Each die color has different odds of hitting the target, and there are battle tactics that can enhance the likelihood of success. There is some luck involved-each gladiator rolls a certain number of dice for each ability he uses, and gladiators are drawn randomly before deployment-but Hoplomachus is very much a game of strategy. A player who pleases the crowd sufficiently can pick up new tactics, and eventually a new and powerful gladiator, for her team. Destroying other gladiators and holding specific locations within the arena help players gain crowd favor. Players move their gladiators within the arena, seeking advantages and trying to get their best hits in. In Hoplomachus, battles take place on a giant neoprene mat with a beautifully printed arena, and gladiators are represented by luxurious-feeling poker chips. Three mythic lost cities-El Dorado, Xanadu, and Atlantis-have sent their finest warriors to Rome to do battle and prove their ultimate supremacy! Each team of gladiators fights with an especially powerful champion, who is supported by a number of gladiators who bring different specialties to the fight. Hoplomachus: The Lost Cities is about blood, sand, and glory.
