We had a crack at the Warhammer Gladiator system this evening up at the club, with what can only be described as mixed results. Whilst the rules are quick and straightforward, with the exception of the entanglement section which had us tied up in knots, they don't exactly make for an exciting tactical game. In fact, most of the games we ran ended up as last man standing hack and slash bloodbaths, even with the use of advanced rules for hit location to make things less predictable.
I have a couple of alternative sets of gladiatorial rules that may prove to be more challenging and a little less pedestrian, including Morturi Te Salutant and Let the Dominos Decide. I also have a Chris Peers set of fast play rules in the Foundry Compendium Burned with Fire and Killed With Steel, which look pretty good and probably much smoother.
If I have the time, I'll have a solo play test them to see if they're less clunky and more challenging than the Warhammer Gladiator version. One other option that we discussed was a quick mulitplayer ladder campaign in an evening, using the existing rules but with some modifications and twists to link the games together. Anyway, here's some pictures of the arena to make up for the rather flat if funny gameplay!
If I have the time, I'll have a solo play test them to see if they're less clunky and more challenging than the Warhammer Gladiator version. One other option that we discussed was a quick mulitplayer ladder campaign in an evening, using the existing rules but with some modifications and twists to link the games together. Anyway, here's some pictures of the arena to make up for the rather flat if funny gameplay!
A quick search around the entanglement rules only turns up more similarly confused people...eg: http://johnstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/gladiator.html
ReplyDeleteDodgy gameplay but great figures - I'm still Spartacus!
I'll check the Old West version..I'm sure the answer will be something to do with the lasoo rules in there?
ReplyDeleteUp the Thracians!
I can't remember if it was Wargames Illustrated or Wargames Soldiers & Strategy who published it, but one of them did a great article on lots of additional rules for Gladiator. It looked like it could add a lot to the game.
ReplyDeleteI have played Morturi Te Salutant and found them to be good fun in a sort of rock, paper scissors way.
ReplyDelete