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Gladiators?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
salla
Dec 14, 2008 19:25:03 Other than Calimshan (the only place that really mentioned gladiatorial contests at all in the FRPG), is there another region in FR that would be a particularly good place for a gladiator-gone-adventurer to hail from, whether a gladiator by choice or force?
#2
BadCatMan
Dec 14, 2008 19:47:37 Speaking of the classic Realms, gladiatorial combat was big in Chessenta (ancient Greece and Rome rolled into one), where it was also a way of settling disputes and crminal trials at the temples of Assuran (Hoar). Gladiatorial combat was also common in Chondath, and in the lizardfolk city of Surkh. Thay was also big on gladiators, particularly between monsters. Drow were also known for it, between slaves, drow, and mixed.
#3
overworkeddm
Dec 14, 2008 20:02:09 3.5 Westgate used to be big on Gladiatorial games, not sure about 4e though.
#4
old_sage
Dec 14, 2008 23:12:42 Gladiators tend to be rare in most places, especially the North. Some particular areas, those evil or less-inclined to enforce laws against such practices, will likely have available slaves or prisoners set for such matches -- either against each other or against dangerous creatures/monsters.

We know that Amn, Calimshan, and Unther all have or have had established gladiatorial guilds also.

As for a few references to gladitorial arenas in the Realms...

There's an arena in Surkh.

Hillsfar Arena -- home to the famed fighter "Taurus."

There are arenas in several illithid enclaves in the Underdark -- particularly Oryndoll.

There are arenas in various locales throughout the Old Empires region.

And in Menzoberranzan.
#5
lord_karsus
Dec 15, 2008 10:58:41 -Thay, in the past. Now? Not so much.
#6
salla
Dec 15, 2008 12:09:45 How far in the past? If it's only been a couple of years, it might still be feasible. If it's pre-Spellplague, not so much.
#7
lord_karsus
Dec 15, 2008 13:02:39 -Any time before Szass Tam butched that ritual he was casting, and proverbially and literally killed Thay.
#8
markustay_dup
Dec 15, 2008 14:13:25 Didn't Luskan have an arena where criminals would fight to the death?

maybe I'm remembering that wrong... I know they made a big fanfare out of public executions (and torture).
#9
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Dec 15, 2008 20:24:22
Didn't Luskan have an arena where criminals would fight to the death?

maybe I'm remembering that wrong... I know they made a big fanfare out of public executions (and torture).

The Prisoner's Carnival, yes. Don't remember the specifics though (if they had "gladitorial games" or just brutal public executions).
#10
salla
Dec 15, 2008 22:26:45 Hadn't planned on making the character a criminal, but I s'pose he could always be falsely accused.
#11
lord_karsus
Dec 15, 2008 23:12:47 -Criminals make everything better in D&D.
#12
salla
Dec 15, 2008 23:18:42
-Criminals make everything better in D&D.

Maybe, but party unity is built on trust. Heck, my rogues aren't even criminals.
#13
markustay_dup
Dec 16, 2008 0:56:21 Bilbo was a thief.

In Middle-Earth he was a hero, in NY he'd serve time. :D
#14
thinblade
Dec 17, 2008 19:03:30 I think the prisoner's carnival was brutal execution only. At least I think that's the only thing shown in Spine of the World, though I only read that book once and that was years ago, so I may be mistaken.

And what's wrong with having criminals in the party? In the Knights trilogy Pennae isn't just a thief, but an extremely active one that helped get them kicked out of Cormyr. The others still trust her.
#15
suin_bahhar_02
Dec 17, 2008 19:24:23 Being an outlaw means being hunted. Better to lie to your partymembers about the specifics in the hope of them routing for you when the paladins, bountyhunters and assassins start making the party's lives miserable.

Gladiators usually can point the blame towards their slavemasters though. Having a well known gladiator slavemaster helps a lot to ease the tarnished slate of a gladiator.
#16
markustay_dup
Dec 19, 2008 11:31:09 I would suggest getting the Complete Gladiators Handbook and mine it for ideas.

One of the few DS products I ever bought (its not great, but it will help if you really want to use Gladiators in your game).
#17
markustay_dup
Dec 19, 2008 11:33:26 I would suggest getting the Complete Gladiators Handbook and mine it for ideas.

One of the few DS products I ever bought (its not great, but it will help if you really want to use Gladiators in your game).

The pdf is only $5... it appears Paizo have raised their prices (or WotC did).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 salla Dec 14, 2008 19:25:03	Other than Calimshan (the only place that really mentioned gladiatorial contests at all in the FRPG), is there another region in FR that would be a particularly good place for a gladiator-gone-adventurer to hail from, whether a gladiator by choice or force?
#2 BadCatMan Dec 14, 2008 19:47:37	Speaking of the classic Realms, gladiatorial combat was big in Chessenta (ancient Greece and Rome rolled into one), where it was also a way of settling disputes and crminal trials at the temples of Assuran (Hoar). Gladiatorial combat was also common in Chondath, and in the lizardfolk city of Surkh. Thay was also big on gladiators, particularly between monsters. Drow were also known for it, between slaves, drow, and mixed.
#3 overworkeddm Dec 14, 2008 20:02:09	3.5 Westgate used to be big on Gladiatorial games, not sure about 4e though.
#4 old_sage Dec 14, 2008 23:12:42	Gladiators tend to be rare in most places, especially the North. Some particular areas, those evil or less-inclined to enforce laws against such practices, will likely have available slaves or prisoners set for such matches -- either against each other or against dangerous creatures/monsters. We know that Amn, Calimshan, and Unther all have or have had established gladiatorial guilds also. As for a few references to gladitorial arenas in the Realms... There's an arena in Surkh. Hillsfar Arena -- home to the famed fighter "Taurus." There are arenas in several illithid enclaves in the Underdark -- particularly Oryndoll. There are arenas in various locales throughout the Old Empires region. And in Menzoberranzan.
#5 lord_karsus Dec 15, 2008 10:58:41	-Thay, in the past. Now? Not so much.
#6 salla Dec 15, 2008 12:09:45	How far in the past? If it's only been a couple of years, it might still be feasible. If it's pre-Spellplague, not so much.
#7 lord_karsus Dec 15, 2008 13:02:39	-Any time before Szass Tam butched that ritual he was casting, and proverbially and literally killed Thay.
#8 markustay_dup Dec 15, 2008 14:13:25	Didn't Luskan have an arena where criminals would fight to the death? maybe I'm remembering that wrong... I know they made a big fanfare out of public executions (and torture).
#9 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Dec 15, 2008 20:24:22	Didn't Luskan have an arena where criminals would fight to the death? maybe I'm remembering that wrong... I know they made a big fanfare out of public executions (and torture). The Prisoner's Carnival, yes. Don't remember the specifics though (if they had "gladitorial games" or just brutal public executions).
#10 salla Dec 15, 2008 22:26:45	Hadn't planned on making the character a criminal, but I s'pose he could always be falsely accused.
#11 lord_karsus Dec 15, 2008 23:12:47	-Criminals make everything better in D&D.
#12 salla Dec 15, 2008 23:18:42	-Criminals make everything better in D&D. Maybe, but party unity is built on trust. Heck, my rogues aren't even criminals.
#13 markustay_dup Dec 16, 2008 0:56:21	Bilbo was a thief. In Middle-Earth he was a hero, in NY he'd serve time. :D
#14 thinblade Dec 17, 2008 19:03:30	I think the prisoner's carnival was brutal execution only. At least I think that's the only thing shown in Spine of the World, though I only read that book once and that was years ago, so I may be mistaken. And what's wrong with having criminals in the party? In the Knights trilogy Pennae isn't just a thief, but an extremely active one that helped get them kicked out of Cormyr. The others still trust her.
#15 suin_bahhar_02 Dec 17, 2008 19:24:23	Being an outlaw means being hunted. Better to lie to your partymembers about the specifics in the hope of them routing for you when the paladins, bountyhunters and assassins start making the party's lives miserable. Gladiators usually can point the blame towards their slavemasters though. Having a well known gladiator slavemaster helps a lot to ease the tarnished slate of a gladiator.
#16 markustay_dup Dec 19, 2008 11:31:09	I would suggest getting the Complete Gladiators Handbook and mine it for ideas. One of the few DS products I ever bought (its not great, but it will help if you really want to use Gladiators in your game).
#17 markustay_dup Dec 19, 2008 11:33:26	I would suggest getting the Complete Gladiators Handbook and mine it for ideas. One of the few DS products I ever bought (its not great, but it will help if you really want to use Gladiators in your game). The pdf is only $5... it appears Paizo have raised their prices (or WotC did).