Gladiators: Blood & Glory

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) —description from the publisher