Spartacus: The Game

SOME LEGENDS ARE WRITTEN IN BLOOD   Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is an exciting board game of twisted schemes and bloody combats inspired by the hit STARZ Original series.  In the game you are the Dominus, leading a rising House in the ancient Roman city of Capua, competing for Influence to gain the favor of Rome.  Through a combination of political schemes and glorious battles on the arena sands your House will rise or fall in fame and stature. As Dominus, you have a variety of resources at your disposal. Your growing Influence allows you to hatch devious plots against competing Houses, but some of the most cunning intrigues may require the cooperation or coercion of a bitter rival.  From your treasury you pay to upkeep your ludus, purchase new servants at market or fill the purse of another Dominus when bribes are required.  The servants of your House are at your beck and call.  Guards may protect you from schemes launched by your rivals. Slaves run your household and earn gold for your treasury. Gladiators compete in the arena, bringing glory to themselves and influence to their Dominus.

Power and Influence are fleeting, just when you think you have deceived your rivals and bled Capua dry, the schemes of your foes could topple your House and crush your ambitions.  Do you have the wits, the cunning and the power of your gladiators to write your own legend in Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery?

THE THREADS COME TOGETHER Three main phases occur in each game turn of Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery after a simple upkeep phase. Before each round begins players handle the affairs of their ludus.  First, all uninjured Asset cards are returned to the Ready condition.  Then, see to your injured servants and champions; will they succumb to their wounds, languish for another turn or return to your service?  Finally you must balance your ledgers, collecting the wealth your household earns while also paying for the training and upkeep of your Gladiators.

As Dominus, put your Schemes in motion during the Intrigue Phase; raise your fortunes and Influence while undermining your rivals. Schemes and Reactions are represented by cards in the Intrigue Deck. Wield your Influence to put Schemes into play, often conspiring with another player on the most complex plots.  If help is not freely given, a clever Dominus may resort to bribery or blackmail to secure cooperation.  In the end even your cleverest scheme may be foiled by a quick Reaction or an alert Guard. The Market Phase is when you buy, sell and trade Assets (Gladiators, Slaves, and Guards). After trading on the Open Market, the Auction begins; bid against your rivals to acquire new Assets for your House. Wealth is not your only path to success as you bluff and bargain with other players to acquire the Assets you covet.  Finally, Houses bid against one another to see who will have the critical prestige of hosting the turn’s gladiatorial games.

The Arena Phase is when the bloody games are held. Gladiators from two rival Houses are pitted against each other in a brutal fight for glory at the invitation of the Host. The spectacles of the games are represented by miniature combat on the arena board. Fighters pit their Attack, Defense and Speed dice against one another to determine the victor. All players seek to increase their fortunes by betting on the outcome of the gruesome conflict. Fighters who emerge from the arena victorious gain Favor and their Dominus will gain Influence.  Losers are subject to the bloodthirsty whims of the crowd and the judgment of the Host.

SEE AMBITION REWARDED The goal of Spartacus is to become the most influential House in Capua, securing your family’s power for years to come. During the game, players will bribe, poison, betray, steal, blackmail, and undermine each other. Gold will change hands again and again to buy support, stay someone’s hand or influence their decisions. Will you be the honorable player whose word is their bond or the treacherous schemer whose alliances change with the wind?  Dare to enter the treacherous and bloody world of Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery and see ambition fulfilled!

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HOUSES In Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery, you are the Dominus of one of four Houses in ancient Capua.  Households are plotting to increase their Influence and gain the favor of Rome.  Each House has its strengths and weaknesses.  Some Houses rely on their Gladiators to lead them to victory.  Other Houses depend on a strong defense.  Utilizing your strengths is a key to victory.

The House of Batiatus is renowned for its impressive ludus of Gladiators.  You rely on the strength and depth of your ludus to increase your Influence.  Victory in the arena is a quick and sure way to power, but the care and training of your Gladiators will be a drain on your treasury.  While your Gladiators fight for dominance, Scheme to undermine your rivals and see ambition rewarded.

The House of Tullius is a respected House, driving much of the business in ancient Capua.  With its many slaves, the House controls commerce and trade in the city.  As Dominus, your eyes and ears are everywhere; your many Schemes targeting all rivals.  But a businessman can only rise so high in Influence.  True fame is found on the sacred sands of the arena and with the right champion you will see position elevated.

The ambition of House Glaber knows no bounds.  You have risen to the role legatus and control vast military power.  Your military might protects you from the Schemes of your rivals, but it is not enough to rise to power and gain Influence.  But now as Dominus, you must secure the service of Slaves and Gladiators as well as Scheme to undermine the other Houses before you can take your place among the ruling elite.  Only then will your rivals learn their place before you; on their knees.

Noble House Solonius knows that there is no one true path to power.  Schemes and Slaves, Guards and Gladiators; all are useful to secure position.  With such resources at your disposal, all manner of nefarious means are open to you.  Use your wealth to fuel your ambitions and ensure that your ludus has the best combatants.  Your rivals will rue crossing your House as you lay them low, whether with a clever plot or victory in the arena.

SPARTACUS A Thracian warrior sold into slavery by the Roman legatus Glaber, Spartacus finds new purpose as a gladiator in ludus of Batiatus.  Defeating the monster Theokoles in the arena, Spartacus is crowned Champion of Capua.  The defeat of Theokoles coincides with a massive rainstorm in Capua, ending a crippling drought and earning Spartacus the title The Bringer of Rain.  Settling into the role of champion does not sit well with Spartacus.  The treachery of the House of Batiatus ensnares him, setting him on the path towards his destiny.

CRIXUS The reign of Crixus as the Champion of Capua is marked by victory after victory, so much so that he is also known as The Undefeated Gaul.  He lives for nothing more than the honor and favor his victories in the arena earn.  The arrival of Spartacus in the ludus challenges his position as House champion.  Undeterred, Crixus battles to maintain position in the ludus; confident in his ability and skill to defeat any who challenge him.

GANNICUS The Celt Gladiator Gannicus is a favorite of the crowd, overcoming superior opponents with his reckless abandon and heedless courage.  Impressed by his combat prowess, Tullius seeks to purchase him from Batiatus, but Batiatus refuses to give up his prized champion.  Gannicus later wins his freedom after he is the last man standing in a primus of twenty gladiators battling in a ring of fire to celebrate the opening of the new arena in Capua.

OENOMAUS An honorable fighter, Oenomaus is a former champion of the House of Batiatus.  He is forced from fighting in the arena after a brutal match with the Shadow of Death, Theokoles.  His valor against the monster wins the favor of the crowd and though gravely injured, becomes the first and only man to survive a fight with Theokoles.  Oenomaus eventually becomes doctore of Batiatus’ ludus, training aspiring Gladiators to fight in the arena.

THEOKOLES The Shadow of Death is a massive Spartan Gladiator with a terrifying reputation of brutal savagery.  The albino Gladiator’s body is covered in scars, a testament to his legacy of victory.  Solonius secures the services of the monster to fight in the arena against the champions of Batiatus, Crixus and Spartacus.  The unstoppable warrior nearly kills Crixus before he is decapitated by Spartacus, finally ending his reign of terror.

ASHUR The cunning Syrian Ashur is a deadly viper.  Originally an aspiring Gladiator, a wound forces the schemer from fighting in the arena.  Now he serves as the right-hand man to Batiatus, carrying out under-handed schemes and nefarious deeds on behalf of his Dominus.

MELITTA A loyal Slave in House of Batiatus, Melitta is wed to the Gladiator Oenomaus to reward his place in the ludus as champion.  While treasured by Batiatus’ wife, Lucretia, Melitta mistakenly falls victim to the wicked schemes and twisted plots of the House.

NAEVIA A Slave in the House of Batiatus since childhood, Naevia is the personal Body Slave of Batiatus’ wife, Lucretia.  Under the Domina’s protection, she is shielded from the depravities of the House.

MIRA Mira is prized for her beauty and loyalty as a Slave in the House of Batiatus.  Once Spartacus becomes champion, Mira is sent to be at his side by the Dominus in an attempt to temper his rebellious nature.

PIETROS The harsh environment of the ludus is no place for hope or kindness, yet Pietros, servant of the House of Batiatus, has both in abundance.  Pietros duties include attending to needs of the Gladiators, be it fetching weapons, armor, water or other duties.  His place in the ludus affords him the protections of some Gladiators, yet marks him as prey to some of the House’s crueler fighters.