This is one of those pipe-dream-projects that has actually taken a step forward! I’ve always been interested in the ‘Gladiator’ thing and quite interested in playing games based around the arena.

I picked up some rules a while back from 2 Hour Wargames – Red Sand Black Moon – Fantasy Gladiatorial Combat then the historical (original?) version Red Sand Blue Sky. Skimmed through but never played – typical scenario.

Anyway, nothing was ever going to happen without some little men so I picked up a set from Rebel Minis and followed them up with a host from Museum Miniatures when I deemed ‘4’ did not offer enough choice. 15mm of course.

Now these Gladiators are not comparable to the likes seen with the new Arena Rex which are very impressive. But, not wanting to sound tight (I’m not, really), this gives you nearly thirty Gladiators for less than the price of 1 Arena Rex miniature. I like the Rebel Minis ones quite a lot. The Museum Miniatures are a bit of a mixed bag – some okay, some meh, some bleh. But then, if you don’t love your mini, you don’t mind when they die in the arena!

Various ‘arena’ ideas and stalled terrain projects have yet to produce a definitive playing area for the games themselves. But that will come.

Here are the Museum Gladiators – pack of 24 with 12 sculpts for £7.50 (duplicates not painted and not included).

And here is one of the many Fantasy Gladiators  from Splintered Light Miniatures.