Blood on the Sands - First look at the Wargames Atlantic gladiator sprue

[Sleepy Snoozy Skeletons]

That's so cool! I've been waiting for pics since I read they had a gladiator kit coming out later.

This looks like it'll be crazy useful for kitbashing, too

[Furt]

Oh wow! I hadn't looked here for ages, great to see so much progress on all sides!

Thanks YPU - yeah things are moving along nicely.

The plastic gladiators will be a very useful kit and they are LONG overdue. It will be great for kitbashing.

And I couldn't agree more Easy E, who couldn't use some more gladiators right?

[Easy E]

Gladiators were also common in street protests and other "civil unrest" in the cities of the Empire.  Of course, if they got all dressed up in their gear?  Who knows, but it all that matters is if it looks good on the table! 

A Roman Riot game could be a ..... wait for it...... riot!

[Furt]

In an attempt to clear some of the gladiator lead pile before I tackle the new Wargames Atlantic plastics I've been painting up some of my Crusader and Foundry lads for Blood on the Sands.

https://www.bloodonthesands.com/

[Captain Blood]

Lovely stuff Frank 

[ithoriel]

Gladiators were also common in street protests and other "civil unrest" in the cities of the Empire.  Of course, if they got all dressed up in their gear?  Who knows, but it all that matters is if it looks good on the table! 

A Roman Riot game could be a ..... wait for it...... riot!

If they did use some of their gladiator armour I can't imagine them wearing their helmets which seem to have been intended to restrict breathing and vision as much, if not more than, to provide protection.

That won't stop me using gladiator figures in their amphitheatre armour for both Blood on the Sands and Gangs of Rome. Sometimes the Rule of Cool trumps the more likely options   

The Atlantic plastics for both games are all sorts of brilliant IMHO.

[Easy E]

I really enjoyed painting my Crusader and Wargames Atlantic Digital Gladiators.  There is just something relaxing about painting them. 

However, I am super looking forward to these plastics!

[eddieazrael]

My understanding is that they were designed to provide a good deal of protection actually, to avoid any 'sudden death' blows to the head that would end a fight early.  The Romans wanted blood, but also their monies worth!

[Rick]

I really enjoyed painting my Crusader and Wargames Atlantic Digital Gladiators.  There is just something relaxing about painting them. 

However, I am super looking forward to these plastics!

All I could think of was that scene from Airplane, sorry Easy E - it just popped into my head! 

[Easy E]

All I could think of was that scene from Airplane, sorry Easy E - it just popped into my head! 

Before you ask, yes I do like Gladiator movies. 

No, I have never been to a Turkish prison.

Yes, I have seen a grown man naked.

I think that about covers it......

[wkeyser]

How about posting the updates here as the super secret ones on Kickstarter are super secret and those of us that late pledged cannot see those super secret updates.

[anevilgiraffe]

blimey, you don't stop do you?

[Rick]

blimey, you don't stop do you?

Well, if you don't ask you don't get - they can always just say 'no'. 

[Furt]

How about posting the updates here as the super secret ones on Kickstarter are super secret and those of us that late pledged cannot see those super secret updates.

As mentioned, a few times now, the Kickstarter updates are for backers who pledged during the Kickstarter.

We do re-share anything important on our social channels anyway — so if someone chooses not to use social media, that’s entirely their call, just as it’s ours to keep backer updates for backers. I will try to remember to re-post here in the future but I really don't feel it's the best place to do so.

Well, if you don't ask you don't get - they can always just say 'no'. 

I have, quite a few times.

Regardless, the update was simply to say that we are still on track and the rulebook is in the final editing and layout stage, then on to manufacturing.

We also received some fantastic gladiator vignette images from LAF's own Dr Mathias. But you'll have to wait to see those.

Finally we provided a link to our gladiator name generator. This will appear in the rulebook but anyone can download it in its digital version, along with the Quickstart here:

https://www.bloodonthesands.com/quickstart

Gladiator names were stage identities, much like modern wrestlers’ names. They offered spectacle, evoked cultural resonances, and helped transform fighters into memorable figures for the crowd. While some may have reflected the gladiator’s background, most were theatrical inventions assigned by their lanista.

Gladiator names come down to us through inscriptions, graffiti, epitaphs, and the odd mention in Roman writings, and they show just how much these fighters’ public identities were shaped for the arena. Some were borrowed straight from myth, like Achilles, Hector, or Ajax, implying a sense of epic drama. Others pointed to a man’s origin—or where the crowd thought he came from—with names like Dacus, Africanus, or Britannicus adding a touch of the exotic. Plenty were derived from wild beasts—Lupus, Ursus, Panthera—meant to suggest raw strength or ferocity. Others conveyed martial qualities or virtues, like Felix (“lucky”), Firmus (“strong”), or Celer (“swift”). Some gladiators were assigned sharp, memorable epithets. Flamma, for example, means “flame”—a name that would have sounded fierce and fiery to the crowd. And then there were names that seem almost tongue in cheek, like Cygnus (“swan”) or Pulcher (“pretty boy”), which may have played as ironic jokes to the crowd.

However they were chosen, these names weren’t just labels—they were part of the spectacle and crafted to thrill the mob. Find some inspiration for naming the men of your ludus!

[OSHIROmodels]

Lovely pictures above mate. Glad it’s been a success