Blood on the Sands **NEW** Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears...

[Furt]

Looking forward to it, I will be triumphant over Bibbles the Giant in the arena.

It is settled then...

Wobbly Bibbles Maximus vs Malamutius Calvus - may the best man win. 

[OSHIROmodels]

Maximus Bibbilous please 

I though you said they were OG 

Never mind eh 

cheers

James

[Doomsdave]

Sorry if answered already, but who does the Livia figure?

[Mister Rab]

Well, I've been beavering away cutting out counters ready for tomorrow - I've decided it would be an acceptable use of lesson time to get my A-level Classics students to give Blood on the Sands a go as a playtest for Furt. There have to be some perks to being a teacher, eh? 



If that doesn't work out I should be able to get a solo playtest in at some point over the next few days.

[Malamute]

Painting my gladiators in the next couple of days, then on holiday for a week where I intend to read the rules thoroughly whilst casually sipping my martini at the beach.

[OSHIROmodels]

Painting my gladiators in the next couple of days, then on holiday for a week where I intend to read the rules thoroughly whilst casually sipping my martini at the beach.

In Devon 

cheers

James

[LeadAsbestos]

I hope to get in a game over the holiday, and I've even recruited a semi-willing opponent!

[NickNascati]

The rules have not yet been released yet, correct?

[Furt]

Well, I've been beavering away cutting out counters ready for tomorrow - I've decided it would be an acceptable use of lesson time to get my A-level Classics students to give Blood on the Sands a go as a playtest for Furt. There have to be some perks to being a teacher, eh? 

Looking forward to hearing how the rules fare amongst a bloodthirsty crowd of students!!

In Devon 

  - at least he's going on a holiday.

The rules have not yet been released yet, correct?

No not as of yet. The combat rules are being playtested at the moment, with the campaign rules to follow.

[Malamute]

In Devon 

cheers

James

You haven't seen the weather forecast for next week. A tropical heatwave is due for the south West of England

[OSHIROmodels]

You haven't seen the weather forecast for next week. A tropical heatwave is due for the south West of England

I can guarantee that it won't be as hot as it has been here 

cheers

James

[Mister Rab]

I've had a quick playtest of these rules now, although a quick re-read since I got home suggests I didn't quite get bleeding/fatigue right or remember favour/disfavour each time. It was an absolute blast - recommended highly - and I can't wait to play more.

LAF review
blog post

[Furt]

Awesome Mister Rabs - a good read.

[Mister Rab]

Glad you liked the write-up, we certainly enjoyed playing 

(Of course, having got myself down to a single painting project, I'm now searching for more gladiator miniatures to supplement the prepainted ones I have  )

[Furt]

For the benefit of the playtesters (and anyone else interested) I will endeavor to post here an example of combat for Blood on the Sands. Firstly I’ll introduce our two combatants and show in detail the relevant placement of counters on their play sheets.

The match will be fought between a murmillo, Marcus, and a thraex, Titus.

Marcus is more experienced (Prowess of 4) than his opponent and both stronger and sturdier (Strength and Stamina of 4). His attributes are marked with appropriately coloured counters. An armatura sheet representing the armour of a murmillo is placed in the box provided. This sheet lists the difficulty to wound particular areas of Marcus’ body and will also be the place where any wounds will be recorded. The heavy scutum a murmillo wields increases the difficulty of his Speed tests to 5+ and a counter is placed here to remind the players.

Along with the scutum, Marcus wields a gladius in his main hand. Weapon counters are placed in the appropriate hand boxes. Although a solid defence, his scutum will cause him to tire after time. A fatiguing shield counter and two hourglass counters are placed in his fatigue box to represent this. An hourglass counter will be removed each turn, after which he will start to feel the load of his shield weighing on him. Let’s hope he has dispatched his opponent by then. Fresh from a recent victory Marcus has accumulated a fame counter, which is placed in his crowd favour box. The crowd begin on Marcus’ side and he may use their cheers to spur him on. Lastly, Marcus considers himself spurned by the goddess Fortuna, and considering he is a gladiator, he may just have a point. He has the “Unlucky” trait and a counter is placed to remind both players of this. His opponent may force Marcus to reroll any dice roll once during the match.

Titus is making his debut in the arena and as gladiators go he is of fairly average ability and skill.  He does have the “Nimble” trait although and exhibits a natural quickness (Speed 4). A trait counter is placed by his Speed score to remind the player that Titus will always have at least 1 success during a Speed test. A thraex armatura sheet is placed in the appropriate box. The armament of a thraex differs from a murmillo in a few ways. Titus’ shield is smaller and lighter than his opponent’s and both of his legs are armoured to compensate. Any wounds Titus suffers will be placed on this sheet.

Titus is armed with a sica and a square parma (shield).  The curved sica sword is a weapon unique to a thraex and is designed to reach around an opponent’s shield. Should one of Titus’ attacks be reduced to exactly 0 successes, his curved sica will still allow his blow to strike, when it usually would be defended. Weapon counters are placed in the hand boxes. His shield is less effective than a scutum, but weighs much less and will not fatigue him. He does not place any of the fatigue counters that Marcus has. Titus has no further fatigue, favour or trait counters to place. He gulps nervously and steps forward into the bright sunlight…

A turn by turn example of combat to follow soon(ish).