You roll 3d6 for your gladiator's strength, which is both his hit points and a resource pool. You may spend 1 strength for a special move; on offense you are allowed a second attack, and on defense you get a powerful dodge move.
Each combat starts with a 2d6 initiative roll. The winner attacks first, however if tied they both attack, but neither is allowed to dodge. The defender rolls to see if he can successfully defend, while the attacker only rolls for damage; i.e. there are no "to hit" rolls. You gain initiative from the attacker only chosing to defend with Shield, or Parry, both of which are harder to succeed at than Dodges. A successful Dodge forces another initiative roll, but there's no guarantee that you'll win.
Overall it's a very fun filler, and one which I highly recommend. I would rate this game much higher on the list had it been available separately, but as it is bundled with a bunch of other games, getting the book strictly for We Who Are About to Die Salute You! might be a bit much, but it as a hoot of a game.
The Game's Intro wrote: Long before the advent of television, the ancient Romans relied on gladiatorial contests as one of their "entertainments" (professional football not having been invented yet). Popular films portray gladiatorial bouts as battles to the death and we are fascinated by the prospect. The reality was that gladiators were expensive to train and maintain and fighting to the death was not the preferred modus operandi.
These rules, which first appeared in rough form in 1979 and proved popular at wargames conventions, are based on my college fencing classes (foil and saber). My experience showed that at such close combat distances, if someone aimed a blow at you and you did nothing, you would be hit! You can try to prevent your opponent's weapon from striking you by getting out of its way, or by blocking it with your weapon (or shield).
The weapons and armor that the gladiator has are determined by what the model figure has. If you are unable to purchase metal or plastic miniature gladiators, you can substitute knights, or photocopy pictures of gladiators and use those. The photocopies have the advantage of being inexpensive enough that when "killed," you can dispose of the body.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: None (strictly based on the minis used)
Historical Accuracy: (not trying to be historical)
Animals: None
Board: None
Page Count: About 2 pages (spread over the pages 45-47 in the book)
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it from Amazon.com.
Support:
None.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Munera Sine Missione is a free game with rules that look nice and simple, they clock in at about six pages printed off the web. The game has a few vocal fans at The Miniatures Page, and on the Geek the lone rater likes it as well.
It uses a hex grid, action points and is supposedly a very deadly game!
The Game's Introduction wrote: The mechanisms of these rules are not original, and are lifted wholesale from 'We Who Are About To Die Demand a Recount' by Gary Comardo and published in Issue 67 of 'Saga'. What I have done is added more detail to allow a wider variety of gladiators and the possibility of campaigns and so forth. The original rules impressed me, giving an intelligent game of manoeuvre with very simple mechanisms, and with a bout lasting no more than five or ten minutes.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 13 (Samnite, Retiarius, Thracian or Secutor, Myrmillo, Hoplomachus, Cataphractarius, Diamecheri, Laquearius, Contra-Retiarius, Velite, Gaetulian, Provocator, and Sagittarius)*
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: None
Page Count: ~6 (I printed a PDF of the web published game and it came out at 6 pages)
* The rules are actually very freeform. You look at your mini to see what armaments he has and go from there. The 13 sample gladiators come from a set of 25mm minis from Gladiator Miniatures.
Purchasing the Game:
It's free from designer Alan Saunders.
Support:
None that I'm aware of, but the rules are up to version 1.4.
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13.
Board Game: Rudis
[Average Rating:6.64 Unranked]
Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Rudis seems well liked by its few owners on the Geek, but there's not a lot of content about the game online. What I've gathered is that it's a very complex simulation with plenty of rules exceptions and chart-looking. From browsing my own copy of the rules I can confirm that it looks complicated. It clocks in at a dense 42 chart-filled pages.
The game comes with several levels of play. There's Rudis 1, 2, and 3 (Chariot Races with 3 separate versions), Super Rudis (the campaign rules), and on top of that a couple of pages with Optional Rules! This one will take a while for me to digest.
The BGG Description wrote: A set of miniatures rules for gladiatorial combat to be played on a hexagonal map sheet. For two or more players. There are three separate sets of rules included. Rudis 1 is basic hand-to-hand combat between small groups of gladiators. Rudis 2 is for larger and more spectacular combats. Finally, Rudis 3 is a set of chariot racing rules.
A small print run (200 copies) was done by the Bradford University Wargames Society. The first Tabletop Games edition followed around 1976, with a second edition (as revised by the designer) released in 1980.
A Guide to Wargaming (must refer to earlier version given page count) wrote: 35 pp. printed card cover booklet. Percentage dice. Movement by rotation, quicker-moving figures first, no written orders. Played on hexagonal grid (not supplied). Full description of gladiator types. Supplementary sections allow ancient skirmishers and chariot racing.
Original rules, fairly complex.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 18 (Cimachaerus, Contra-Retiarius, Dimarchaerus, Gaetulian, Hoplomachus, Laquearius I & II, Late Hoplomachus, Late Thracian, Myrmillo, Postulatus, Provocator, Pugilis, Retiarius, Samnite, Secutor, Thracian, and Velite)
Historical Accuracy: (it's hard to give an accurate rating until I play the game, but the basic stats are based on historical data, but there are some mistakes)
Animals: 6 (elephants, cheetah, panther, leopard, lion, and tiger)
Page Count: 42, digest sized
Purchasing the Game:
TableTop Games used to direct you to Gamer's Quest to purchase the game, but neither web site is online at this time.
Support:
None. (Designer Ian Beck is apparently no longer with us.)
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Spartacus - Gladiator Rules looks like a light, beer-and-pretzels game. It weighs in at 4 pages printed. It is worth checking out designer Andy Watkins' site for his pictures of painted gladiator miniatures, if not to check out the rules of the game.
The Designer wrote: These are my Spartacus Gladiator rules, they are of course partly inspired by the recent movie "Gladiator", but I have to admit, I liked the gladiator sequences, and thought the battle in the German forest was great, but as a whole I did not rate the film at all. (Appreciate I am in the minority here!)
My friends and I have been playing Gladiator games for over 20 years, and these are much more heavily influenced by the old rules we used to use called "Gladiator". I don't know if they are available anymore but recommend them to anyone who likes extremely detailed rules. My own rules "Spartacus" are much simpler in operation. I have tried to keep the feel and atmosphere of Gladiator games whilst simplifying much of the mechanics
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: None
Historical Accuracy: N/A
Animals: None
Page Count: 4 (printed from the web to PDF)
Purchasing the Game:
It's free from designer Andy Watkins.
Support:
None that I'm aware of, but since the rules are web published they might be living rules (although last updated in 2003, I doubt it).
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Death or Freedom's designer, Steve Barber, has written an intriguing description of the game. He also makes good looking gladiator miniatures and a stunning 3D arena (neither included with the game).
The Publisher wrote: A bloodthirsty, fast playing game that recreates the carnage of the Roman amphitheaters. This game can be played by 2 or more players and can either be played as one off single combats or as it is intended as Tournaments, where your Gladiator Characters battle for their lives, with heavily wounded victors being retired or succumbing to their wounds after the combat, and your victorious Gladiators battling to become champions and win you more money and infamy.
The basis of the game, is that you take on the role of a Lanista (proprietor of a Troop of Gladiators), with the sole aim of making as much money as you can out of the spilling of blood in the arena. Each Player starts with 1000 Denarii, (metal coins supplied with the game), this money is then used to buy the Gladiators that you start the first round with, and for placing side bets before each fight begins. Hopefully as you win your fights, you will increase your wealth, and be able to replenish your killed fighters with new ones, maybe even Essedarius chariots or Equites.
The game has a quick and brutal feel about it, with limbs being hacked off and savage Special Moves that can be used by your Champions. Many combats can be played in only 10 minutes, though more skilled Gladiators, or larger battles may take up to 1 hour. There are rules for Chariots, Horsemen, Wild Beasts, Unusual types of Gladiators as well as for the more common types, such as the Retiarius and the Veles and the Myrmillo.
The combats take place on a specially designed sandy colored Arena Playing Area (supplied with the game). This is marked out with Hexes and a special mechanism for Chariot movements. The use of Hexes makes the movement and attacks on the flanks quick and easy to work out. The Arena Playing Area also has Number and Dropped Weapon markers, which can be helpful in larger battles when it can be hard to remember what order players fight in.
To sum up, I wanted this game to be fast and simple to play. This was difficult to do due to the numerous vastly different fighting methods, but I am very pleased with the results. The game bag contains all the things that you will need to play the game except the miniatures. The rule book has a ghostly sepia color cover and has diagrams to help explain the harder rules. This game will bring out the tactician in you, as tactics play a vital part as the rounds progress. The more you play the faster it becomes and the more you will find that you have learnt since the last time you played it. So, if you fancy your chances in the sands of the Colosseum, try it out!
I don't own the game, and my breakdown is based on e-mail correspondence with Steve Barber, and players who have posted about the game on The Miniatures Page.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: Unknown
Historical Accuracy: Unknown
Animals: "Wild Beasts" are mentioned in the game's description
Board: Hexes (A3 playing area included)
Page Count: unknown
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; Steve Barber Models.
Support:
None that I know of, except that the designer posts rules amendments on his site (find them under "Articles").
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Gladius Maximus is another freebie without much of a reputation. Please check it out and let the rest of us know what you think? I have yet to play it myself.
The Designer wrote: In Gladius Maximus, two or more players play the part of patrons who purchase, train and equip a cadre (or "familia") of gladiators and pit them against each other's gladiators in the arena.
Gladiator matches are almost always to the death. Gladiators who survive must deal with nagging injuries from previous fights, but can learn new skills and earn better equipment. The first player to kill off all of his opponent's gladiators or have one of his own gladiators survive 5 fights (thereby earning fame and freedom) wins the game.
The game models gladiatorial combat between two or more gladiators, including teams.
Combat is broken down into melee combat turns, with each turn consisting of 5 phases:
1. Movement
2. Initiative/Maneuver
3. Attack/Parry
4. Riposte/Counter Parry
5. Remise/Counter Parry
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 12 (Thracian, Secutor, Retiarius, Myrmillo, Hoplomachus, Dimachaeri, Essedarii, Equites, Andabates, Velites, Laquearii, and Bestiarius)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: 4 (European Lion, Panther, Wild Elephant, and War Elephant)
Page Count: 33
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it free from the designer Bob Lippman.
Support:
None.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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MUNERA: Familia Gladiatoria is a board game, rather than a tabletop miniature game, unlike most games on this list. The English used on the game's official web site is rather poor and the same was true of the original rules, while they have since been updated they could definitely use a professional proof-reader. It was supposedly going to be the first in a series of games about the Roman spectacles.
This game, in contradiction to most others in this list, is mostly a multi-player game, with a sweet spot of 4 players. The focus is clearly on the entrepreneurial aspects of running and growing your gladiator school and putting on spectacles for the crowd while outshining your competition and amassing the most glory. While gladiator fights are of course fought they are not the main point of the game.
I'm sad to see in the game's art that they have the Retiarius holding his net in his right hand, i.e. the rear and unarmored arm - this is wildly ahistorical! While I've even seen some less-than-stellar historians claim that this is how the Retiarius fought, it makes no sense in real combat. The Retiarius has a galerus (shoulder armor) and manica (arm sleeve) protecting his left arm, which in hand-to-hand fighting (at least for right-handers) is your lead (or forward) arm. Given that the rete (net) is used for (not just throwing, but also) whipping and entangling in both an offensive manner and a shield-like defensive fashion, it was obviously held in your lead arm. This makes even more sense if you consider that his rear (right) arm held the tridens (trident), which was a very long thrusting weapon, used to keep your opponent at bay.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 6 (Provocator, Myrmillo, Thraex, Secutor, Retiarius, Hoplomachus, and Aequimanus)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: 0
Page Count: 20
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; ALBE PAVO.
Support:
The game's rules are now up to version 1.4, and the publisher and artist are both active on BGG. The game also has an official web site, and a print-and-play expansion for the game, MUNERA: Ars Dimicandi which features a card based alternative to resolving the gladiatorial combats.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Gladiatori sounds like a very interesting game of gladiatorial combat. I particularly like how you how to allocate cards to Hit Points vs Action Energy, and how the player in last place on the VP track goes first, so it may not always be advantageous to press your advantage too much. It sounds like the game will have some tense moments and tough decisions - something I enjoy a lot!
The Publisher wrote: During the Roman Empire, gladiator combat was the most popular form of entertainment. Fighters from all parts of the Empire were included in the shows, including female gladiators. So much fame and glory was there, that wealthy Roman citizens, and in some cases, Aristocrats participated.
Now the time has come for you to gain the immortal glory of the Arena. Fight for your honor, fame and for your life!
Gladiatori is a card-driven game in which each player assumes the role of a gladiator in the Ancient Roman Empire.
Simultaneous action selection drives figure movement on the board. Combat cards give energy to the character actions and are used as hit points. Characters are customizable, and each player has to choose his deck composition, character skills, and participate in the auctions for Arena items. At the end, the winner will be determined by victory points – or simply by being the only one left alive!
The players are fighters that clash in the Arena during the Ancient Roman Empire. The aim of the game is to become the most famous Gladiator in Rome. Fame and glory are measured by Victory Points (VP) which are scored fighting with honor and defeating other gladiators.
A game lasts 6 turns or until all players except one are eliminated (or when a team is eliminated). At the end of the game, the player with the most VPs is the winner (or the team with the most VP).
The game has a character creation part, followed by the combat. Each player has a number of creation points to create his character. With creation points, a player buys Character Skills and then Combat cards. When this process is finished, players choose Item Cards and are then ready to play.
Gladiatori is a strategic game for 2-4 players ages 12+. A game lasts about 60 minutes (20 minutes per player). The box is a Multi-language version (Italian, German, English, and French).
Box contents: 16 Action cards, 8 Cover cards, 4 Bluff cards, 88 Combat cards, 18 Item cards, 4 wooden Skill markers, 12 Status markers, 4 player block notes, 4 player screens, 4 miniatures, 1 game board, 1 rulebook.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: The game features character creation rules, but (at least in the beta rules) come with some pre-made characters for quick play.
Historical Accuracy: Unknown at this time, but the aim here is on making your own gladiators, therefore it is more up to the players in a sense.
Animals: None in the beta rules.
Board: Hex board included.
Page Count: The beta rules are 9 pages, and are available in the game's file section (no link due to the rules being updated regularly).
Purchasing the Game:
You can pre-order it directly from the publisher, giochix.it. The game is scheduled for an October 2012 release, and will hopefully be at SPIEL in Essen.
Support:
The designer is active on BGG and provides quick support in the game's forum.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Gladiators - Sword in Your Hand • Fight for Glory or Death • Blood on the Sand is still in the pre-order stages, and I have therefore not read the rules, nor played the game yet.
The Publisher wrote: Hail Caesar, We Who Are About to Die Salute You!
Glory Through Strength: this is the mantra of the gladiator. In a game where any moment could be your last, you must use every advantage with intelligence and skill. In that spirit, know now what makes Gladiators one of the most exciting games you'll ever play:
Know Your Gladiator:
- There are 12 playable gladiators, each with their own unique fighting style and skills. From crazed barbarians to crafty animal trainers, Gladiators has a character for you.
- Tactical decisions are important: attacking from the front makes the crowd cheer and lavish you with Glory. Attacking from the back, while cowardly, is more powerful. You win by earning Glory through your bravery, or by dispatching opponents without remorse. The choice is yours, gladiator.
Roll the Bones
- Gladiators' special combat dice power everything you do; rolls give you a pool of symbols representing attack, defense, movement, and skillfulness. These symbols let you know what you can do at a glance. This simple system makes for an action-packed game worthy of the Arena.
Be Skillful...
- Your gladiator comes alive through their fighting style and skills. Trap rivals in your net with the versatile Retiarius, or slam them to the ground with the powerful Murmillo. Skills give you tons of options, and will keep you coming back for more!
Because You’ve Trained for This
- Gladiators learn many moves while training. These are represented by Action cards.
- You build and alter your deck of Action cards both during a match and between matches. This makes every game of Gladiators different, with long-term strategy to match its heart-pounding action!
Win Over the Crowd
- In Gladiators, you gain rewards for pleasing the crowd, and punishments if you don't.
- When you gain Crowd Favor, even your rivals must applaud... or be torn apart by your fans.
Live in Glory, or Die Gloriously
Win or lose, a gladiator is favored by the gods. Only by playing Gladiators can you ensure your ever-lasting fame!
Game Contents: 1 Game Board - 12 Figurines - 12 Character Cards - 4 Tracking Cards - 3 Twelve-Sided Arena Dice - 12 Six-Sided Battle Dice - 5 Offense Dice - 4 Defense Dice - 3 Bonus Dice - 55 Action Cards - 24 Enemy Cards - 22 Mystery cards - 7 Crowd Cards - 1 Crowd Favor Trophy - Tokens (30 Wound, 20 Bonus, 15 Mystery, 4 Glory-Tracking).
Ages 14+, 2-5 Gladiators, Play Time 30-180 Minutes
Rules Breakdown: (all guesses at this time)
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 12 (Amazone, Cataphractarius, Gallus, Hoplomachus, Laquearius, Murmillo, Paegniarius, Retiarius, Rudiarius, Samnite, Scissores, and Secutor.)
Historical Accuracy: (my guess based only on the artwork and information on the game's official web site)
Animals: Unknown, but it looks like none.
Board: Hexes (board included in the boxed game)
Page Count: Unknown
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from publisher, Ludocracy.
Support:
The game's official web site has yet to open its forum at the time of this post, but they do list an e-mail address for questions, info [at] gladiatorsgame [dot] ca.
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20.
Board Game: LUDI
[Average Rating:0.00 Unranked]
Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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LUDI is a game I know next to nothing about, but some people at The Miniatures Page speak highly of it.
The Publisher wrote: LUDI is a game of Gladitorial Combat set in ancient Rome involving Gladiatorial Combat and Combat against Beasts. Fought to the death in the arena.
Includes: Rule Book, Play Sheets, Character Sheets, Combat Tables
That is really all that the publisher shares about the game, except for a tiny thumbnail of the cover.
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; Pacific Sky Games.
Support:
None.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Are You Not Entertained? was originally published in Wargames Journal #6.
It is a light game of gladiatorial combat using 6-sided dice and tons of dice rolling! Each player takes a gladiator template, rolls for initiative, once in striking range (usually base-to-base) the attacker states his attack, and the defender decides whether to Dodge or Parry. Roll for the attack, if successful, the defender rolls for his defense and subtracts the chart result from the damage, and lastly rolls to see if his armor absorbs any of the damage.
Each gladiator, and animal, has a few signature moves that it can pull off once per game. The game also features some pretty cool fumble rules, where your opponent gets to select an alternative opening from a list, and counter attack you. The campaign rules let you increase your hit points or get another use per game of one of your signature powers.
It is all very simple and random, and not very good in my own opinion.
Full Review.
The Publisher wrote: Fast Play Gladiatorial Rules
Are you not entertained! is a gladiator skirmish game for two or more players in which each player takes control of one of more gladiators, fighting it out in an arena of death until a champion emerges. The game uses very simple mechanics but allows players to use tactics and strategy to attempt to gain the upper hand for their gladiator.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 6 (Scissor, Gallus, Retiarius, Secutor, Murmillo, and Provocator)
Historical Accuracy: (only the Secutor passes the muster)
Animals: 2 (lion and bear)
Board: Gridless (everything is measured in steps with rules for 25mm, 40mm, and 54mm provided; easily converted to be played on a grid)
Page Count: 12
Purchasing the Game:
You can get it directly from the publisher, Rebel Publishing.
Support:
The game has a VASSAL extension that can be played with the Ludus Gladiatorus module.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Gladiators is an old game from Fantasy Games Unlimited, with near RPG-like rules. They use a percentile system and are supposedly very detailed.
The Publisher wrote: Individual figure rules for action in the Roman arena. Miniatures rules that reflect the combat styles and rules of the various rigid types of warriors allowed in the Gladiatorial Games. Gladiators was designed as a system for single figure miniatures combat. But it is more like a role-playing game's combat system than a traditional miniatures system. Combat takes place on a hex grid making Gladiators similar in nature to Steve Jackson's Melee system (the combat system which evolved into The Fantasy Trip which eventually evolved into GURPS). Of course, the rules are a bit more specialized than Melee in that they focus on the gladiator combat of ancient Rome.
Gladiators took two years of play-testing and conceptual development to create. A set of playable yet detailed and realistic rules for simulating gladiatorial combat. Players will be able to move their gladiators, feint, and dodge about as they prepare to lunge at their adversaries. They can slash or jab at their chosen targets, and must parry the return blows of their opponent. Shields can be used to bash opponents off guard. Accidents also have a place in this simulated universe. Men can trip or stumble, weapons or shields can be dropped, or nets cut to shreds. In short, an imaginative player can momentarily enter the arena and prepare himself for a contest which will be won or lost by the same elements that brought victory or defeat, fame and wealth or sudden death to a gladiator. Skills, cleverness, foresight, and luck all play their respective roles.
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; Fantasy Games Unlimited. However, I have e-mailed them several times to find out how much S&H to Sweden would be, but they never replied to any of my e-mails. Therefore, I cannot vouch for how they do business.
Support:
None that I am aware of.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
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Habet, hoc habet! was a free insert in Battlegames magazine #3.
The Publisher wrote: Great gladiatorial fun - and learn some Latin too!
Perhaps not the most telling description, eh?
It's basically a card driven miniatures game. The game simulates a duel between a Murmillo and a Retiarius, and is strictly a 2-player game. While it looks like a fun card game, it feels surpassed by Familia Gladiatoria and Morituri Te Salutant, both of which feature similar gameplay, but with much more well developed and fully featured rules.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 2 (Murmillo, and Retiarius)
Historical Accuracy:
Animals: 0
Board: Squares (arena playmat included)
Page Count: 4 pages of rules, and 2 pages featuring the arena playmat, and one of each card (multiple copies required)
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; Battlegames; there's still a few print copies left, and it's also available very cheaply as a PDF.
Support:
None.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Gladiolus: the Game of Gladiatorial Combat in the Roman Arena is being talked about fondly by some The Miniatures Page users, as something they played ages ago. It is a card driven miniatures game of an arena fight between two gladiators. The game comes with everything needed to play; an A3-sized paper board, gladiator counters, markers, and cut-them-out-yourself cards. However, the game is very much enhanced by some 25 or 28mm miniatures.
You have a hand of cards based on how your gladiator is armed, and the lighter your armature the more cards you can play each turn. You play cards to move, attack, defend, etc. You play your main card face down as a hole card, which is revealed at the start of your turn, your opponent's actions as of his last turn are then resolved (hopefully you defended well).
The game can be played in tournament mode for 2-6 players. You then draw an experience card after each combat that you win. Fully 2 in 5 of these cards are worthless (they literally say "No bonus. Tough luck, Gaius!), but the other ones are pretty cool and grant special abilities that you can use once per fight.
The Publisher wrote: Gladiolus is a simple and entertaining simulation of single combat between six types of gladiators in the arenas of ancient Rome. It is a game of skill and bluff involving no dice rolling for two players lasting between 10 and 30 minutes.
It is cool that each gladiator has its own profile and deck of cards, but gameplay is just lacking. You have a lot of movement cards, and can move about before/after several attack cards, but there are no facing rules so it is all kind of pointless. Luckily this game was cheap, because I'm not a fan. I will play Familia Gladiatoria instead when I want a card driven miniatures game of gladiatorial combat with a rock-paper-scissors feel to it.
Rules Breakdown:
One-on-One Combats
Free-for-All Combats
Team-vs-Team Combats
Gladiators vs Animals
Campaign and Experience
Lanista
Horsemen
War-Chariots
Chariot Races
Gladiator Types: 6 (Retiarius, Samnite, Hoplomachus, Secutor, Velite, Thracian)
Historical Accuracy: (they're not very accurate at all, but easily modified)
Animals: None
Board: Off-set Square Grid (A3 version included)
Page Count: 13 (A5 sized booklet)
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher, The Society of Ancients.
They have a nice web store, but it took them 10 days to confirm my order and only after I had sent them several e-mails. It took 20 days from ordering until receipt of the game (from the UK to Sweden).
Support:
You can join the The Society of Ancients for £20.00 a year.
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Yoki Erdtman
Sweden
Södertälje
Handsome devil huh?
-
Gladiator Wars is not well regarded at all on The Miniatures Page, people claim the rules are so poorly organized that you just give up without playing the game, and the game doesn't seem to fare much better here on the Geek.
Too bad wasting that beautiful cover...
The one good thing I've heard about this game is that it easily accomodates large fights, with lots of gladiators.
The Publisher wrote: Man-to-man combat in the arenas of Ancient Rome. Hex-based movement, with full selection of combat tricks employed by the masters. Game includes rules for basic gladiators, through the Champions of Rome. Profiles provided for fifteen different Gladiator types, two mounted Gladiators, four Barbarian types, female gladiators, and animals in the arena.
Purchasing the Game:
You can buy it directly from the publisher; Old Glory Miniatures.
Support:
None that I know of.
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The Bad: Gladiators sells for $5 and FGU has a minimum $10 order AND Gladiators is one of the only FGU games that is not currently sold as a pdf. 
