So ever since the thread on the Forge about setting a game of Contenders in Renaissance France with competitive fencing, I've been mulling over an idea for running Contenders set in ancient Rome world with gladiators instead of boxers. I'm planning to run it at Conception, but am wondering whether the game can be run "as is."
The world of the gladiator was very much like the world of Contenders - gladiatorial combat was a sport, after all, albeit a far more brutal sport than boxing. So the basic structure of the game will stay the same, but I think that some consideration needs to be placed on this brutality.
Should players be able to die midway through the game? Probably not, but I think that their opponents should be able to. I'm thinking if the players win a fight you should draw a card to see the mood of the crowd (thirsty for blood or merciful), and then the player has to choose whether to finish his victim off or not, and perhaps which way you decide determines whether you get an increase to rep or pain.
I'll need to create some new styles, but that shouldn't be that hard. Gladiators fell into very distinctive styles of fighting, such as the retiarii who used tridents and so on.
Also, the fact that most gladiators were slaves might come into it. I guess they could have connections with their masters, or their freedom could be the thing they're hoping to get if they win.
Any other thoughts or changes that might need making?
It's a great idea and really
Submitted by Malcolm Craig on Wed, 17/01/2007 - 13:24.
It's a great idea and really applicable to Contenders. s you point out though, the death thing is a big issue for a game involving gladiators. I think the question at the very start of the game should be "Do we wnat to allow our characters to die?". Getting a gladius in the stomach in your first fight and having to revert to another character might take the shine off of things a bit for some players. Although, here's a thought: why does each player not have a gladiatorial 'school', where they can choose from several fighters and the overall aim is increase the reputation of the school, bring in wealth for the owner and hopefully gain freedom for one or more of the gladiators?
Cheers
Malcolm
Contested Ground Studios
Whilst I like the idea of
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Sun, 21/01/2007 - 17:36.
Whilst I like the idea of playing competing Gladiatorial schools, I do wonder whether you lose something by not playing a single character. But to be able to get round that you'd have to be prepared to risk their lives, which in turn would jeopardise your enjoyment of the game. It is quite a conundrum!
Gladiatorial Contenders is a
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Sun, 21/01/2007 - 18:37.
Gladiatorial Contenders is a great idea, if you don't do it I will...
I reckon we should use the mechanics as they are first, with only color (flavour/fluff) changes and see how it goes. PCs can only die following the Endgame as per usual. It's narrativism guys! Remember destroying a PCs Connections can trigger an early Endgame.
Here are my proposed color changes:
NPC opponents include wild animals and thieves or Christians with really shit stats!
Fighting Dirty might be a problem - how much sand throwing can you take? Mind you, having the old sword and shield could be considered fighting dirty - every roleplay geek knows they're the most effective weapon combination. ;-)
Aspect of Mors = Pain
Aspect of Venus = Hope
Favour = Cash
If you Invoke Mors (Bring teh Pain) you must kill your NPC opponent given the chance or permanently scar/maim a PC opponent.
A DQ should also equal an execution for a NPC or ritual punishment for a PC character. Caesar is displeased...
What do you reckon?
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JoE
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Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....
Gladiatorial Contenders is a
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Sun, 21/01/2007 - 19:36.
Gladiatorial Contenders is a great idea, if you don't do it I will...
That sounds like a challenge to me!
I reckon we should use the mechanics as they are first, with only color (flavour/fluff) changes and see how it goes.
Agreed. Better to test it out and then tweak as necessary.
NPC opponents include wild animals and thieves or Christians with really shit stats!
That's a good idea. I'd be inclined to have a single npc represent a group of Christians or a few wild animals or a big tiger or something. Maybe even have a single npc represent several gladiators who are all dispatched in turn! I think it should be a surprise what the gladiator ends up fighting too!
Fighting Dirty might be a problem - how much sand throwing can you take? Mind you, having the old sword and shield could be considered fighting dirty ...
I'm not sure how to deal with fighting dirty ... after all, there's no referee to disqualify you! Perhaps, as you say, dq represents earning the ire of the crowd or the emperor, and fighting dirty is a sure fire way of doing that.
As for weapons, I think I'll subsume them into the fighting styles.
Aspect of Mors = Pain
Aspect of Venus = Hope
Favour = Cash
If you Invoke Mors (Bring teh Pain) you must kill your NPC opponent given the chance or permanently scar/maim a PC opponent.
You mean Mars, right? And although I'm unsure about changing the names of the stats (I think they work nicely as is), I think the idea about invoking Mars is a good one.
Sounds good - I'm hoping to give this a run through at Conception, and will report back!
Unexpected Gladiators!
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Sun, 21/01/2007 - 21:44.
Well this is an unexpected bonus. My sunday night group met up tonight to discuss what we wanted to play in the coming weeks, and they all fell over themselves to play Gladiators! So we started a game of it tonight. I'll post a play report in a bit.
Actual Play
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Mon, 22/01/2007 - 16:09.
And here it is!
A google search turned up
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Wed, 24/01/2007 - 18:17.
A google search turned up Mors Roman god of death, but Mars works just as well. Or leaving the stats as they are !
+++
JoE
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Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....
I've done a character sheet
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Mon, 29/01/2007 - 19:18.
I've done a character sheet for Gladiators! Ostensibly it's so it can look pretty for my game at Conception, but I thought I'd make it available for everyone.
Nice work! What do you think
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Thu, 01/02/2007 - 14:58.
Nice work!
What do you think about weapons giving minor bonuses to arena traits, like +1 Technique for a trident?
+++
JoE
+++
Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....
I'm thinking of something
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Mon, 05/02/2007 - 10:05.
I'm thinking of something like that, so maybe a net could increase your dominate or whatever. I don't think it would make it too much more cumbersome, especially if you choose at the start of the fight.
Oh, I ran Gladiators on
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Mon, 05/02/2007 - 10:14.
Oh, I ran Gladiators on friday morning with Rich, Claire and co, and it was super fun. Actual play coming later.