[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/tg/ - Traditional Games


>Nobles would sometimes be gladiators
>Gladiatorial combat was less of fight-to-the-death and more like pro-wrestling spectacle
>There were gladiatrices
>There was a period where noblewomen were banned from being gladiators

How would you run a game where the players are rich women secretly fighting each other for glory while also politically scheming and backstabbing?

I'm thinking of using a 2e update of Vampire: The Requiem's Requiem for Rome mechanics, but I kind of worry I might not know enough about Roman politics to where I might as well make it a fantasy setting.
>>
>>41121574

My first step would be to hide my magical realm as much as possible.
>>
>>41121574
I would make it Fantasy WWE.
>>
>>41121616
John Census champion of Rome
>>
>>41121574
My instinct would be to go minimum rules homebrew but I dunno. Regular Rome or fantasy bullshit Rome, and if regular, which one?
>>
File: Spoilers I win.gif (856 KB, 400x240)
856 KB
856 KB GIF
>>41121616
>>41121643
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5lrn69rOI
>>
>>41121800
I'm waiting for the next time that my character/one of my units survives something that should kill it/kills something that it shouldn't so that I can just do Cenadance while performing Cenasong and just hope someone gets it.
>>
>>41121574
>How would you run a game where the players are rich women secretly fighting each other for glory while also politically scheming and backstabbing?
I wouldn't, because normal gladiators would be more accessible to regular groups. You get all the gladiatorial crazy and political scheming without attracting the weirdos.
>>
>>41121574
I'd play it

>>41121616
Pretty much what I'd figure it would be
>>
>>41121616
In case it wasn't clear I'm most concerned with how to handle the whole politicking thing and how to handle the secret identities.

Other than helmets/masks.

Although if I went full fantasy I could also involve a lot of wrestling tropes like kayfab and have the players come up with full gimmicks and characters, all while hiding the fact that technically they aren't allowed to even be fighting.

Kayfab and predetermined outcomes are something I've felt could really add to a game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VEOspyFYWg
>>
>>41122198
A mix of masks and relying on the colosseum being too big for their folks to recognize them could work, or you could just handwave it, magical disguises might work also
>>
>>41122198
>kayfabe/predetermined outcomes
>getting rid of the contrast between an ancient times Ivanka Trump's daily activities and headbutting some lady in a pit surrounded by drunk people throwing things

That said a wrassling game about real life (staged) wrassling is something a lot of people want and it's a good idea.
>>
>>41122310
Even makeup/wigs might do it.
>>
>>41122198
That will go a long way, but watch out for pic related
>>
>>41122198
>>41122343
Face/body paint would work, would have the bonus of also making them look more exotic when "in costume"
>>
>>41122327
an tabletop RPG about keyfabe would be pretty hard imo.

I could see a Videogame about it somehow.

Reminds me of that one wrestling game where your main character ends up killing himself at the end of the campaign mode

t-thanks Suda51
>>
...There's probably a table top RPG about wrestling already, in fact I seem to vaguely remember seeing one about fightin' ladies
>>
>>41121800
Cena girl a cute
>>
>>41122445
I'm not going to link it for you but youtube "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling." It's very good.
>>
>>41122621
Yeah i've seen it already

Some of the storytelling stuff is wrong but its a neat idea.
And the girls were cute
>>
>>41122327
You're still headbutting some lady in a pit surrounded by drunk people throwing things, it's just that you're also putting on a show. That doesn't mean there can't be some competition and rivalry, just that management might have some stipulations on how they want the fight to go. There's also the opportunity for one girl to whisper out a warning about how she's going to go off-book and for you to just wing it.
>>
File: Car Lesbians.pdf (2.2 MB, PDF)
2.2 MB
2.2 MB PDF
Chariot Lesbians?
(Not to be confused with the chariot team from Lesbos)

Unrelated but I wanted an excuse to post this:
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X0H709cJkA
>>
I remember there being a type of Gladiatore called the Scissores, but no one was ever clear as to what that meant.

>Organize a gladiator match for a party every night
>All of the gladiatrices would be Scissores.
>All the gladiators would be Andabatae(The helmets had no eye holes)
>No weapons, grapple match
>"Let us begin a game of musical holes"
>>
>>41122198
Andabatae. These were gladiators who fought blind. Disadvantage to them, but hilarious for the audience.
>>
File: Boudicca[1].jpg (58 KB, 438x571)
58 KB
58 KB JPG
>>41122198
>kayfabe and characters
>get red wig and blue paint
>"After I THRASHED your armies in Britannia, I had to come south to see if those were just your weak scouting forces. AND I AM NOT IMPRESSED! Your charioteers are weak, and your gladiators weaker still! A QUEEN stands before you, demanding a challenge, and you SIMPER and MEWL in fear! WHICH of your daughters will stand to face me? WHICH of your daughters will you SACRIFICE to the glory of BRITANNIA?"
>>
>>41122922
Pretty sure at this point Scissores is just assumed to have been a gladiator that fought with an shearing sword like scissor blades.
>>
File: Ryuuko.png (382 KB, 759x759)
382 KB
382 KB PNG
>>41123013
?
>>
>>41122965
That'd be pretty awesome.
That's like something out of the 80s. Then again, Rusev is a thing, so it's like something out of the now.

>>41122831
>Medieval Car Lesbians
That'd actually be cool. How good is the system anyway?

>>41123044
Don't lose you way.
>>
>>41122444
Why as a matter of fact, there is. I believe it's called World Wide Wrestling Rpg
>>
File: rom.jpg (1015 KB, 1300x1296)
1015 KB
1015 KB JPG
>you will never be the coach of a team of gladiator women in ancient times, teaching them to fight and work together despite their different cultural and social backgrounds

Why even live
>>
>>41123159
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCDLO12YSL8
>>
>>41123159
hell yeah. get to slap all those asses.
>good game
>good game
>>
>>41123095
I have a federation my character belongs to called the world dragon wrestling championship, theres a roster of about 100 wrestlers with 7 different titles you can fight for, the only difference is, title matches are to the death. the events are held in stadium sized areas with tickets and seats for fans, it's like glatidoial fighting with more pizazz because wrastling.
>>
>>41123066
>How good is the system anyway?
I know that characters have two stats: Hotness and Car.
>>
File: 1427539122453.jpg (28 KB, 335x333)
28 KB
28 KB JPG
>>41123291
didn't proof-read, better kill myself
>>
>>41123291
>Title fights are to the death
>Loser dies in a gorey spray and dropped into a pit of blood
>Week later a wrestler with a suspiciously similar body type joins the promotion.
>>
>>41123159
Fuck, this also got me

>>41123238
>doesn't load
>try to watch on youtube
>doesn't load
>>
File: image.jpg (28 KB, 200x300)
28 KB
28 KB JPG
>>41122922
It's this without the leather cover on the blade.
>>
>>41123419
Huh. Thought it was just me. Have this version, then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx9juW8-oq0
>>
>>41123159
>did this as a quest a long time ago
>it ended and I'm not going to start it up again ever
>>
File: kayfabe cover.jpg (20 KB, 200x285)
20 KB
20 KB JPG
>>41122327
>That said a wrassling game about real life (staged) wrassling is something a lot of people want and it's a good idea.
It exists, actually. It's pretty good.
>>
>>41124594
I've heard a lot of people complain that the official WWE games have insufficient campaign mode settings mainly. I'm not surprised there's an rpg book I guess.
>>
>>41124285
>>it ended and I'm not going to start it up again ever
Why play with my feelings then anon?

Did it get too magical realm or something?
>>
>>41122346
Ah, the memories, from before that title and concept was ruined.
>>
>>41124896
It was essentially magical realmless concept aside. I think there were almost no injuries even requiring medical attention (if I remember right there was a relevant event involving a death in the arena, but the players didn't participate in it and it was just kind of a like "Yeah, shit's serious" kind of thing) and I don't think anybody fucked anybody. There was a gnoll and a lizardlady though. But yeah, mainly social maneuvering and shouting instructions from the sidelines.

It was called Gladiatrix Manager Quest if you care to look it up on whatever passes for archives these days. I'm not going to.
>>
>>41125099
>It was called Gladiatrix Manager Quest if you care to look it up on whatever passes for archives these days. I'm not going to.
If you're this ashamed of it i guess not.
>>
File: Spoiler Image (206 KB, 1029x750)
206 KB
206 KB JPG
You know, the main problem with this idea is that I can't really think of what to do for the politics part that actually makes the 'hiding it' part worthwhile.

Also does anyone have any Gladiatrix images that *aren't* just porn?
Hopefully this gets a pass because it's a grainy 1900s postcard and not actual porn (I think).
Maybe weird costumes are what people got off to in those days.
>>
>>41121616

Nah, more like Japanese Pro Female Wrestling.
>>
>>41121616

Gladiatorial combat was ALREADY ancient WWE
>>
>>41121574
Post more booty
>>
>>41128753
I got no more booty.

I just have wrestlers. And most of that is lewd.
>>
>>41128955
>I just have wrestlers. And most of that is lewd.
Post what you can?
>>
File: Spoiler Image (1.36 MB, 1600x1200)
1.36 MB
1.36 MB PNG
>>41129231
Yeah, this is the least lewd.
>>
>>41129279
Perhaps make a dump of some sort? Either a gallery on imgur or just drop a link to a zip.
>>
File: WWW.jpg (176 KB, 700x541)
176 KB
176 KB JPG
>tfw you really want to run a game of this but can't
>>
File: 3sbk71.jpg (91 KB, 500x751)
91 KB
91 KB JPG
>>41121574
>>
>you will never take your eldest son to the coliseum to see dozens of nubile young slaves from Germania being raped to death by animals

Feels bad, man.
>>
>>41121574
Sounds more like an ERP. Look for an ERP system.
>>
>>41125441
>in those days

Try in ALL days, son
>>
>>41124285
>quest
kill yourself m8
>>
>>41121574
Protip OP when gladiatrices would fight they would occasionally fight with one breast exposed which would signify an amazonian nature (in imitation of the amazons' aputating their right breasts to more easily draw a bow) i feel you may find this useful knowledge as far as world building goes
>>
>>41125441
The most immediate idea that springs to mind is that they would use the money won in the fights to finance their political schemings. Its possible that the fights could also be used as a vector for the spread of ideas among the people. This actually seems like an interesting idea for a game.
>Two phases, Day and Night
>Day: players take political actions and similar things
>Night: players fight in the pit, earning gold and the favor of the people

Any number of players could play, and theyed each be playing with the end goal of obtaining power over rome. Effectively, each player would have three major goals:
1: have everyone in line for the throne in front of their husband killed
2: have their husband killed
3: ensure they have an heir

In addition players would have to deal with actions from the senate, managing the favor of the populus, and stopping the other players from winning the game.
I could keep going if people are interested.
>>
>>41130413
There's no such thing as an ERP system.

>>41130570
>Implying they'd only expose one
They're all going to fight dressed like >>41125441
>>41122198

>>41130676
How would their fighting gain them political favour? Unless they were betting on themselves.
>>
>>41130979
I think there could be different ways of doing it. Betting on themselves would definitely be an option, but there could also be options for players to do things like wear a token of their "patron" into battle, almost like a sponsorship in sports except political domination.
>>
>>41130979
>There's no such thing as an ERP system.
FATAL
A
T
A
L
>>
>>41130979
>There's no such thing as an ERP system.
Monsterhearts. Black Tokyo. FATAL.
>>
>>41131066
>>41131069
Mundane sex isn't even rolled; you only roll when it's important. Settings that discuss or delve into sexuality still aren't really ERP systems for the same reason there's no "drink coffee and shoot the shit" system.

Also, FATAL isn't even a real system, it's just a collection of numbers and stats tied to genitalia and feces that you roll.
>>
I think cover identities are an important factor (and sexy too). These women would not fight under their real names and would at least try to disguise themselves, adopting various colorful identities in the arena. Just think of anything relevant to the ancient world around the time of Rome and you can go from there to construct your fighter's gladiator identity. Someone could be dressed up as an Egyptian soldier, queen or even goddess (with the animal mask and all). Someone could dress up as a celt as anon mentioned. Someone could dress up as an arabic courtesan or hassashim. And so on and so forth.

If this is fantasy Rome, replace with fantasy Rome equivalents.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>41131094
>FATAL isn't even a real system
Literally the only thing missing is the gods.

HYBRID is unplayable.

That said, why does OP propose shitting up this great concept with nWoD? It needs a system with proper grappling rules. Like GURPS Martial Arts
>>
>>
>>41131351
This is cute
>>
>>
>>41122965
>got shrekt twice by the romans
>>
>>
>>41131376
And there's more! Quite cute.
>>
No captcha, the American flag isn't road sign.
>>
>>
>>41131411
Yes it is, it means Turn Back Now.
>>
Fucking rich bitches with their p2w shit.
>>
>>
File: sc.jpg (1003 KB, 2362x2362)
1003 KB
1003 KB JPG
Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to let a succubus participate?
>>
Is that the Empress in the ring?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>41121574

two gladiatrices stare angrily at each other across the arena.

one of them slowly slumps to the ground.

"And that's the sixth victory in a row for Livia, wife of our Emperor Augustus! was it poison? stick around for the post-match analysis!"
>>
>>41130068
That never actually happened.

Sadly.
>>
>>41131497
>Gladiatorial match turns into live porn.
>>
>>41131764
That's part of the reason why it's so sad.
>>
>>41125441
You hide it because it's fucking disgraceful.
>>
>>41121574
Remember that gladiotor fights were not always to the death, that was something rare.
>>
>>41122445
Shawn Michaels is cuter
Batista a best
>>
>>41122621
IT'S MY TIME
>>
>>41121574
You're going to need something to hide scars and cover up deaths.

If the Baroness of such and such shows up to an important social function with fresh scars on her face and the Duchess of so and so end up dead you've got a problem.

Magic maybe? Very good medicine? Primitive cosmetic surgery? Lord knows the money is there.
>>
>>41134555
I think for game entertainment value reasons cosmetic surgery and magic should be options, but expensive enough that you can't use them immediately after every fight without thinking.
>>
>>41134686
I'd figure it would be deducted from your prize money. Sure, you can go without it but people might notice.

>Roll to conceal battle scars
>Fail
>He sees them, luckly that is his fetish
>>
>>41135702
Right, but there's that risk reward thing of "Eh, I'll sneak by this weak with makeup and strategic clothing placement and get them all done in one go next week." Plus, you know, kick enough ass and you don't need to fix yourself afterwords.
>>
>>41131368
>That said, why does OP propose shitting up this great concept with nWoD? It needs a system with proper grappling rules.

I love 2e's system. So simple.

>Grapple

>To grab your opponent, roll Strength + Brawl – Defense. On a success, both of you are grappling. If you’ve got a length of rope, a chain, or a whip, you can add its weapon bonus to your Strength when grappling. If you score an exceptional success on this first roll, pick a move from the list below.

When grappling, each party makes a contested Strength + Brawl versus Strength + Brawl action on the higher of the two characters’ Initiative. The winner picks a move from the list below, or two moves on an exceptional success.

• Break Free from the grapple. You throw off your opponent; you’re both no longer grappling. Succeeding
at this move is a reflexive action, you can take another
action immediately afterwards.

• Control Weapon, either by drawing a weapon that you have holstered or turning your opponent’s weapon against him. You keep control until your opponent makes a Control Weapon move.

• Damage your opponent by dealing bashing damage equal to your rolled successes. If you previously succeeded at a Control Weapon action, add the weapon bonus to your successes.
>>
>>41135847
• Disarm your opponent, removing a weapon from the grapple entirely. You must first have succeeded at a Control Weapon move.

• Drop Prone, throwing both of you to the ground (see “Going Prone”). You must Break Free before rising.

• Hold your opponent in place. Neither of you can apply Defense against incoming attacks.

• Restrain your opponent with duct tape, zip ties, or a painful joint lock. Your opponent suffers the Immobilized Tilt. You can only use this move if you’ve already succeeded in a Hold move. If you use equipment to Restrain your opponent, you can leave the grapple.

• Take Cover using your opponent’s body. Any ranged attacks made until the end of the turn automatically hit him (see “Human Shields,” below).

>If more than one person tries to grapple the same victim, count the attempt as a teamwork action (World of Darkness Rulebook, p. 134). On the team side, both primary and secondary actors roll Strength + Brawl – Defense to engage, but the victim’s Defense is unaffected by how many people are involved — even if five people try to grab him, he treats it as one attack. In the grapple, both primary and secondary actors roll Strength + Brawl in a contested action with the victim. If the defender wins, any chosen moves only affect the primary actor.

There are also a lot of good Fighting Styles for Grappling.
>>
>preparing for my next run as DM
>be reading Rubicon
>plan to base next campaign on the last days of the Republic
>get really stoked for this
>group's splitting up after current campaign
>won't get to run my dream campaign
>suddenly tons of Fantasy Rome threads on /tg/

Are you doing this just to fuck with me, /tg/?
>>
>>41133428
>>Gladiatorial combat was less of fight-to-the-death and more like pro-wrestling spectacle
I'm aware.

>>41131553
Fun fact, Nero did make both noble men and women fight in the arena.

>>41134555
You wear a helmet and gauntlets (but no cuirass or anything). If you died in the arena chances are it was an accident, like dying in the wrestling ring.

Hiding the scars is half the fun.

>>41135915
Possibly.
>>
>>41135858
>>41135847
This seems ok but I wonder if it's necessary.
>>
>>41137151
Why wouldn't it be?
It's not like that's the entirety of combat, either. It's just a pretty simple grappling system.
>>
Wow, female gladiators look dumb.
>>
>>41137489
You usually have to show that things ARE necessary, not the other way around, but essentially because it's a lot of effort with no payoff. Unless you really get a lot of enjoyment out of knowing that Flavia gets +2 to cunt punting or whatever, detailed stats aren't actually good on their own (or else FATAL would be the greatest game of all time). If people wanted to play Build Manager, that would be an excuse to have complex mechanics. Not shitting on Build Manager, I often play it, I'm just saying it's not likely to be the focal point of Empress Table Powerbomber.
>>
>>41131633
>princessmaker2'stournament.jpg
>>
>>41137737
I'm not sure what you're complaining about. We're not really talking about "detailed stats", we're talking about a grappling system. Which is what someone said a game like this would need, and said nWoD wouldn't work.

It would be necessary because... the whole concept here is based on fighting and that's the fighting rules...? I don't understand why you're confused.
>>
>>41137936
>We're not really talking about "detailed stats"
You're not really thinking about all of your options. Games can range in detail from Car Lesbians (stats are Hotness and Car, that's it) all the way to FATAL. What you're talking about is fairly rules heavy. You say it's simple, which makes me suspect that you've played, like, D&D and nWoD, and you think that's an accurate representation of all mechanical options. It's not.
>>
>>41138115
nWoD is not a rules heavy game. Certainly not as rules heavy as GURPS, which is what was suggested instead. On a strict line from Car Lesbians to FATAL, nWoD is a lot closer to Car Lesbians. In fact, it's closer than D&D.

Again, I'm honestly not sure where you're coming from. Someone said a system doesn't have good enough rules. I pointed out that it has perfectly serviceable and simple rules (compared to the mechanical complexity that is most grappling systems). What would you suggest, then?
>>
>>41138237
Yeah, it's better than (any edition of) D&D (that I'm aware of at what we're trying to do. My instinct would be to go even more abstract though. Something that just chooses which fighter is winning and by how much plus narration would be my first choice.
>>
>>41138539
>Yeah, it's better than (any edition of) D&D (that I'm aware of at what we're trying to do. My instinct would be to go even more abstract though. Something that just chooses which fighter is winning and by how much plus narration would be my first choice.
Stunt heavy system?
>>
>>41138539
>>41140951
I'm not a fan of handwavey super simple narrative systems any more than I am super complex spreadsheet games.
>>
>>41131376
>welding battersea shield and ceremonial bronze helmet

If she's going to fight with those that's my jimmies rustled
>>
>>41141077
It's a show fight, not a real one
>>
>>41130979
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Zettai_Reido
>>
>>41143179
>http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Zettai_Reido
The whole only partial english translation may be an issue
>>
>>41131553
>the Empress secretly plays an extremely exaggerated parody of herself

>"Man these gladiators do great impressions!"
>>
Guys how did we go from a great concept to an image dump of (admittedly lewd) gladiator chicks?

/tg/ gets shit done, let's keep working on this.

Or do you want someone to turn this into a quest?
>>
>>41147002
>Or do you want someone to turn this into a quest?
Hell no
>>
>>41130676
I like what this anon had to say.

Not sure about the political motivations, though. Perhaps there's a big wager between several families as to who can curry the most public favor in the ring. They each represent their familes, but the catch is that they have to compete themselves. They have to hide it because they can't reveal the wager or lose face as this is waaaay below their station.

Thoughts?
>>
>>41134555
Kempo karate has a style of fighting where you can strike anywhere to the body except the groin and head. They tend to be pretty brutal endurance matches as both try to tire the other out with body shots. Something like that could be previously agreed upon.

Plus, there's always the old 'my new slave and I have been experimenting' explanation.
>>
>>41147898
kyokushin karate is the one you're looking for.

in it, practitioners participate in kumite; a multi-man tournament where one fighter stays in and fresh fighters cycle in every 2 minutes. these are usually only 5 or so other fighters, but there have been hundred+ fighter kumite, including it's founder.
>>
>>41147104
I have been just watching the Extra History thing about Justanian and having what amounts to be a huge horde of football hooligans on your side seems very lucrative, politically speaking.
>>
>>41131633
TFW you thought you were getting Jojo but instead get a little girl.
>>
>>41121574
I REMEMBER THAT THREAD, omg, i'm working to make that shit work too, also forget Vampire, GURPS is the answer
>>
>>41148178
>having what amounts to be a huge horde of football hooligans on your side seems very lucrative, politically speaking.
No kidding; just look at antifa over in yurop.
>>
>>41129279
My god that's a hell of a fat pussy.
>>
>>41121574
Loser gets publically revealed/humiliated/spanked, but no other legal repercussions, because nobles don't give a fuck about real laws, just social contract laws.

.... not that this is my magical realm or annything.
>>
>>41121800
I spent the whole day at work resisting the urge to perform this, thanks.
>>
>>41138237
>In fact, it's closer than D&D.
Which D&D? Because 3.5 and 4e are both at least "fairly rules heavy". Not sure about 5e. I understand it's supposed to be a bit simpler, but from a quick glance over, it's pretty far from rules light. And then there's Moldvay Basic, which is probably on the upper end of rules-light (with shit like Car Lesbians on the extreme lower end).
>>
>>41134555
>You're going to need something to hide scars and cover up deaths.
We're talking about gladiatorial armour here, which basically protects all the parts that normal clothing exposes, while exposing most of the parts that normal clothing hides.
>>
>>41148962
>I REMEMBER THAT THREAD, omg
What thread?

>>41148178
My main issue is that I don't know enough about the law to know WHAT they should be politicking about. I'm not even sure if they should be on the same side or not. It might be difficult if they aren't.
>>
>>41121574
>How would you run a game where the players are rich women secretly fighting each other for glory while also politically scheming and backstabbing?

I think I'd just jerk off and then run something else, since I don't think making games based around fetishes is a good idea.
>>
>>41152255
>It has girls
>It must be a fetish
I mean, it is a fetish, it's just not my fetish.
>>
>>41152255
Everything is someone's fetish.

Your argument is invalid.



[Advertise on 4chan]

Delete Post: [File Only] Style:
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.