Friday evening saw us with a couple of hours spare after completing Steve's 6mm Medieval Campaign draw and set-up, see here.
As such Mike W brought along a copy of Gale Force 9's Spartacus and his 32/35mm Jugula Gladiator figures to play test the combat section of the game, with a view to seeing if there is an appetite for a series of occasional campaign games for the same.
In a severely abridged version of the game we had five players taking on the role of Dominus (Master) for their Ludos (Gladiator Schools), the aim being to gain the most influence in Rome by running a string of successful gladiators and doing down their opponents.
Each Ludos was selected at random by the players and each was assigned a number of 'starting' slaves and gladiators. Players then bid against each other to stage a Games, in which the winner could nominate 3 other players who had to provide a gladiator or slave to fight in the ring.
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| Sparticus Box Lid Art |
We had Rupert, Mat, Steve, Dave & Mark as Dominii, with Rupert winning the honour of hosting the first Games. Into the ring went the Gladiators with the winners each receiving a 'Favour' which earnt their owner 2 Gold Pieces and an increase in influence.
After the completion of the games, the assembled Dominii then voted on if the Games were a success, if a success the host was paid a tribute of 7 gold coins plus they get an increase in their influence.
After each Games there was a market session whereby new Slaves & Gladiators could be purchased, in this round, better quality gladiators became available.
We managed three round of Markets and Games, with Mat managing to secure a deadly twin bladed gladiator named as Moulinex the human food blender, famed for his ability with two swinging swords. Meanwhile Steve was able to pickup 'The Thing in the Pit', a hideously disfigured gladiator who always killed his opponent, no matter the wishes of the crowd or the host of the games.
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| Steve's 'Thing from the Pit' |
Moulinex was expertly handled by Mat, and he quickly won two favours before he was pitted in the ring against two gladiators, one owned by Mark and the other by Steve. Moulinex prevailed to win his third Favour and thus became a Champion Gladiator, earning Mat much money and influence. However it was a close run thing for Moulinex, who took several nasty wounds to in the contest.
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| Mat's Moulinex, Champion Gladiator |
Seems that everyone enjoyed the experience and with the simple but cunning combat mechanism that assigned each gladiator three combat skills - Attack, Defence & Speed, each of which were assigned a number of dice, everyone very quickly picked-up the mechanisms. Hits removed dice from the combat skills total and if one or two of these skills drop to zero the gladiator is down. Loose three and the gladiator is dead.
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| Thracian Gladiator |
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| Another 'Starter' Gladiator, sword & shield |
I feel a campaign coming on, where intrigues and Ludos Guards will be introduced as well as Doctors, Specialised weapons and animals etc.....
In the meantime 'Players put your fists in the ring!'
