"Ludus Gladiatorius - what would you like to see next?" Topic

Since announcing our new Gladiator painted-figures-with-game on TMP ( TMP link )we've had a fantastic response. So, the planned follow-up box looks likely. What 5 figures to include is the question and, as usual, I turn to TMP for suggestions.
Retiarius I think for sure. Maybe some less historical types edging towards fantasy. Females? Animals? On the game side, I think a "campaign" system but keep the basics simple. I'd love to hear you ideas, TMPers.

Doug

I would love to see a full set so that you can field all of the following types:
Retiarius
Thraex
Secutor
Dimachaerus
Hoplomachus
Laquerarius
Murmillo
Sagittarius
Provocator
Veles
Roman Legionary
Armoured and Unarmoured Captives (possibly Celtic Types)

Follow ups to these could include dwarf and female versions since these are also known to have existed historically and make for a bit of variety. Animals and fantasy types would be relatively far down my list of desirable figures.

A simple campaign that allows for the advancement of individual gladiators and/or managing a school of gladiators would be fun. Ideally, it should be possible to play in a day (like a DBA campaign) but with the option of extending it to run until you get bored.

I ordered the first set yesterday and am looking forward to it turning up.

Cheers
Wukong

Maybe some net / trident figs, and some dagger men. Some animals would be groovy also.

As above, I'd like to see more historical variants. The fantasy stuff would not interest me. Animals would be very versatile and might work better as a separate release (a pride of lions for e.g. would be attractive to gamers of darkest africa, fantasy etc as well, but less so if they were bundled with gladiators). Oh, and whilst you're about it, a pre-painted chariot racing set w/ rules.

Have you considered the naval battles that were staged after flooding the Coliseum? Perhaps a bit ambitious, but a couple of ship templates with gladiator marines trying to ram each other might make a good game.

Let me read the rules first, but I would say that the gladiator figures market is already saturated.

Depending on what you think the draw of the game is, you will want to focus on that.

I already own a dozen or so Steve Barber figures, and used plastic animals with them. My 'arena' is a round piece of mdf ( napnuts.com/glad_camp.htm ) , so my main interest in the set this time is mainly the arena, the rules with the nifty-looking display charts, and the dice; figures are in fact secondary. Of course, the low, low price made it an easy sale.

The highest cost in a gladiatorial set-up is often ( like in real-life ) the arena itself. There are a few resin ones on sale but these are expensive. The LG one looks like a good option from the pics. So maybe so additional components like a grandstand, or 3D gates?

Also, I believe most gamers will want masses of audience, so may cheap pre-painted ones by the dozen is the solution.

Oh, and you want the referee too, and the guy playing Hermes. Maybe a set with the Editor ( as in the guy sponsoring the game, not Bill ) , a couple of guards, the referee( Charon ) and Hermes as one set?

And yes, neubaten, definitely a chariot game. I want the tracks! The tracks can also be used with your other historical fantasy chariots.

As you can see, I am focusing mainly on the morph-ability of the set, which coupled with the low price will make every gamer who has gladiators and chariots go 'eh… why not?'. Maybe you would want to make that a marketing point too.

Keeping it historical.. how about some lions and christians?

I agree, don't get side tracked into fantasy.

I hear what you're saying about keeping it historical, guys. However, the game is a quick "fun" game - it ain't a serious historical simulation by any means. Maybe it could go both ways but with any fantasy developments being sold as totally separate products....Time for a muse, methinks......

Muse later, send my box out first !!

I think an animal supplement would be good; a gladiator style that has been overlooked is the "Beastiari" - the animal fighting professional. A simple campaign system is a plus.

kreoseus, never fear. Whilst I sit in my lofty eerie, wearing a white suit and thinking great thoughts, scores of people are scurrying round packing orders and getting them out to our revered customers...............

(Treads lightly in dread fear of movie-bashers)
What about a series of gladiators as appeared in the movie of the same name? Some of them looked pretty cool, especially in the provincial arena.

Never mind musing, you just make sure you have enough copies at Salute.

Ot there will be........trouble! :-)

Yes, keep it historical.

Contra-Retiarius
Beastiarii
Dwarves with vision obscuring helmets

that's my wishlist

There needs to be more variety of gladiator types...the EM-4 seem to be all Secutors, Thracians, and Provacatores...

I buy pretty much every gladiator rules/figures I find. I am looking forward to yours.

You need ideas for historical gladiators? Pick up any book on the subject and you can get more ideas then you can possibly produce. There are murals of secutor types with axes, references to Celts w/ 2-h swords in mass battles, etc.

Animals and specialists to fight them would be real nice. Mounted gladiators are also lightly represented by the existing lines. Dwarves did appear in the arena but were rare. A lot more rare then the existing figures make them look.

If you want to do fantasy then fantasy versions of historic classes might find their way to my table. Spikes and skulls will not.

I vote for lions and christians.

Some females would be nice. I also second the lions & christians or other unarmed wretches thrown to the beasts.

Bestarii, beasts, Laquerius, Retarius, Secutor.

Fantasy types should be in their own boxes, but would not neccesarily be a bad thing.

I would also vote for some of the support staff, Hermes, trainers, Editor etc.

Well I bought it yesterday and have to say that its well worth the money. I'll buy more when you do them Doug.
Gladiators I would like to see are :
Retarius (trident & net)
Dimachaerius (2 swords)
Velitus (spear)

Other than that, do what you like, I'll still buy them. :-)

I just flipped through my cupboard and found that I have some unpainted gladiator casualty figures - so maybe casualty versions of the gladiators?

Retiarius
Dimachaerius
Hoplomachus with spear
(a variety of ethnic types)

A set with one or two Beastiarii and animals (lion, tiger and bear - oh my!).

And a set with females, and maybe a dwarf or two.

Lastly, I'd like to see a set of spectators, this could include the editor - or that could be packaged seperately with referees.

Like others have said, would like to see more gladiator differentiation based on type, and also campaign rules and the boosted dice in color.