Now that Two Hour Wargames has released its updated version of RSBS with "Red Sand, Blue Sky-Heroes of the Arena", I quickly picked it up and wanted to try to familiarize myself with the new mechanics of gladiator combat in ancient Rome...
So, a trial run...a "fringe of the empire" contest between 2 low level fighters in a small arena...both gladiators are being run by the game mechanics and have 10 bonus dice each...wanted to start off with a simple match to learn the rules, before possibly trying my hand at running a gladiator school again...
From the northern door enters a thraex...to face off against a murmillo entering from the southern door...
Turn 1 - Initiative Thraex
The thraex moves towards the center of the arena, while the murmillo comes out to meet him...
Turn 2 Initiative - Murmillo
The murmillo moves first and enters the center area to await the thraex, who passes 0 dice on his movement roll, so the thraex stays put to catch his breath and gain a bonus die(but since no bonus dice have been spent yet, it has no effect other than just staying put)...
The murmillo moves first and enters the center area to await the thraex, who passes 0 dice on his movement roll, so the thraex stays put to catch his breath and gain a bonus die(but since no bonus dice have been spent yet, it has no effect other than just staying put)...
Turn 3 Initiative - Murmillo
Seeing the thraex's hesitation, the murmillo agressively throws himself at his opponent, seeking an opening, but having to attack him head on...pressing the thraex back, the murmillo slashed across his belly, wounding him...
Seeing the thraex's hesitation, the murmillo agressively throws himself at his opponent, seeking an opening, but having to attack him head on...pressing the thraex back, the murmillo slashed across his belly, wounding him...
and driving him back against the wall...
Turn 4 Initiative - Murmillo
The murmillo had expended over half his energy thus far and was becoming winded, so decided to stay where he was and catch his breath...the thraex moved forward raining a number of blows against the large shield of the mumillo...
and drove him back to the center of the arena...
Turn 5 Initiative - Thraex
Maintaining the initiative, the thraex moved forward on the offensive...both warriors traded blows, but could not find their mark...and they were both nearly exhausted...the crowd began to cheer as they both remained toe to toe, swinging and slashing, but still could not deliver a strike...
Maintaining the initiative, the thraex moved forward on the offensive...both warriors traded blows, but could not find their mark...and they were both nearly exhausted...the crowd began to cheer as they both remained toe to toe, swinging and slashing, but still could not deliver a strike...
finally, both warriors used their last bit of energy to launch a final assault...the thraex wildly lunged forward, but the murmillo ducked under the thraex's sword arm and viciously slashed into his belly as he went by, inflicting a serious wound...
the thraex cried out in pain and fell forward, bleeding from the gash in his belly...the murmillo sank to his knees exhausted and out of breath...but it mattered not as the thraex laid lifeless upon the sand from the murmillo's final slash...
Winner - Murmillo (Just barely)
Afterthought:
This could not have been any closer...in the final attack both gladiators had 1 bonus die left and both used them in a last ditch effort to find a mark on their opponent, with the murmillo rolling very fortunately...I like the new rules for "Heroes of the Arena", and the quick pace of combat...once you get the rules and mechanics down, the game flows well and can get pretty tense...
Winner - Murmillo (Just barely)
Afterthought:
This could not have been any closer...in the final attack both gladiators had 1 bonus die left and both used them in a last ditch effort to find a mark on their opponent, with the murmillo rolling very fortunately...I like the new rules for "Heroes of the Arena", and the quick pace of combat...once you get the rules and mechanics down, the game flows well and can get pretty tense...
Very nice and straight forward report. FYI - The gladiator should have gained the Bonus Dice. You can add and exceed the number you started with during the match.
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