Arena Rex: Gladiator Combat in a Mythic Age

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**Gomez**

Alpharius wrote:
Wow.

Just...wow!

REALLY glad to have backed this one!

Yeah, those look freakin' great painted up.

Was a little nervous about the scale of certain models in relation to each other, but seeing them lined up like that puts me at ease. Very happy with everything thus far - models, rules, pace of production, etc.

**cincydooley**

Now we just need that pledge manager up and running

**RiTides**

Yep, this campaign is one of the most impressive I've seen post-funding. Watching with great interest

**Alpharius**

Last we heard, we thought the Pledge Manager would be up in August...

Just one more piece of news, our pledge manager will be online soon. We are currently in the bug hunting phase. Up to two pledge levels are supported. You will be able to change your shipping address and add funds for additional rewards via Paypal

Clearly that didn't happen, but I'd guess...September?

**Piston Honda**

Not sure. I do know they all have day jobs, so this game does not get the 24 hour attention... yet. It will be bumpy.

The people at RRG do seem to have a great vision and an eye for quality sculpts. Curious to know what their ideas and plans are for the future?

That said, I hope the rather high price per mini will not turn people away.

Just did another 4 test games again today. Each time I am remembering more and more.

As you remember the reactions you can do during a game as the non-active player, the game is a delicate balance of when to go with the slow or put the pedal to the metal.

One interesting thing I took from this game the most games do not have, is the game favors players who are defensive minded and offensive minded. Last game I played I got
"venus flytraped"

One thing the rule book is in dire need of, is examples of play following a set of rules of things that would be legal to do and things that would not be legal.

most refreshing set of rules I have played since malifaux 2 years ago.

**cincydooley**

How many models are you typically playing with ?

**RiTides**

I actually prefer projects like this to have creators with day jobs... it sucks when your whole campaign is basically paying someone's living expenses. This seems to be the case with ones like Imbrian Arts or Red Box Games...

Dreamforge is another example where, because the creator had a job, basically all of the funds went to tooling, rather than his living expenses. Of course artists need to get paid, but funds go a lot further when they can go directly into tooling and game production.

**Alpharius**

RiTides wrote:

Of course artists need to get paid, but funds go a lot further when they can go directly into tooling and game production.

Hmmm... revealing, actually!

**RiTides**

I'd like to clarify that comment, actually- in campaigns like this and Mierce Miniatures, there is a lot of sculpting to be done, and you can see that they're hiring world class artists to do it. But, they're being commissioned and only paying for that one job. I just feel like the funds go further that way.

Anyway, just a passing thought, back to watching these beautiful miniatures unfold

**Piston Honda**

Just got back from playing 3 games.

Got my ass handed to me in the first 2 games. Didn't kill a single gladiator.

I rolled that bad. 5 straight defense rolls without a single success.

Rolled 8 dice on a power attack to give the final blow to a gladiator.

on those 8 dice including re-rolls netted me 1 single success.

After having played every faction at least once, and have played the Morituri .the most, their cohort abilities seem to be the weakest of the bunch. Perhaps my group and I are playing them wrong in combination of their abilities and cohort abilities. As this game is simple but very difficult to master with the balance act of keeping track of abilities, knowing when to exhaust units, defensive game, offensive game, knowing how to "hook" people in.

Noxius just out right waffle stomps everyone.

I played the Blood Brother twice today.

Sven and Frigge are great tag team partners with Berserk and Intervene (if I am playing her ability correctly). Basically fighting back to back.

3 game I had, I tagged team Frigge and Sven to kill off a character early in the game with 2 attacks receiving no damage in the process. Sven attacking back to back, frigge boosting defense for Sven.

**jonolikespie**

They are amazing but here I am with my playtest stuff unused

At this rate I won't get a game until the painted models have drowned in dust on my shelf.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

From Arena Rex on facebook (makes me want to get my hands on Leo and his identical twin Felix)

Good research seems to be the foundation for a great sculpture. MIKH sent along his study of 'panthera leo' for our Leo character. I really like seeing this type of work. The care that goes into is impresses me.

**RiTides**

That is really impressive! I can't imagine that most miniature sculptors put that kind of care into studying the anatomy of their subject... but the results really show in the sculpts on this campaign so far.

**spiralingcadaver**

Agreed. Other than how the beta testing has kind of stalled out (which has drained some of my interest from the campaign), the system from a creative and mechanical perspective looks like it's shaping up to be something pretty special.

**Piston Honda**

Pledge Manager is sent out.

Few people have said it has a few bugs.

If anyone wants to piggy back on me....

Automatically Appended Next Post:

spiralingcadaver wrote:
Agreed. Other than how the beta testing has kind of stalled out (which has drained some of my interest from the campaign), the system from a creative and mechanical perspective looks like it's shaping up to be something pretty special.

I didn't get a chance to play test again today (too busy playing Letters from White Chapel over and over).

I want to play test the Egyptians again.

of the 5 or 6 times I have played them I have had my ass handed to me all but once.

Not sure if they just suck or they just have a steep learning curve, I have not found their Cohort abilities of an good use.

Perhaps they will change now that I have learned a few things, such as being able to attack twice (normal attack) assuming I have fatigue to spend.

Terrain is needed to split up the arena, in particular the middle. Otherwise all games become march to the middle and have a roll off for the first several activations. It felt like the several games of Warmachine I played.

As far as I am aware, never push one guy up far ahead of your cohort in hopes to disrupt your opponent.

The poor guy will get slaughtered.

**cincydooley**

Piston: any recommendations on a good "starter force" of 4-5 models for Ludus Magnus ?

**Alpharius**

Update!

Pledge Manager is Now Open!
Update #50 - For backers only · Sep 20, 2013 · 42 comments

Thanks to your pledges, the initial release of Arena Rex will be bigger than we ever imagined. Now it's time for you to let us know which rewards you want. The sooner you finalize your reward selection, the sooner we can begin final production. Please lock in your pledge by October 11th. The project has been steadily moving along, new and exciting sculpts are being produced every month. Part II of the playtest is also looming in the near future. We are thrilled to see the whole Kickstarter package come closer and closer to completion every day.

About the pledge manager: In order to log in, you'll have to click 'forgot password' and enter the email address linked to your Kickstarter account.

http://www.arenarexpledgemanager.com/login/forgot/

Once your password has been set, login at:

http://www.arenarexpledgemanager.com/

After logging in, select your pledge level from the dropdown menu (note there is another dropdown menu below it for a second pledge level, this is optional.) Your reward slots will appear as red in the cart. Please click each item (rulebooks and dice too) to be sure they will be included with your rewards, you do not want any red items in the cart when you submit.

Selections in your cart may be removed by clicking them.

When you are finished selecting rewards click Submit, this will lock your cart and let us know you have completed your pledge. You may add additional funds. If your cart value is higher than your previous pledge amount you will be prompted to send the difference via PayPal upon clicking 'Submit and Add Funds with PayPal.' IMPORTANT : if the email account associated with your PayPal account is different than the one associated with your Kickstarter account please let us know. Add a note to the PayPal transaction to let us know which Kickstarter account the funds belong to.

Thanks again for your support. We hope you know that your pledge actually did make a difference. If you have any problems please contact: info@redrepublicgames.com Check out a few of our latest developments below. Talk to you soon - RRG.

**Alpharius**

OK, so I completed and locked in my pledge.

I think.

It would be nice if, once you're done, the pledge manager would say so definitively, and/or send you an e-mail 'receipt' detailing your choices, showing your address, etc.

**alanmckenzie**

Yeah, I thought that also. They were asked about it on facebook, they said.

"If you are unsure about whether or not your pledge has been locked-in, simply log in and try to modify your cart. If it has been locked you will not be allowed to."

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Yeah, if you go into your "my pledge" bit and try clicking on one of your choices, it'll tell you that your pledge is locked.

**DaveC**

thanks that's good to know I wasn't sure myself but I can't change it now so it's locked. I stuck with my Ludas Magnus plus 1 extra Mars in the end, think this is the first KS I haven't added extra funds to afterwards.

**cincydooley**

I want to get all the things, but am unwilling to put that much cheddar towards it.

What Ludus Magnus models did you go for Dave?

**DaveC**

Yeah it kind of came down to cost as well in the end - great miniatures but expensive in resin this is by far the most expensive KS I've done on a cost per miniature basis ($16 average or something like that)

Otho
Septimus on Foot
Infelix
Iason
Viatrix
Hermes
and Lupa of course

Based on nothing more than sculpts and concept art - I wanted to stick with all from the same Ludas this will allow me to set up 3 against 3 games for now if I like I can get some more. I was tempted by some of the titans and Tiet-Khebi and Bjarrhvit but I want to keep this relatively small and I can pick them up later if need be. The other thing I had in mind was that I have a lot of KD:M armour kits coming and they could be used here as well if need be.

**cincydooley**

That's actually the exact same Ludus Magnus list I went with.

**Alpharius**

So, I locked in my pledge!

Had to leave out a lot of stuff I'd love to get - but maybe later, right?

Legio XIII

Aquila
Aemilia
Ban-Luca
Urien
Gaius Pallidus

Ludus Magnus

Urbicus
Viatrix
Marcus Furius
Lupa
Iason
Infelix
Hermes
Septimus (on foot)
Otho Mentulus
Micon
Septimus and Nero

Morituri

Tiet-Khebi
Mago
Zahra (on foot)
Thoth
Ur-Kek
Zahra and Sereqet

Unaligned

Leo

I decided to pass on the Blood Brothers entirely, though there were a few minis in that faction that I liked, overall it wasn't a group I felt I wanted straight away.

That list does show a 'faction choice imbalance', but hopefully that's something that will get fixed over time.

I'd have loved to pick up PROXIMO and EURYALE too, but, hobby funds are low, so they didn't make the cut either, but I'll definitely pick up those two at retail...

**Gomez**

Still considering my own pledge here... I'm at the Ultimus level, so currently I'm thinking this load-out:

Magnus
Lupa - Kickstarter Exclusive (Mars) $25.00
Iason (Mars) $17.00
Urbicus (Mars) $17.00
Septimus (Mars) $17.00
Viatrix (Mars) $17.00
Otho Mentulus (Jupiter) $21.00
Micon (Jupiter) $21.00
Septimus and Nero (The Titans)

Legio 13
Aquila (Mars) $17.00
Aemilia (Mars) $17.00
Gaius Pallidus (Jupiter) $21.00

Blood Brothers
Sven (Mars) $17.00
Vargr (Mars) $17.00
Frigge (Mars) $17.00
Hroka (Mars) $17.00

Miscellaneous
Mago (Mars) $17.00
Noxius (Mars) $17.00
Leo (The Titans) $25.00

You can see I'm trying to get at least three fighters from three separate Ludi, plus Noxious and Mago as extras because they both look so awesome.

Not sure whether I want to keep Gaius in as an add-on or put that money toward Hroka on her horse... Or just go whole-hog and add both. I'm not rich and every dollar of disposable income gets scrutinized, so thinking about how much I've already put into this is making me gunshy about that move - but then again, everything about this game has been so great I'd hate to leave out anything.

**RiTides**

Sweet Alpharius, hopefully you'll have and bring these to AdeptiCon

**Alpharius**

I hope so too - that would be fun, wouldn't it?

**Piston Honda**

cincydooley wrote:
Piston: any recommendations on a good "starter force" of 4-5 models for Ludus Magnus ?

Viatrix has great mov. attack. def and armor as well as a good ability if you are trying to prevent a character from near death.

Urbicus probably has my favorite abilities of the faction, the ability to manipulate fatigue in this game is priceless.

Otho does not have a very impressive speed, but has average attack and pretty good armor.
His health bar does not generate much favor (only one when he dies) but his attack tree make him a vital gladiator among the L.M. he is sort of a watered down noxius in that regard. 3 success and he deals 7 damage and a push.

I wouldn't let his negative ability "Hated" scare you as his 5 attack and ability to pull of a power attack of 2 attacks is more than capable of doing a lot of damage to any gladiator a person brings.

Hermes is my second favorite Gladiator, he has probably the most intriguing and complex damage tree. Very versatile in any position. He can push, he can do damage and he can gain favor with ease. He pretty much will fit into any style of the game. Plus his 6 attack and his ability makes him a giant D!ck.

Marcus Furius is a great tag team model with his entangle ability. He is great at forcing players engaging in gladiators they don't want to, and once again, can potentially manipulate the fatigue system which I have found to be a great tactic in the game. Losing a fatigue prevents a player from performing a power attack or performing 2 attacks and allowing him to push and run very far.

There are a few other LM character but have not played them yet.

**cincydooley**

I'll bring my Blood Brothers. :-)

**Alpharius**

Excellent!

Your Blood Brothers vs. my Jotum led PanO force!

Wait...