Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: Bloodaxe on March 04, 2018, 01:33:03 AM
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Hello gents (and the rest of you)
Im looking for a set of Gladiator rules so I came to the #1 place for miniatures, & games knowledge LAF !
What Im looking for.....
-I'll probably be using some Crusader and Foundry miniatures since I have a few. So 28mm or so, if scale matters.
-Id like there to be some difference in the Gladiator types/equipment , but to not be too complicated, easy to pick up & learn, play.
So if you can point me in the right directions, tell me a bit wabout what the rule set offers and where to get it, Id greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your help.
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I started with the Two Hour Wargames Blue Sky Red Sand and duly painted my gladiators and built my arena. But after actually playing the rules found them to give a very dull game.
So I switched to Jugula which is a great multiplayer arena fighting game that gives a really good gladiator-like feeling. It's not a simulation, however. It's fast, easy to learn, has tactical depth and the varied types of gladiator are suitably different to make choosing which to field a real decision. My best description would be that it puts the Spartacus series on the tabletop.
As an addendum, I've also played Avalon Hill's Gladiator game from long ago which would translate well into a miniatures game. Back in the 80s we loved it but by today's standards it has too much crunch for me and the action is slow due to the necessary planning of moves.
Here's my Jugula in action:
(https://www.matakishi.net/uploads/4/0/8/7/40876893/2015-16_orig.jpg)
(https://www.matakishi.net/uploads/4/0/8/7/40876893/jugular-first-game-001_orig.jpg)
(https://www.matakishi.net/uploads/4/0/8/7/40876893/jugular-first-game-002_orig.jpg)
Details here: https://www.matakishi.net/gladiators.html
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If you're interested in a tactical card and dice driven game that is easy to pick up but tricky to master, you could look at Blood, Sweat and Cheers. Disclaimer - it's my game, but some people like it despite that. Published by Ganesha, cards available from Drivethru Cards.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBK9pEJA3Wk/WELz5LB1c0I/AAAAAAAAE1w/teFEY5_EkQoAAzFL8TkrFhxVaY0TIxeqwCPcB/s1600/4.JPG)
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I just got BSC in the post this morning. I'm planning to use it to tempt my wife in before I've got her Sellswords warband ready...
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I can't recommend it since its still not available in any form, but forum member Furt has a great gladiator ruleset called blood on the sands that REALLY needs to get published one of these days, however, IIRC its stuck in agreements with a boardgame company for now... :'(
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Here’s a second for Blood on the Sands. Great rules but can be a bit heavy on the book keeping side.
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You may also refer to previous discussions on the same topic collected here (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=57121.0).
While Blood on the Sands was a very promising draft, it never made it to a polished release version. Thus, any recommendation is based on test runs only – and ultimately of little use to people asking for available sets. ;)
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You may also refer to previous discussions on the same topic collected here (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=57121.0).
While Blood on the Sands was a very promising draft, it never made it to a polished release version. Thus, any recommendation is based on test runs only – and ultimately of little use to people asking for available sets. ;)
You are entirely right but I will forever lament the lack of BotS news given half a chance. :'(
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Hoping it’ll get it going again ;)
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I just recently updated my set 'Familia Gladiatoria'. It's free and located at: https://sites.google.com/site/petiteguerre/home/familia-gladiatoria .
I'd love to get some feedback.
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You are entirely right but I will forever lament the lack of BotS news given half a chance. :'(
So do I!
However, topics like this come up frequently, so let's avoid going in circles. Perhaps by testing Kugelfang's rules instead? Thanks for the hint. :)
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I really like Jugula.
It's unusual in that you fight with a team of 4 glaiators, and that it's more a deck building game with figures than a pure gladiator game.
But it is a very good game; works well for 2,3, or 4 payers, too.
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I'm gonna throw you a curveball here...
Gorechosen from GW.
at the moment you have choice of 11 pre built charcters to go from in the rulebook, and you can easily build more.
The rules are designed for cinematic pit fighting and manouvering, and it works really really well.
You probably won't want the age of sigmar bits but you can ebay the miniatures and keep the rules and counters.
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Thank you all for the help. Now i have to decide what i want to do for an arena. I have a few ideas.
Besides Crusader and Wargames Foundry- what other good Gladiator miniatures are out there? Im in the USA.
Thanks!
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I like the Arena Rex miniatures a lot... but I still can’t find a good excuse tobget them as no one in my club is interested in the period....
Link: https://arenarex.com/ (https://arenarex.com/)
Andres
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I like the Arena Rex miniatures a lot... but I still can’t find a good excuse tobget them as no one in my club is interested in the period....
Link: https://arenarex.com/ (https://arenarex.com/)
Andres
They are very large. I have a few. (to hit ebay soon) They will not fit with other 25-28mm figs at all. Very nice figs though!
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Steve Barber did a nice range of Gladiators - not sure of they are still available.
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The Society of Ancients recently re-released their gladitorial game.
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The Society of Ancients recently re-released their gladitorial game.
Any good? Found it:
http://soa.org.uk/joomla/games/18-games/152-gladiolus
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A card based game appeals to me. Holding a hand of cards and deciding what to play sounds good. I'd like a difference in Gladiator types and the possibility of animals, so it may not be out there. I do not want something too complicated. Probably nothing is a perfect fit. So I'll have to decide what's priority and what game checks most of the boxes.
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Brigade Games make a few gladiators:
http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/Gladiators_c_483.html
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If you're interested in a tactical card and dice driven game that is easy to pick up but tricky to master, you could look at Blood, Sweat and Cheers. Disclaimer - it's my game, but some people like it despite that. Published by Ganesha, cards available from Drivethru Cards.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBK9pEJA3Wk/WELz5LB1c0I/AAAAAAAAE1w/teFEY5_EkQoAAzFL8TkrFhxVaY0TIxeqwCPcB/s1600/4.JPG)
I'm going to get this. What sold me is the sample turns of game play. Have a link to buy?
My one criticism is I would have preferred a grittier art style. But that's a minor complaint.
What gladiators are represented? Any plans for expansion on other types or beasts?
This was cool:
http://irregularwars.blogspot.com/2016/12/blood-sweat-and-cheers-two-example-turns.html
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I ordered Blood Sweat & Cheers.
Gathering some more gladiators and looking for a decent colosseum.
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I‘d really love to give Blood, Sweat and Cheers a chance as well. However, the shipping from the US kills it for me. More than the game itself :o
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I‘d really love to give Blood, Sweat and Cheers a chance as well. However, the shipping from the US kills it for me. More than the game itself :o
Maybe it can be made as a PDF that people can print out.
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Not to be too shy but Kingsford Miniatures makes some gladiators with more in the pipeline. Full disclosure I am Kingsford. lol
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Oh, those Kingsford gladiators are nice. Look to be historically accurate, too. Something you don't find in other ranges very often.
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Not to be too shy but Kingsford Miniatures makes some gladiators with more in the pipeline. Full disclosure I am Kingsford. lol
Ive seen them. Nice. Im waiting for a few more, maybe a second 4-pack so i can get that discount since im in the USA. Please make more of the uncommon Gladiator types ( crupellarius, cestus, veles, sagittarius ) Tons of murmillo, thraex, etc. already. Thanks!
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http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/Gladiators_c_483.html
Gorgeous gladiators, and nicely accurate! I bought the lot. Shipping from the USA, Bloodaxe!
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http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/Gladiators_c_483.html
Gorgeous gladiators, and nicely accurate! I bought the lot. Shipping from the USA, Bloodaxe!
Thanks! I'll check them out. Do they come with the shields, spears? I have almost all of the Crusader Gladiators. I have to see what else i need. I dont have any cestus armed Gladiators (and thats on the BSC list). Id also like to get some beasts like bears, lions, etc.
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...So if you can point me in the right directions, tell me a bit wabout what the rule set offers and where to get it, Id greatly appreciate it.
Hello, and welcome to the Quest! I am too looking for the ultimate set of rules, however, I have already tried a few: http://skirmishgrail.blogspot.cz/search/label/Gladiators?m=1 (http://skirmishgrail.blogspot.cz/search/label/Gladiators?m=1)
Among these was also Familia Gladiatoria (http://skirmishgrail.blogspot.cz/2015/01/how-to-begin-new-year-of-gaming.html?m=1 (http://skirmishgrail.blogspot.cz/2015/01/how-to-begin-new-year-of-gaming.html?m=1), whose author I am pleased to meet here :)
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Thanks! I'll check them out. Do they come with the shields, spears? I have almost all of the Crusader Gladiators. I have to see what else i need. I dont have any cestus armed Gladiators (and thats on the BSC list). Id also like to get some beasts like bears, lions, etc.
They have all the relevant equipment, and I think they are better proportioned than the big headed Crusader models, nice though they are!
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@Longshanks,
Glad to meet you, too. I'm not aware of many people who have tried Familia Gladiatoria (FG?, FamGlad? Man, I regret that naming decision!) I just recently tweaked some of the rules language, modified the record sheets (really a QR, now) and the action cards. I'm always willing to 'support' my rules by answering questions, etc., but at this point nobody's ever contacted me with questions! I can be found here on LAF or more frequently on TWW (as Autodidact-O-Saurus). Admittedly, though, I don't do much promoting of my own rules.
Another comment on your blog caught my attention regarding the playing of the three action cards. Your question was whether the three cards were played in a per-arranged order, or did the player get to decide which card to play as they played the cards. I play using the second option: each time you play a card you decide which card to play. You do not have to decide the order of the three cards before playing the first card. My justification for that is that trained fighters generally have fast reaction times--their lives depend upon it. Each action card could represent 2 to 4 seconds of activity. That is plenty of time to change your mind as to what you are going to do.
Now I could see a house rule mandating that a significantly inferior (or less dexterous) gladiator pre-order the action cards. That would, however, give the more dexterous fighter a significant advantage. It might also be appropriate for animals, andabatea or when implementing solo-play. But, if players enjoy watching their fighters swing and miss repeatedly by having slow reaction times... go for it. There's nothing wrong in sacrificing what I consider a little realism to enhance player fun. Suit yourself.
I've also just completed quite a few 54mm gladiators and some lions and bears. So... you can see where I'm headed.
--jeff
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@Kugelfang- Id like to see what 54mm you have. What brands you use? And bears & lions! Sounds neat. Thanks!
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Some older pictures of my 54mm gladiators can be seen at my blog at: http://petiteguerre.blogspot.com/search/label/gladiators . The manufacturers I've got are Pegasus, Italieri and Black Cat. I've also got a couple of old, old, old Imrie-Risley but they are SO much larger than the others that I've not painted them. I like the Pegasus ones the best. Only about 50% of the poses are really useful for gaming but they are the most historically accurate--and well sculpted. The Black Cat are metal and relatively accurate, but I don't much care for the proportions of the sculpting. They're also a bit smaller at about 48mm or so. The Italieri are generally less historically accurate but the poses are dynamic. With some head substitutions and some green stuff work they would be really nice. Not that I'm that ambitious.
I've got some more recent pictures over at that other forum I mentioned above. (I have to admit I'm not sure what the LAF policy is regarding posting links to or discussing other forums so I'll leave it to you to follow the breadcrumbs.)
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I have a gladiator rule set releasing on August 6th called "Sons of Mars" if any of you are interested. I've attached some links below that lead to a free demo game so you can try out the rules and a page by page preview of the book so you can see what it has to offer. Take a look and feel free to ask any questions :)
Free Demo:
https://theacceptablecasualties.com/downloads
"Sons of Mars" Page by Page Preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmzYy5Fanko&list=PLsvLMN6Cl1a8_JftjjrDSMLJ6mn1ZTXME&index=2&t=1168s
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I can recommend Blood, Sweat & Cheers.
It's quick enough to learn and play, and straightforward enough for some quick battles. There's a variety of moves for each of the gladiator types.
In one 90 minute session of about 6-7 fights, my 11 y.o. flogged me enough to take his fighter to Rudus status. ::)
I'm planning on running a Gladiator tournament evening at my club with it one of these days - just need another deck or two of the cards.