Ludus Gladiatorius

Ludus Gladiatorius is a board game that was published and copyrighted by EM4Miniatures and designed by Doug Cowie. This module is intended for the use of those who own a copy of the game and wish to play with opponents via the internet.

How to Play a Game
To start a game, select “New Game” and choose one of the 5 players.

After this, click on “Select Board” and select “Arena” for Standard Game Map.  Then click on “new column” and select on this the game side board “Side Board

Contact
Module creator: Michael Dippel “Bayernkini”
E-mail: dippelmi@aol.com

 

 

Ludus Gladiatorius - Player Aid (Basic Game)

 

Set Up

 

Ø       Place the 5 numbered counters in a cup

Ø       Each player draws 1 counter (2 each in a 2-player game) and takes the Gladiator, record sheet, and the 5 counters associated with that number

Ø       Place the 5 counters back in the cup

Ø       Each player draws a counter for each Gladiator to determine the starting location on the map

Ø       Record sheets are hidden, life points are not secret. Mark off used actions and life points with a pencil

 

Game Play

Each round:

1.       Each player takes a counter from the cup for each Gladiator to determine player order

2.       Each player must place one counter facedown next to each Gladiator, you may use the blank.  The identity of the special action is not revealed until you choose to use it

3.       In player order:

a.       Move - May move before or after combat but you cannot split movement

1.       Move your Gladiator up to the maximum allowance list on their record sheet, you may move less

2.       Prior to moving, roll the boosted die. If two swords are rolled, your Gladiator gets +1 movement 

b.       Combat - May combat before or after movement. Facing direction is irrelevant.

1.       Gladiators may make one attack and one defense per round unless a special action permits more

2.       Combat must be with an adjacent gladiator

3.       Attacker declares battle and reveals any special action (if any)

4.       Defender may defend if they have not already defended this round.  Reveal special action (if any)

5.       Attacking player rolls combat dice (as indicated on their record sheet).  Each sword counts as one hit

6.       Defending player rolls combat dice (as indicated on their record sheet). Each shield blocks one hit. Any remaining hits are deducted from the defending Gladiator's life.

7.       If a Gladiator's life is reduced to zero, the Gladiator is unconscious. The attack rolls the Emperor's die.  If a thumbs-down is rolled, the Gladiator is finished off, a thumbs-up and the Gladiator is spared.  Either way the Gladiator is immediately removed from play

 

Winning

The last standing Gladiator is the winner

 

Special Actions

1.       Players must either choose a special action or use the blank counter each round

2.       Special actions must be used if possible. If they are not used they are still crossed of the record sheet

3.       The quantity and type of Special Actions available to each Gladiator is listed on their record sheet

 

Definitions:

 

SA - Savage Attack - In addition to normal combat dice, add 1 Boosted die and 1 Mighty Effort die to the roll.  You may not defend against any attacks this round, even those attacks made before using SA.

 

F - Feint - When making an attack roll, you may once re-roll any dice with shield results.

 

D - Dodge - When making a defense roll, you may once re-roll any dice with sword results.

 

DD - Doughty Defense - In addition to normal combat dice, add 1 Boosted die and 1 Mighty Effort die to the roll. Extra shields rolled MAY be carried over. You may not attack any opponents this round.



FS – Fast Speed – Increases the Lion´s move to 8 hexes



NA – Net Attack – Retiarius must be adjacent to opponent. Place counter under opponent´s base.

Roll 2 standard dice. 1 hit required for successful entanglement.

Successful: opponent can´t move, attack or defend for rest of turn. Any unused special are forfeit. Retiarius can now make his normal Attack with 1x Standard and 2x Boosted dice. The opponent cannot defend on this attack.

Failed: Net counter remains on board. Retiarius can make a ordinary attack and defence.

Net Recovery: If an opponent is in the same hex as net, it costs Retiarius 1 hit to recover it; The hit is deducted before defence rolls are made. If there are now opponents in the hex, Retiarius must move onto hex and must spend 1 move point to pick it up. No other character can pick up net.



NF – Net Feint: Opponent cannot use D or DD. Retiarius can make normal attack but not Net Attack.



FE – Fend: Opponent who would otherwise move adjacent must stop 1 hex away and loses remaining move. If already adjacent, may not attack Retiarius, but may move away. Retiarius cannot attack during move which FE is played. FE is in play throughout the hole round and against all opponents. If Retiarius move after playing FE, he does not lose it for the rest of the move.



SS – Set Spears: Bestiarius may use SS only if his spear is in possession, in other words, if he had used Throw Spear (see below), and has not recovered the spear, he may not use SS. Opponent must move at least 1 hex before contacting Bestiarius for SS to be used against him/her/it.

If attacked by animal or other opponent moving 1 hex or more, SS means that the Bestiarius does double rolled damage. Use dice appropriate to the opponent (ie human or animal). SS reduces effect of opponent´s attack by 1hit. Bestiarius cannot defend but inflicts his damage in his opponent´s turn – simultaneously.

Once played, SS is in effect throughout the rest of the round against any attackers that move at least 1 hex into contact with the Bestiarius. An opponent may not defence rolls agains SS. If Bestiarius has already had his turn, during which he made an ordinary attack, he may still use SS if attacked later. However, in this case, he does not damage to his opponent but still reduces the effect of his opponent´s attack by 1 hit.

If Bestiarius has defended earlier in the round, he may not use SS during his turn. If Bestiarius has used SS before his turn, he may not make a an ordinary attack in his turn. SS is only revealed, when Bestiarius is attacked or at end of turn.



TS – Throw Spear: Damage 1x Boosted and 1x Mighty Effort dice. Throw is made either before or after move. Can´t move-throw-move unless using a Special Action which permits it.

Throw Spear range 3 hexes.

Defence vs. Throw Spear: Defender reduces their defence dice allocation by one standard die.



I - Intuition: Negates opponent´s first shield



MT – Multi-Tasking: Can Feint and Dodge in the same turn for the cost of one special.