Gladiator: Houses Collide
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A large hand pulls you out of your dreams of home and onto the sands. The Roman, clad in armor, quickly grasps the shackles between your wrists and shoves you into a lineup with the others.
Covered in dust from the road and bruised and bloody from the treatment of the Roman guards you await your new Dominus along with your fellow future-brothers.
A Roman man dressed in brilliant colored robes and accompanied by a larger man wielding a whip entered the room.
The Roman began to speak, "I am your Dominus, your master. And you..." he looked down the lines, "Are but slaves... gladiators, who will fight and die for the honor of this House. Do as I and your Doctoré commands, and see yourself elevated! Bring honor to this House, and see yourself well rewarded. Dishonor us, and see yourself face down in a pool of your own blood!"
He walked down the line, inspecting his new acquisition, "Doctoré!" The man who entered with him approached, "Yes, Dominus!"
"Begin their training..."
Official Rules & Game Mechanics:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Winning the game:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
- Become Champion of your House
- Winning battles in the Arena is the only way to achieve the title of Champion. Also, training during your free time to increase your attributes is necessary to be able to stand a chance against your superiors.- Buy your Freedom
- Earn money through winning battles in the Arena, place and win wagers on other battles, maneuver your Loyal Servant for your gain, get creative!- Escape your House
- Telling you how to escape wouldn’t be any fun! Get creative, grasshoppa!
Getting Started:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Your role PM will have some randomly generated character information like what House they are in and their height, but most aspects of your character will be chosen by you! Here's some details...
Name: Player chosen (must be accurate to setting and accepted by me)
House: Determined randomly
Height: Determined randomly
Weight: Determined by Strength attribute with Height
Physical Attributes: Strength, Agility, Endurance, & Perception - 20 points allocated over 4 categories, max 10, min 1
Gladiator Type: There are 4 choices here, Gallus (Heavy armor, Shield and Sword), Hoplomachus (Heavy armor, Shield and Spear), Dimachaerus (Two swords), or Retarius (Net and Trident). Each have their strengths and weaknesses. Take a look at the "Battle" section for more information.
Battle Tactics: Here is where your creativity and strategy can shine! You will have the opportunity to enhance your character's fighting style as you see fit by describing how he fights. You may get as detailed or be as general as you want, but it never hurts to cover all bases. Giving this aspect some time will prove quite useful in the Arena. You have the opportunity to edit your Battle Tactics any time, it's not set in stone!
Types of Gladiators:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:All four of the gladiator types are each unique in their own way, and each boast their strengths and attempt to hide their weaknesses. Here is a quick list and some details on each.
Gallus
- Shield & Sword, Heavy Armor (Strength >6) -
Strengths: Heavy armor, good damage dealing capabilities
Weaknesses: Slowed down by heavy armor, helmet limits vision, no long distance weapon
Major Attributes: Strength & Endurance
Best versus: Retarius
Worst versus: Dimachaerus
Hoplomachus
- Shield & Spear, Heavy Armor (Strength >6) -
Strengths: Heavy armor, good damage dealing capabilities
Weaknesses: Slowed down by heavy armor, helmet limits vision, no close combat weapon
Major Attributes: Strength & Endurance
Best versus: Dimachaerus
Worst versus: Retarius
Dimachaerus
- Two Swords, Light Armor -
Strengths: Speed, good damage dealing capabilities
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to damage, no long distance weapon
Major Attributes: Perception & Agility
Best versus: Gallus
Worst versus: Hoplomachus
Retarius
- Net & Trident, Light Armor -
Strengths: Speed, long and short distance weapons
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to damage, no close combat weapon
Major Attributes: Perception & Agility
Best versus: Hoplomachus
Worst versus: Gallus
Gameplay:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Life of a gladiator was very much structured; the majority of your time is not your own. That is time used by the Doctore to keep up your training and prepare you for the Games.
Unrealistically, in this game, you will be given an allotment of time per turn to use for your own. Use this time to develop your character as you see fit. Strength isn’t high enough? Spend your time doing extra training, but beware, you will also be fatigued.
Chosen to follow the path of the money-maker? Plan to buy your freedom? Fight in Exhibition Matches. Though not always easy, these prove to be even more spectacle for the crowd, and pays even more. These fights will not result in an increase in rank, so if you wish to stay under the radar as a lowly veteranus, this is your path.
Chosen a character bent on escaping? Muse over your surroundings and learning the habits of the guards, eventually your chance of a successful escape will be high enough to attempt it (if you dare).
The typical Ludus had a large network of servants and slaves to attend their masters. Some never left the Dominus and the Domina’s side. Others did the running, delivering food to the gladiators in their cells and dealing with the merchant when he came from town. One of these servants is especially loyal to you all as gladiators, and has your best interest in mind. Beware though, you may ask him to do whatever you want, but he too has limited access to resources and if he’s caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing, he could be put to death, or worse. Use caution when seeking help from your Loyal Servant.
This is a time of creativity, use it as you see fit. Give me details of your actions and what you expect the results to be, usually I will agree and grant the benefits to you. Be realistic, however. You are a slave, you cannot waltz out the front door, nor can you sleep with the Domina. (All actions of sexuality will be omitted from this game, although the reality is gladiators and sex were synonymous…)
Examples of what can be done, and what cannot be done, will be listed.
Order Phase (48-72 hours) – During this phase, you will inform me via PM as to what you wish to do during your free time. Your very few hours per day will be devoted as you see fit, and the results of your efforts will be posted during the next phase.
Discussion Phase (48-72 hours) – During this time, your PM’s from the previous phase will be taken into account and the results posted. It is recommended HIGHLY that as much relevant discussion takes place in thread as possible during this time. Why? There is a “Luck Factor” involved in this game that governs every event and all aspects of it. The “Luck Factor” will be determined directly by the amount of relevant discussion you posted. The player with the most discussion (gloating about character stats, debating fighting styles, plans/goals they have set, ideas on how to get ahead in game, etc…) will get the highest boost from the “Luck Factor”. More will be explained on the “Luck Factor” later and will be mentioned many times by the host. Also you may make a “Challenge” this is a public announcement that you wish to challenge any player in the Arena. That player then must respond with giving his acceptance/denial. Challenges won’t always be carried on into the Arena, the Dominus wasn’t always persuaded by his men, but everybody enjoys a good rivalry and to see them carried out.
Arena Phase (<24 hours) – Selected gladiators from both Houses will be sent to the Arena where they will fight an equal or lesser opponent. You may challenge others or request to fight in an Exhibition match. How to do these things are covered in the rules section below. The matches that will be taking place in the Arena will be posted publicly in thread for the opportunity to make wagers with your fellow players. The majority of losers will be allowed to live but sometimes they will not, once dead a player has lost the game. If a player wishes to challenge a higher ranked player, they must do so during the Discussion phase and fight him in the Arena. Also winning matches in the Arena will earn you Denarii which you can use as you see fit, more detail on that later.
Free Time:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Use this time to manipulate how your character progresses.
Major directions:
1. Becoming Champion - Train your Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Perception (You must say HOW you train these things when you send in orders. An order that says, "Train Strength" will get you nowhere)
2. Buy Freedom - Maneuver your Loyal Servant towards your goals. Many things can be ATTEMPTED, but remember a servant is a servant... if he is caught doing something they're not supposed to be doing, death could be the result. Don't get your Loyal Servant killed, he isn't just yours. He's helping everybody, he wants you to succeed. Get creative in what you get him to try to do, but use caution.
3. Escape - Your Loyal Servant will be important here too, but it's not limited to just him. Get creative here too.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be creative and tell me every detail. Then tell me what you expect the results to be. I may agree with you, or I may just have you executed. We'll see
The Ludus
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The ludus is the enclosure for all gladiators, where they are trained and housed. It was passed on to the Dominus from his father, who was in the same profession. The ground level is a gladiator ludus whilst the upper levels are the Dominus' villa.
The building, being situated on the edge of a mountainside, boasts a brilliant view over all of Capua.
The Layout:
The lower parts of the ludus are the areas for the gladiators. The entrance gate is here, which leads directly onto a training ground. One edge of this square is unwalled and falls off to a sheer cliff. Beyond the training ground is the eating area for the gladiators, and on this floor are their cells/rooms (only the gladiators of higher worth are allowed rooms of their own). The trainee gladiators and others sleep with a few others in cells similar to those in a prison. There is also a bathing area on this level.
A barred gate separates the gladiators from the living quarters above the ludus, which house the Dominus, his wife, and their slaves. The gate is locked every night when the gladiators are shut away for sleep. This upper area is far more lavish than the ludus below, befitting for a Roman citizen of moderate standing. The house burrows into the mountain behind and has a balcony overlooking the gladiator training area.
There is a general social area with an ornamental pool in the center and leading off from this are various other rooms, including the Dominus' sleeping quarters and a large pool that serves as a bath.
Living Quarters:
Aside from the House Champion and Doctore, who has their own separate rooms from the rest, all other gladiators share a cell with one or more others. They sleep in a barred cell, all under lock and key and guarded nightly. The only exits from the living quarters are two barred gates, one that enters the training grounds and one that enters the Lanista's Villa. Both of which are guarded nightly as well.
Training Grounds:
Wooden weapons and shields are typically used for training, which are openly available. Also heavy objects like logs and others sit available as well. Training is guided by the Doctore, who pairs gladiators for battle training, sets aside groups for weight training, and so forth.
As shown in the graphic as well as in the description, the training ground serves as the official entrance into the ludus which is heavily guarded at all times. Also the grounds has only 3 walls, as the fourth side is open to the vertical cliff which displays a spectacular view of the city.
This cliff is not scalable, the Romans of ancient times had not the equipment necessary to do so.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Both Major Ludi have the same layout, this is both for simplicity's sake and for the most part historically accurate)
Arena:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Gladiators from each house will compete in the Arena per turn.
NOTE: You MUST post in the thread saying you wish to compete in the Arena during the Discussion Phase. This gesture must also be in Bold. This way, you have a say in whether you compete (and possibly die) and inactive people have no chance of improving because they'll never compete.
You may also elect not compete (if you feel you aren't ready, etc) and will get a chance to conduct extra training, Loyal Servant actions, etc. Like always, creativity is key.
The scheduled battles will be announced at the beginning of the Arena Phase and wagers (posted publicly) may be made.
Entering the game, you will be a Novicius, which will quickly change to Veteranus once you have won a battle in the Arena. Winning a battle as a Novicius is worth 5 denari. Veteranus is 10d. Tertius Palus is 15d, Secundus Palus 20d, and Primus Palus 25d.
The payment is low for a slave in every case, but Exhibition Matches pay well. A regular Exhibition Match pays as much as a Primus Palus battle at 25d, but doesn't add to your rank and only that one battle can take place per Arena phase.
Regular Exhibition Matches (25d) - All stats for these opponents are 7 and are randomly selected between the listed below.
Lion
Tiger
Panther
Bear
Bull
Gorillas (x3)
Wolves (x6)
Prisoners of War (x3)
Criminals (x5)
Advanced Exhibition Matches (50d) - All stats for these opponents are 9 and are randomly selected between the listed below.
(3x) of Lions, Tigers, Panthers, Bears, Bulls, or a combination of them to equal 3
(5x) Gorillas
(12x) Wolves
Lower Level Gladiators (x3)
IF you wish to fight in the Arena:
Challenge - You may challenge a fellow player by publicly posting in thread Challenge: Zain and the challengee must accept Accept Challenge: ATPG
Request - You may request to fight in an Exhibition match by publicly posting in thread "I would like to Request for a Regular Exhibition Match in the Arena" or "I would like to Request for an Advanced Exhibition Match in the Arena." It is suggested that you be specific...
NOTE: Not all challenges or requests will be honored, the Gods may have other plans... such is the life of a slave.
Rules:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:1. You are limited in what you can accomplish on your own, such is the life of a gladiator.
2. Inactivity will surely end your life.
3. Trash talking is permitted but keep it respectful.
4. The dead may post in thread, this isn't a game of secrets anyway.
5. Unrealistic orders will be ignored as I see fit. You will be given the chance to change them if time permits.
6. All Arena challenges and wagers will be posted publicly, no private transactions will be allowed.
7. You MUST post in thread during the Discussion Phase if you wish to compete in the Arena. Example: "I would like to Compete in the Arena this phase."
8. If you wish to challenge someone to a battle in the Arena, you must post it publicly and they must accept. This format must be used. Challenge: Zain and Accept Challenge: ATPG
9. If you wish to request to fight in an Exhibition Match, you MUST post it publicly. Example: I, Zain, Request to fight in an Exhibition Match.
(Note: Not all Challenges or Requests will be honored in the Arena. Sometimes the Gods have other plans...)
10. If you wish to place a wager on one of the publicly announced Arena matches, you MUST post it publicly in this format Wager: 10d on Zain
(Note: Losing a wager will result in the loss of your money every time.)
11. Do not wager money you do not have.
12. More to be added later.
FAQ: (To be added to later)
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:Explain the phases again and what I can do during them?
Order Phase: This is when you PM me and tell me what you wish to do during your "Free Time". This can include trainings for attributes, dealing with your Loyal Servant, and any other creative avenue you can come up with. Remember, give me all the details and what you're expecting the results to be, and I may just agree. Also remember, all pertinent discussion in the thread governs your individual "Luck Factor". The more discussion that takes place in thread, the higher your "Luck Factor" will be. Talk away!
Discussion Phase: This is when you post in thread any and all discussion you wish to have (battle tactic ideas, gloating about stats, etc) Also if you wish to compete in the Arena in the next Arena Phase you MUST say so in bold during this phase. You may also challenge other players (who must accept your challenge) or request to fight in an Exhibition match. If you wish to avoid the Arena, you may by saying so or saying nothing, only players who wish to compete and say so in bold will compete. Lastly, your results from the Order Phase will be sent to you and any public information from them will be posted as well.
Arena Phase: This is when the battles are publicly posted and wagers, gloating, etc may take place. Results of the battles (who wins, who's injured, who died, who won/lost wagers) will be posted at the end of this phase.
(It is highly recommended that you subscribe to this thread and the Story Thread, and check back to them for regular updates)
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