GURPS Gladius Arcana

"At the start of its second millennium, Rome is in great danger. The gods grow angry at an empire that pays them little honor, and withdraw their protection. The emperors squander the public trust. The rule of law fails, in the city and its many provinces. Barbarians, monsters, and magic cults threaten honest citizens and disrupt trade. If the empire will survive, wealthy and powerful men, in Rome’s ancient tradition, need to step forward as benefactors of their cities." (GURPS Fantasy, p. 195)

Player characters are slaves of the young and generous Quintus Didias Severus, they enjoy the best lives possible to slaves in the 3rd century Roman Empire. They are treated humanely, educated in the rudiments of reading and writing, and allowed to purchase their freedom if they are able. The most intelligent slaves are given more formal education and sometimes, once free men, go into business with young Severus. Strong slaves are trained in the combat arts and given the honor of performing in the gladiatorial arena. While many are wounded or even killed, all hope to win not only their freedom but fortune and glory.

Campaign Background

Campaign name: GURPS Gladius Arcana

Starting year: 1011 AUC (258 CE)

Genre: Sword & sandal historical fantasy

Realistic or cinematic? Cinematic

General theme of campaign: Gladiatorial combat and adventure in the Roman Empire

Are there multiple planes of existence? Yes

Campaign World: Roma Arcana (see GURPS Fantasy, pp. 195-232)

Campaign’s base city, nation, empire, or planet: Severus Circus travels far and wide, but its home base is located Lecce, a village in southern Italy.

Society/government type: Dictatorship

Control Rating: CR4

Tech level: 2

General mana level: Normal

Do areas of higher/lower mana exist? Yes

Brief description of important neighboring powers, political/economic situation, etc.:

Information for PCs

Player characters are trained gladiators who perform for Severus Circus and Games. Players are advised to adhere as closely as possible to the Gladiator template found in GURPS Martial Arts: Gladiators (p. 28) or GURPS Fantasy (p. 215).

Starting point value allowed for PCs: 150

Disadvantage limit (including Quirks): -75

PC races allowed: Human

Especially appropriate professions: Characters are property of Quintus Didias Severus, owner and proprietor of Severus Circus & Games.

Starting Wealth:

Starting Wealth levels allowed: Wealth (Struggling) is required for beginning characters.

Starting Status levels allowed: -2

Starting TLs allowed: TL 2

Languages available: Latin is the lingua franca of the Empire, with Greek being spoken and read by most educated citizens. Slaves should choose their native language (free) as well as ensuring at least Broken proficiency (1 point) in spoken Latin. Most slaves do not read at all, but your master is known to provide tutors for his best slaves, so any slave also wishing to read Latin may do so. Only those slaves who are chosen to be scribes or business aides may be taught Greek.

Cultural Familiarities available: Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian

Advantages, Disadvantages, and Skills

Required Advantages:

Required Disadvantages: Duty (Extremely hazardous; 12 or less) [-15]; Status -2 [-10]; Social Stigma (Valuable property) [-10]; Wealth (Struggling) [-10]

Especially appropriate Advantages: Language (Latin) (Native)

Especially appropriate Disadvantages: Bully; Callous; Compulsive Carousing; Discipline of Faith (Ritualism or Mysticism); Greed; Lecherousness; Overconfidence; Reputation; Stubbornness. Code of Honor (Gladiator). See GURPS Martial Arts Gladiators', p. 19.

Especially appropriate Skills: Current Affairs (Sports), Esoteric Medicine, Games (Roman Gladiator), Performance, Savoir-Faire (Ludus), Sex Appeal, Surgery.

Especially appropriate Styles: Greek martial arts: Ancient Greek Boxing (MA 153); Hoplomachia (MA 161); Pankration (MA 188-89); Submission Wrestling (MA 205). Roman martial arts: Armatura (MA 150)

Disallowed advantages, disadvantages, and skills: Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Appropriate Patrons, Allies or Contacts: Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Special Abilities Allowed for PCs

Exotic/supernatural traits: Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Cinematic skills: Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Are PC mages allowed? Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Are PC psis allowed? Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Are PC gadgeteers allowed? Disallowed for beginning PCs.

Rulebooks and Resources

GURPS Basic Set 4th edition

GURPS 4th edition Low-Tech

GURPS 4th edition Martial Arts

GURPS 4th edition Martial Arts: Gladiators

See also

GURPS 4th edition Fantasy for information on the Roma Arcana setting.

GURPS 3rd edition Imperial Rome for background on the historic Roman Empire as well as greater details on society and daily life.