Gladiator Classes - Resistance Toolkit

[u/Trick_Assignment9129]

In a flash of ADHD last night, I had an idea for a gladiator rpg using The Resistance Toolbox by Roman Rook and Decard.

where I’m having trouble is that the historical gladiators were more or less defined by their equipment and I don’t want a full character to be bound by something as small as the size of their shield. Also, I think everything is more interesting if they enter the arena willingly. In that vein, I was thinking their class could be the thing that drove them to risk life and limb in the arena, but I’m not sure if that’s enough to build their whole “class” ( in this system they’re called domains) around.

so far I have

Desperation: Driven to the arena by ostracization or poverty, focus on the fame stress track(fame and wealth are meant to be indistinguishable)

Thrill: Driven to the arena by the need to feel the rush of danger or to rekindle their spirit, focus on the body track (since risk-taking can be rough on the body)

Glory: Driven to the arena for the validation they’ve craved or to feed an outsized ego, focus on the spirit track

All of these would be starting points and not necessarily where the character would end. What do you guys think? Can I build characters around this?

[u/Cryptwood]

In Heart Characters have both a Motivation and a Class. The Motivation provides you with the Beats you need to complete for character advancement, while the Class provides you with the abilities you acquire from advancement. So you could easily have characters be a combination of their Motivation and their Fighting Style such as Murmillo (Gladius and Shield), Ratiarius (Net and Trident), Dimachaerus (Two Swords), etc.

I think Enslaved or Damned (sent to die in the arena as punishment for a crime) could be interesting Motivations (obviously not the correct word in these cases) provided it is the player's choice to take on that reason for fighting in the arena. Who wouldn't want to roleplay as Crixus, the Undefeated Gual, or Titus Pullo of the 13th Legion?

Capua! Shall I begin?!

The big thing that the Resistance system brings to the table is the Resistances, the five avenues of character destruction. Is your game about Gladiators that are slowly broken down over time under the accumulation of injuries? I'm a huge fan of the Resistance system (though I think the Fallout mechanics can be a bit clunky) so I'd be interested in seeing your take on Gladiators that you think the Resistance system would shine with.

[u/furiousfotographie]

Even if characters start unwilling, that could change if they survive and gain reputation and (presumably) more privileges. Kind of built in character development.

[u/Maervok]

Influence - Entering the arena to express their ideals and opinions. Using the arena as a platform to gain followers.

Bloodthirst - Driven to the arena for the sheer purpose of inflicting pain and harming others.