I've recently come back to
an old idea of mine and would like your comments/input!
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In the distant and increasingly amoral future, a new sport is sweeping the nation(s). Travel through time and space, accidentally invented by a broadcasting company, is now being used to draft gladiators into teams in the present day from all over the past. Legions of samurai face off against bands of vikings and wild west bandits, musketeers battle ancient charioteers, famous painters duke it out with bewildered cavemen.
A new season is just beginning, and YOU are the manager of a new gladiator team. Can you find the ultimate team and claim victory?
So, basically, warriors from all over space and time (though not more recent than the set official date, say, the 1600s) are drafted into teams, drugged and brainwashed not to panic, and fielded against eachother in bloody matches, accompanied by cheery commentary full of bad puns and crowd-pandering.
The suggesters would make (or possibly choose) the initial team, drafting from across time and space, but I'm thinking there wouldn't be much control over the team (not at all inside matches). Instead, the focus of the game will be on betting and gaining points through successful betting. With these points, people can become Sponsors of a player or several and try to get them to the top of the league (alive).
Or maybe I should go for a more manager-focused deal. What do you think? It'd stay safely suggestion-driven singleplayer, then.
What's an amoral future without a little gambling? You can make bets of all kinds, from a simple 'Team A will win the match' to a 'Player D will be wounded non-fatally in the final three rounds' deal. If you're lucky/good, you can win big, or play badly and lose it all in one go.
These points can then be hoarded (always nice to be the best), or used to become a...
You can become a Sponsor if you have the points and brains. As a Sponsor, you'll take a specific player under your wing and try to improve their chances of surviving and becoming a legend. But mostly, making you money with good playing and exciting matches. If you've got the cash, you can acquire several.
As a Sponsor, you can purchase weapons and equipment (of modern make and power!), temporary stat boosts, healing, trainers, gifts and whatnot. With enough cash, you can even resurrect them from the dead when they fall. You'll also be able to organize specific matches of practically any kind and sometimes buy/sell players from/to other teams.
But beware, for the world of sponsors is just as dangerous as the arena, and there is always competition. Perhaps you'll fall to underhanded means to make sure your guys get it done.
The time-and-space-displaced gladiators have a variety of stats that affect how they fare in battle. These generally range from 1 to 6.
Strength affects melee damage and physical toughness, as well as wrestling moves and miscellaneous physique checks.
Agility affects dodging, moving speed, dexterity & aim with both melee and ranged.
Stamina determines the number of actions (move, attack, dodge) a combatant can take per turn and affects special attacks, if any.
Fellowship determines ability to work in a team. Low Fellowship leads to penalties when fighting in a group, while high gives bonuses for the same. Either way, Fellowship affects the behavior of fighters - High Fel gladiators are first to go to a wounded comrade's aid even if it costs them/the team, while low Fel are considered more with their own survival.
Discipline determines how well a fighter can make use of formations and follow orders and tactics. Very high Discipline can be harmful as the fighter is unable to cope with changing fighting conditions.
Ferocity allows fighters to intimidate opponents and attract 'heat', making foes more likely to attack them. High Ferocity can lead to a fighter ignoring orders and taking reckless action.
Awareness determines how well a fighter can fathom the changing battlefield, allowing them to pick out lone, vulnerable fighters and watch for flankers even in the fury of battle.
Acclimization represents how easily a fighter can get used to his new life and improve and gain experience, as well as use Sponsor (futuristic) equipment.
A pseudo-stat is the Stardom Rating of a fighter, which affects point profits as well as sponsor interest. Famous historical figures drafted into the league will automatically have high Stardom, but others will gain or lose it through combat prowess and entertaining the public.
Fighters would also possess weapons/equipment and possibly special attacks.
In a team, every fighter has a Role. These Roles are;
Harasser, a fast, high-agility fighter who harasses and breaks enemy formations, attempting to lure high-Fer combatants to their doom. Their main stats are Agility, Discipline and Stamina.
Shieldsman/Guardian/Name Pending, a fighter tasked with keeping foes away from vulnerable teammates and watches for flankers. Their main stats are Fellowship, Strength and Agility.
Slicer, a fast-moving, fast-hitting fighter who attempts to take down lone/vulnerable enemies as swiftly as possible. Their main stats are Agility, Awareness and Stamina.
Tank/Name Pending, a big and tough fighter who gets the enemy's attention, taking hits to leave their teammates free. Their main stats are Strength, Ferocity and Fellowship.
Driver, an high-awareness fighter who ties up foes, especially Harassers and Slicers and sometimes Shieldsmen, in combat. Their main stats are Agility, Awarenes and Ferocity.
Hammer, a balanced fighter able to dish it out and protect in equal measure. Their main stats are Strength, Agility and Fellowship.
Dagger, a sneaky, non-standard fighter who uses speed and surprise to take down or disorient vulnerable enemies and change the course of the game. Their main stats are Agility and Awareness.
Bastion, a dedicated defender who always sticks close to their teammate(s) and aids them in combat. Their main stats are Discipline and Fellowship.
The team can get into several types of matches as the season goes on, from
Standard: 10-turn full-team deathmatch.
Bloodbath: 25-turn full-team deathmatch.
One-on-One: 5-turn 1v1 match.
Three-on-Three: 5-turn 3v3 match.
Sponsor Match: Can be anything - unfair teams, modern weapons, giant monsters...
Championship: The final game(s) of the season are played continuously to the death of one team.
If you want to help - names, criticism, suggestions, all are welcome. I'm currently wondering how to determine match scores - damage inflicted will contribute, as will kills, but not sure if more complex things ('successful defense') should be included. I'm also welcoming fighter roles and match types.