Warhammer Historical Gladiator rules review

[Anatoli]

A comprehensive review of the Warhammer Historical "Gladiator" rules and book contents. The rules cover both regular gladiator combat, chariot racing and gladiator combat with ships. You also have a lot of Gladiator and wild animal profiles to pick from to keep you occupied.

Check the full review on my blog:

http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.com/2011/10/gladiator-rules-review.html

[Drunkendwarf]

Nice review, thx.

DJ

[Blue in vt]

Cool thanks!  these are being shipped to me as we speak!

Cheers,

Blue

[YIU]

Cool thanks!  these are being shipped to me as we speak!

Cheers,

Blue

Thanks. Same for me 

[LeadAsbestos]

Is there anything aside from the pretty factor of the book to favor it over Red Sand, Blue Sky?  WHH looks great, but seems not quite right for gladiatorial combat...

[Anatoli]

@ LeadAsbestos, no idea haven't played RS,BS and the reviews of it that I have found have not really told me anything about the rules either. So I can't make a comparison.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

A bit of thredomancy but I've just read through the review and wanted to thank you, very thorough and proper work.

[Redmist1122]

Are these rules still available?  If so by whom?

Thanks.

P.

[cram]

Warhammer Historical are no longer in business sadly.

I have this rule book and like it a lot.

You can still get a hold of a copy second hand though, try ebay for starters as I am aware it appears there sometimes.

You can also post on the 'Bazaar of Obscurities' on this site, there might be someone happy to sell their copy!

[Redmist1122]

Ah Ha!  No wonder I coulndn't fid them on the web. Will have to post it on the other forum.  I also did a look on ebay, so far no luck.  This will be place on my watch list.

Thanks again.

P.

[Too Bo Coo]

In fairness and for the sake of completeness, RSBS plays like a math exercise. I like the concept in THW rules that I dont control everything, totally makes sense.  But I think it not only goes too far, but the game just feels dry.  The closest thing I can compare it to is the dissatisfaction of 'press your luck' style games.

That said, Furt's Blood on the Sand is the BEST gladiatorial game I've ever played.  It needs to be tightened up a hair with a last edit of the rules, but the game itself is solid and really makes you feel like you're in gladiatorial combat with just the right balance of uncertainty in the way of 'arena dice'.  For that, think 'Saga Dice'.

[Redmist1122]

I read through the mega thread on the Furts rule system, which appears to be everyones favorite. I was getting all excited reading something that started over a year ago, thinking it was up and running by now. But it would seem that endevour has stopped or something like that.  Sooo, what's the next alternative?

P.

[Elbows]

BOTS has a future, but it's an unfunded and slow process (ask me how I know - sigh).  Other rules to consider:

-Arena Games for multiplayer, quick and easy (and fun)
-RS:BS...I thought this was absolutely horrid.  It's like playing an Excel spreadsheet.  But if you're a sadist, check it out.
-Jugula.  New to the scene, not super historical, more aimed at strategic small group combat - cards and strategy.
-Gladiator (Warhammer Historical).  I don't like the game system (a bit too GW) but the book itself is really quite good - lots of content, history and ideas.  OOP, hard to find.
-Victus.  We played this - had an okay time, maybe worth digging into.  Didn't love it at first play, but perhaps it could be bashed into something fun?
-Sine Missione.  A free to download ruleset I never had the time to read (it's around here somewhere)

I'd put aside some money for BOTS but it won't be rushing out to orders anytime soon, until Furt tells us as much! 

[Kugelfang]

I also have a free set of rules available at my (long neglected) site: https://sites.google.com/site/petiteguerre/home . I haven't done anything with them (or anything else gaming related) for many years but I recently came across a Boardgame Geek review of them and though "aaawww... isn't that nice. He gets it!" (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43382/familia-gladiatoria )

--jeff

[Muddypaw]

Arena Rex should be going retail soon as KS rewards are being sent as we speak. It has fantasy elements that can easily be ignored. The rules I think can still be downloaded from their main site, at the bottom of "The Game" page.

http://www.arenarex.com