Blood, Sandals, and Sorcery.

I don't know if anyone else has seen this news, but STARZ network will be starting a series in 2010 based on Spartacus (trailer can be seen here). While it does look a bit much like a rip on 300's success, it still seems like it might be worth watching to me. Sam Raimi's name is attached so that ain't too bad either I guess.

I doubt it will match the work HBO did with ROME, but I can always hope. ROME really opened up my eyes to a Roman-like setting for a game. I have been kicking it about in my head for sometime, and it may have to break free soon.

I have started re-reading my current ROME sourcebooks for various games (the 2nd Ed AD&D "Glory of Rome", the GURPS book on Rome, and the d20 book - the name escapes me at the moment). All make for good inspiration. I have even seen a classic Traveller version that someone did for an ancient rome game.

This leads me to my Traveller project. Maybe my next project will tie together my love of Rome with Traveller and the OGL. I don't want to make a historical game of Rome, much like I did with R&R and Japan. I want the trappings of Rome with the ability to place it in any world. Rename the cities, new barbarians at the gate. Monsters prowling the wilderness.

I had thought of doing something like this with Swords & Wizardry too, but I am not sure the effort would be worth it. The classes would port pretty much as they are now, though i could probably slap together a "gladiator" class and maybe a few others. Armor and weapons would not require much to re-work.

I like the Republic of Rome as my setting in time, just prior to the first Emperor. Legions are manned by volunteers, gladiator games are in full swing. The armor for the time is very limited, most soldiers were the lorica hamata (chain shirt) and carry the scutum (at this period the oval shield). Much like seen here.



This is all very much the early stages of my addled brain, and knowing my keen aversion to keeping on track - don't expect too much anytime soon.