Gladiators - which are best?

[Mad Doc Morris]

Since you didn't ask specifically for 28mm miniatures...
Over at Carmen's fun painty time (see right column) I got convinced by Alpha's/now Blackcat Miniatures' 54mm gladiators. Best reprasentation of gladiators I've seen so far.

Apart from that my favorite gladiatorial ranges in 28mm are Foundry (for their character figs) and Crusader (which have more accurately equipped pairs of fighters).

[Captain Blood]

Interesting on the Foundry ones, because as I recall, they asked each of their 'star name' sculptors at the time to contribute a couple of packs to the range - so I think I'm right in saying there are Copplestone, Owen, Saleh, Sims and other sculpts all mixed in that range...

The Galloping Major can probably confirm, being an ex-Foundry sculptor himself.
He knows these things...  Who did what and to who. And when. 

[Figouze]

I am always searching some gladiator models and I paint actually some Crusader Miniatures and there are the most pleasant I paint.

The sculpt is a little cartoonish but the details are there !

Some interesting models (and perhaps accurate model) comes there, like the crupelarius or scissors, interesting ones !

If you search taller, don't hesitate and take pegasus models :





You might find some manufacturer with pictures there :

http://peinturefigurine.free.fr/index.php/Gladiateurs/les-modeles-de-gladiateurs-disponibles.html

[Captain Blood]

Wow. Lovely figure...
Yes, I think if I were going to do gladiators - which let's face it only really requires a few figures - 54mm would be the way to do it 

[Westfalia Chris]

Wow. Lovely figure...
Yes, I think if I were going to do gladiators - which let's face it only really requires a few figures - 54mm would be the way to do it 

And I would love to see a 54mm arena table (2x2ft?) done by you. One of those improvised, smaller ones - not as shabby as the Gladiator one in Africa (?), maybe a bit more exciting than the one in Spartacus (although that one was probably more realistic, certainly more than Gladiator's portrayal of the Amphitheatrum Flavium...).

[Orctrader]

Thanks for all the input.  Ah, decisions, decisions...

[WillieB]

AFAIK gladiator figures are available from Foundry, Crusader, Black Tree, West Wind, Steve Barber, EM4 (painted), the old Gladiator range, Magister Militum ( the Servile War range), 1st Corps, Old Glory ( again the slave revolt ranges- all very useful for Noxi ).

Don't worry if your gladiator seems a bit 'overweight' or 'chunky' because that is probably correct.
Gladiators tended to have  a -substantial- layer of  fat to protect the muscles beneath from shallow cuts. Remember that gladiatorial fights were mostly a show, and that fights to the death were the exception rather than the norm.

[Captain Blood]

Remember that gladiatorial fights were mostly a show, and that fights to the death were the exception rather than the norm.

Like WWF wrestling 

[anevilgiraffe]

after last night's episode of Spartacus and the C4 York doc, I'm veering towards some gladiators... what rulesets chaps?

[DS615]

Yes, I would like to know what rules are used as well.
I think I would most certainly go with 54mm.

[Orctrader]

I think I would most certainly go with 54mm.

And I can see why, but I don't paint 54mm.  Well, haven't done any yet.   

With a few fans here of the Crusader offerings I revisited them and, via google, found some rather nice photos of a few undercoated.  Do look very crisply detailed.  Due to that and the comments here, I'm leaning towards them now. 

[WillieB]

We're still using the old Gladiator Games rules 'Morituri Te Salutant'.
Not all types of gladiators are covered but it's a simple thing to create your own sheet.

Fairly simple but realistic rules. Roll for initiative ( lighter gladiator types have an advantage here) by combining a die roll with chosen movement, attack or defense. Some attacks are easier to do and have a higher percentage of success, for instance a 'jab' is way easier than a 'cut' to the head.
Effectiveness of attack is cross-referenced on a chart to give you a result. Early on in the game the results are mostly small cuts which eventually can become wounds or serious wounds. Stunning you opponent is very useful because it restricts him/her to certain moves.
Gladiators get exhausted which makes then slower. Blood loss will also lead to lesser agility and coordination making it harder to hit your enemy.

There's a simple campaign game included with these rules and even a betting system!

[WillieB]

And I can see why, but I don't paint 54mm.  Well, haven't done any yet.   

With a few fans here of the Crusader offerings I revisited them and, via google, found some rather nice photos of a few undercoated.  Do look very crisply detailed.  Due to that and the comments here, I'm leaning towards them now. 

They are certainly the most authentic. Some of the Foundry figures are a 'bit' fantasy- like and the distinction between subclasses blurred.

[Onebigriver]

We're still using the old Gladiator Games rules 'Morituri Te Salutant'.
Not all types of gladiators are covered but it's a simple thing to create your own sheet.

Fairly simple but realistic rules. Roll for initiative ( lighter gladiator types have an advantage here) by combining a die roll with chosen movement, attack or defense. Some attacks are easier to do and have a higher percentage of success, for instance a 'jab' is way easier than a 'cut' to the head.
Effectiveness of attack is cross-referenced on a chart to give you a result. Early on in the game the results are mostly small cuts which eventually can become wounds or serious wounds. Stunning you opponent is very useful because it restricts him/her to certain moves.
Gladiators get exhausted which makes then slower. Blood loss will also lead to lesser agility and coordination making it harder to hit your enemy.

There's a simple campaign game included with these rules and even a betting system!

There's a basic version of the Morituri te salutant rules here:

http://www.gladiator.clara.net/rules.htm

[Condottiere]

Frankly, I've never been satisfied with any of the ranges of Gladiator figures I've seen (although I don't recall the ones from West Wind). The Foundry Gladiators have always looked squat and dumpy to me, and most other ranges seem the same. I actually think that the short-lived Mordheim Pit Fighter range provided the best Gladiator figures, but they may be hard to acquire...

The Mordheim Pit Fighters are still available through the Specialist Games section of the GW site at $30.00 for all six.