Few stories have captured the imagination as strongly as the use of gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome. For centuries it served as entertainment for the masses, serving a similar purpose as modern sports today, albeit in a more barbaric fashion. For the gladiators themselves, it was a harsh way of life in a harsh world - but with the potential to rise above the status of being a slave, and possibly win freedom ...
Gladiators: Blood & Glory is a 2-player or solitaire game that places you in charge of running a Ludus - a Roman gladiator training school. You will make all the training, equipping, and logistical decisions a Lanista would make, and make the tactical decisions for your gladiators as they attempt to survive the Arena.
You will start with a stable of two gladiators, but will be afforded the opportunity to bid on more at auction to increase your numbers (or to replace losses). Training and managing finances will be key in your ability to field gladiators who have a chance to win in fights to the death. As time progresses and gladiators survive, they may use the experience gained in the arena and in training to improve their odds of success by purchasing skills. Victories help to narrate the player's eventual goal - to have gladiators survive the arena and earn their freedom.
The gameplay moves quickly, with matches in the arena involving back-and-forth combat with a deck of cards. However, the tactical fighting in the Arena is just one aspect of the game, as players will also train, purchase supplies, gladiators, and weapons, and plan for future games. Additionally, players may wager denarii (Roman money) on matches in an attempt to build up their available funds. Optional rules include fighting against wild beasts such as tigers and cheetahs.
The game includes six of the major types of gladiators who saw combat in the arena:
- Murmillo (short sword, large shield)
- Dimachaerus (two swords)
- Retiarius (trident and net)
- Hoplomachus (spear and small shield)
- Thraex (hooked sword)
- Secutor (variant of Murmillo)
Product Information:
- Complexity: 4 out of 10
- Time Scale: Semi-Abstract (individual fights, up to 5 per month)
- Map Scale: Abstract
- Unit Scale: Individual gladiators
- Number of Players: One or two
- Suitability for Solitaire: Solitaire rules included
- Average Time to Play: 10-15 minutes (single turn) 4-5 hours (full career)
- Recommended Age: 14+
Components:
- 1 Sheet of 9/16-Inch Counters
- 1 Additional Strip of 18 9/16-Inch Counters
- 12 Gladiator Display Mats (6 Different Gladiator Types)
- 30 Wooden Blocks
- 2 Sheets of Gladiator Stickers
- 1 Player Aid Card/Animal Opponent Display Mat (Double-Sided)
- 1 Arena Display 11?x17? (Mounted, Double-Sided)
- 1 Market Board 11"x17"
- 1 Ludus Display 8.5?x11?
- 1 Deck of 60 Combat Cards (Poker-Sized)
- 6 Sequence of Play Cards (Poker-Sized)
- 1 Rules Booklet
- 1 Ludus Logsheet
- 2 Six-Sided Dice
- Game Box & Lid
Game Credits:
Designer: Gregory M. Smith
Artist: Nadir Elfarra
Hersteller und/oder Verantwortliche Person innerhalb der EU:
Hersteller:
Compass Games, LLC.
PO Box 271
06416 Cromwell
Vereinigte Staaten
eMail: sales@compassgames.com
Web: https://www.compassgames.com
Verantwortliche Person für die EU:BNW Distribution GmbH
Winkelsweg 169
40764 Langenfeld
Deutschland
eMail: sales@bnw-distribution.com
