"Favorite Roman Games?" Topic

Which Roman form of entertainment would you most enjoy participating in on the miniature tabletop?

* gladiatorial combat
* chariot racing
* naval battles in a lake
etc.

Having played and thoroughly enjoyed Circus Maximus, chariot racing. But the lake battle sounds fun. Gladiatorial combat, not so much— just not much tactical interest in two foes fighting in a flat, sandy pit. The game would need to be highly detailed around specific thrusts, strikes and blocks, which tends to make for slow, cludgy combat.

Chariot racing is a fun game and a great crowd pleaser if done in a theatrical manner as by the great Mike Gomez of the LSHM.

Gang fights?

We used to play a modified version of Circus Maximus at Southern Front (NC). Mainly a larger playing area, miniatures, and more than 6 players. I really enjoyed it.

chariot racing

We used to play Gladiator games when I was at school, chariot races came later. I'd rather play a real naval battle than a pretend one.

link

We've played the hunt. For the longest time I thought it was just a regular gladiator game.

Various chariot races.

Gladiator Wrecks is meant to be played with modern cars, but you can use chariot figures. Demonition derby in an ancient town is also fun.

Gladiator and wrestling games (and other marital arts formal combat games) are best with granular rules. They don't have to be overwhelmingly complex. If you keep it to a reasonable number of decisions, commanding one fighter is no different than coammnading a batallion with five or six companies.

Fave:
Troll Ball is pretty good for the shoving a ball around a place games. We play one similiar to the one described in the link above. We have 10 (or whatever) Roman coins. You get a coin for starting your turn with uncontested control of the ball (player within 1") in your zone of the board. If the pool is empty, take a coin from the other player. Play is (standard) to 8 coins.

I'd rather play a real naval battle than a pretend one.

Having been in both naval exercises and naval battles, I would choose the other way.

I'm not sure I'd game 'Tethered Christians mauled to death by carnivores' not even if I controlled a bear or lion. Not sure how you'd play the companion 'Tethered Christians doused in oil then set alight' game.

Staked out women raped by animals is another Roman entertainment I'd forego.

Mass fight to the death by naked dwarves armed with meat cleavers ? Hardly PC but good luck to whoever suggests that one.

If the dwarves fail to gather interest I doubt the game Commodus devised, gather the city's lower limb amputees then smash their skulls open to the cheers of the mob, will gain much traction.

For the Romans were was no fun & games unless somebody lost, at the very least, an eye.