Hail Caesar! Review Contest Entries

I'm not sure if I qualify as a ruleset reviewer, except for the fact that I've had a lifelong interest in gladiators.

Thirty odd years ago (yes, I'm that old), I got fascinated by the concept of gladiators, from the Etruscan/Samnite funeral rites to the better known arena "sporting events."

Started collecting reference material, and the same amount of years later I have an extensive database and library on the matter.

So I suppose my main contribution will probably be historical backgrounds and info on gladiator types, etc.

We tried to run a gladiatorial campaign at our club using the rules from (who else?) Gladiator Games but they turned out to be just a bit too detailed. Some combats lasted too long, and the non-playing participants had to wait too long before it was their turn. So if this ruleset promises shorter combat sessions, but without a complete sacrifice of historical detail, I'm very interested in trying them out.

So bring on the Murmillo's, Dimacheirii, Thrax and Secutors. We'll give them a thorough workout!

Some 30+ years ago (sigh), I bought my first box of Airfix figs and after collecting plastics figures for about six years I switched to metal (still buy plastics these days) and resin.

I got a bunch of fellow gamers together who warned me that I was not merely gaming but I was "Wargaming." We called ourselves the Young Guard. We mostly played Napoleonic battles or ancient ones with the Atlantic figures. I got acquainted with Rudi Geudens of the ABC club and well known in the wargame world. He had his own little shop, and before I knew it I was a member of his new club The Light Brigade and spent most of my Saturdays in his shop.

After being a member of both Light and Heavy Brigade, I switched to the more near and more appealing (meetings every week in stead of every month) TSA. They literally met round the corner.

I quickly became a committee member where I became responsible for PR and the face of TSA at shows. Most TSA games at events are of my hand, with terrain being my specialty, and trying new things is not beyond me. Now everybody thinks I've got a collection of figures that can fill Versailles (which I of course deny, I'm still a few years of collecting away from that goal).

Anyway, I write my own rules (sometimes during the game itself), but nevertheless play with commercial ones as well.

Though I've got figures of more periods and in more scales than even I can remember, my main thing is World War II (20mm) and Early American Colonial (28mm), though I also play a lot of Napoleonic, ECW, ACW, WWI, modern, Medieval and Dark Ages, Colonial and Darkest Africa and sometimes Ancients (WHH).

I regularly give painting demonstrations in local shops, at shows, or in our clubhouse - and though my vast legions are awaiting some paint, I paint for other people as well.

Oh, yes, I work too, as a forwarder in export to Africa.

So I think that should be enough about me. Did I mention that I have not missed a Salute since 20 years now?