GuidetotheGladiators€¦ · normal set of gladiators. We recommendthatallplayersshould agree whether to include him at thestartofthegame. Tredecim, the Unknown Gladiator is...

Guide to the GladiatorsVs1.0

This guide provides further details to differentiate the famous gladiators in Gladiatores: Blood forRoses, highlights their strengths and weaknesses and suggests tactics on how to use them.

Special Abilities Notes and TacticsMARCUS ATTILIUS 1) Play this card as a FEINT card

(gain 1 favour).2) Search Discard deck for aPARRY card and add it to yourhand (can be played as your actionin your turn).

Marcus is the consummate up closefighter. Strong in Effect moves, hestarts every combat with 2 DISARM.Use these wisely to draw cards fromother players. Second his PARRY andTWINSTRIKE will make sure there arePARRY cards in the Discard deck forhim to draw again with his 2nd ability.He is weak however in startingAttacks so make sure you drawenough to keep him alive.

ASTYANAX 1) Draw 1 card from any deck.Then discard 1 from hand.2) Play as a DODGE but discard 1card (gain 1 favour).

Astyanax is a showman, alwaysseeming to run rings around hisvictims. His DODGE ability allows himto chuck spare cards he doesn’t needto use his signature move to keepaway from opponents. With 2 PARRYand 2 CLEAVE cards, he can surprisevictims by suddenly getting up closeand personal.

KALENDIO 1) Entangle. Play after a BLOCK orPARRY. Targets must play samecard again or discard 2 cards.

Kalendio is the perfect opponent forAstyanax because his ready (net)entangle ability shuts downAstyanax’ PARRY cards. Kalendio’sability effectively cancels a gladiatorsuse of 2 of the main Defense cardsunless the target player has plenty tospare. Add his LEAP and STRIKE orVIPERSTRIKE cards to his deadlyspear and Kalendio can finish offopponents easily.

ACHILLIA 1) Play after target uses a PARRY.Target takes a wound (gain 1favour).2) Discard a card as if it was aDEFLECT.

The queen of the twin blades,Achillia is adept at confusing heropponents into missing the deadly2nd sword when they must PARRY herblows. She favours sword (card) play,getting enemies into long chains ofcounter moves, using her DEFLECT,DISARM and finally double STABcards to finish opponents off.

TETRAITES 1) Play after target uses aDEFLECT. Target takes 1 wound(gain a favour)2) Discard a card as if it was aSHOVE card.

Since he is such a veteran, Tetraitesallows you to choose his balance ofattack and defense cards. Wieldinghis trusty spear this warrior alreadyhas 2 deadly THRUST cards that candispatch opponents with ease;although he tends to use them lateron in combats when his opponenthas run out of effective defense.With 2 FEINT cards he can easilyhandle DODGEing opponents andwith swift STABS or DISARMS he canoften draw victims into his DEFLECTtraps.

BRITTANICUS 1) Discard a card as if it was aLEAP.2) After causing a wound, targetalso discards a card.

Brittanicus is a thug, but a very goodone. Not so well known (2 startingfavour) but tough (5 life), his LEAPingassaults using CLEAVE andTWINSTRIKE gain favour from thecrowd as he brutally bludgeons hisfoes using GRAB and his heavy shield,draining them of stamina. His battlesare all about SUBDUE-ing the enemyrapidly.

LUCIUS FELIX 1) Play after target uses a BLOCK,target takes a wound (gain 1favour).2) Discard a card to play as aSTAGGER.

Lucius is also a veteran of manybattles and his innate toughness (5life) shows it. Trained as a Thracian,his wide shield is ideal for BASHs orto STAGGER foes. It also provides aperfect opportunity for his signaturemove, tricking enemies into blockingso he can wound them with hiscurved sica. Gladiator players oftenforget this ability.

HILARUS FUSCUS 1) Increase a wound caused from1 to 2.2) Reduce wounds received from2 to 1.

Veteran Hilarus provides a classicexample of the idea of strong andsteady. A tough old warrior, Hilarushas a chunky build with scars all overhim proving he can take the blows ofother gladiators without flinching.Then it is his turn with heavy BASHsand powerful CLEAVEs. Just makesure to top up his defense when youcan.

AMAZONIA 1) Discard a card to play as aDEFLECT.2) Draw 2, keep 1.

Crested Amazonia, beauty of thearena is not just a pretty face. Ahighly skilled fighter she neverreveals her tactics until needed - herdraw 2 keep 1 ability (+ make sure todraw enough Attacks cards) makingher difficult to plan against. HerDISARM and TAKEDOWN card willkeep her stocked up with energy andoptions for the long fight and canoften out survive most opponents.

UNKNOWNGLADIATOR*

1) After causing 1+ wounds, youmay begin a new combatexchange by playing an attack card(note this is an exception to thespecial abilities rule on pg13 ofrulebook).2) Discard a card in your turn todraw an attack card.[Note: This gladiator is slightlyunbalanced compared to thenormal set of gladiators. Werecommend that all players shouldagree whether to include him atthe start of the game.

Tredecim, the Unknown Gladiator isa fan favourite (4 favour) and giant ofa man (with 6 life). An almostunstoppable force, Tredecim BASHsand CLEAVEs opponents intosubmission (2 SUBDUE) and if thatdoesn’t work, he can keep drawingmore attack cards to stay on theoffensive. Further, with his 1st abilityTredecim can counter attack as soonas he wounds an opponent (hisspecial ability really should be calledBloodlust!). To defeat him, you needto outwit him with moves and trapsas he is rather single minded andlacks finesse in his combat moves.

HERMEROS* 1) Increase a wound caused from1 to 2.2) Draw 2, keep 1.

A semi-retired veteran, Hermeros is atough no nonsense gladiator who canadapt tactics to suit his differentopponents (ability 2). Hermeros likesto take his time (support him withextra defense cards), work out hisopponent’s weakness with FEINTS,then hit hard (ability 1) orTWINSTRIKE.

IASONLEANDROS*

1) Discard a card to play as aSTAGGER. Target must also discarda card.2) Trigger the ability as if it was aLEAP card (gain 1 favour) then playan attack card.

[Note: The printed Leandrosgladiator card is missing his lifepoints (of 4)].

A newcomer to the arena Leandroslikes to play with his victims as ahuman lion. Pouncing on hisopponents to STAGGER them andreduce their stamina, he favoursLEAPs followed by STRIKES. Makesure you arm him with decentattacks otherwise this strategy willbecome his weakness! A couple ofDEFLECT cards will help to keep hisstamina going for longer battles.

* KS Exclusive or Special Edition