Gladiators used in roman army?

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, these units are pure fantasy. But at least they aren't totally made up like the Arcani...

[Oaty]

Unfortanately with the new board all the old posts got deleted but someone posted that they were used (excluding Spartucus) and they performed so horribly in the battle they were'nt really worth bringing. So the option is there and if they make them weak units then it wo'nt be so bad

[Lonewarrior]

Here is some info

Spartacus (died 71 bc), Roman slave and gladiator, born in Thrace. He is thought to have been a deserter from the Roman army, and he was sold as a slave to a trainer of gladiators at Capua. In 73 bc he escaped with other runaway gladiators and took refuge on Mount Vesuvius, where he was joined by large numbers of escaped slaves. As leader of the historic insurrection of Roman slaves known as the Third Servile War, or Gladiators' War, he defeated two Roman armies, and his forces overran southern Italy. In 72 bc he defeated three more Roman armies and reached Cisalpine Gaul, where he planned to disperse his followers to their homes. They decided to remain in Italy for the sake of plunder, and Spartacus marched south again. In 71 bc the Roman commander Marcus Licinius Crassus forced Spartacus and his followers into the narrow peninsula of Rhegium (now Reggio di Calabria), from which, however, they escaped through the Roman lines. Crassus then pursued Spartacus to Lucania, where the rebel army was destroyed and Spartacus was killed in battle. Upon his death the insurrection came to an end, and the captured rebels were crucified. A few who escaped to the north were killed by Pompey the Great, who was returning from Spain.

Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

[King Azzole]

Gladiators rock. Cant wait to use em.

[lars573]

Gladiators rock. Cant wait to use em.

I know there the battlefield ninja/hashasin of RTW

[Spino]

I know there the battlefield ninja/hashasin of RTW

No, the three or four gladiator units in RTW will simply be melee fighters of a various classes. The RTW equivalent of ninja/hashanin will be units like the Arcani.

[Sir Moody]

well dont worry when some of us get around to moding RTW (probably the second it comes through my door) we will put them in as they hsould be - in Full legionaire uniform

[Kraxis]

It is surprising how many time this come up at varius boards.

Anyway, gladiators were used in battles now and then.
It is believed that the 'criminals' in one of the Roman armies chasing Hannibal around were in fact gladiators (they were inticed to fight because they were promised their freedom, and they won the battle they fought in).
Both Ceasar and Pompey used gladiators in their armies, I think Ceasar himself noted that Pompey's gladiators were superior in melee and his own were superior with the pilum (or the other way around).
But it must be mentioned that both these and Spartacus' gladiators were armed as Roman legionaries and not like in the ring. Their equipment was not very effective, it prevented quick kills but not kills themselves, and they were meant to help in one on ones. Some helmets were directly impossible to use in battle (some having almost blinders others presenting only small eyeholes).