The roar of the crowd as you hit the sands of Arena Rex just became a much more welcoming prospect with the addition of new Ludus Starter Sets for the game. There are four of them right now each featuring three different miniatures, statistic cards and a rulebook to get you started...

Ludus Magnus

Keeping things very traditional to begin with there is Ludus Magnus which features three Gladiators who use weapons you'd be used to seeing in the annuls of history. Marcus, Micon and Infelix are ready for a good ol' scrap.

"For over 400 years Ludus Magnus has stood as the Roman Republic’s most celebrated gladiator school. Located adjacent to the Colosseum, the school lies at the heart of bloody spectacle in Rome.

Emerging from their exclusive tunnel entrance onto the sands of the arena, these exemplars of showmanship and violence drive the city to a fevered pitch. The Ludus Magnus aesthetic centers on classic Roman gladiator motifs."

Legio XIII

The classical history of Ancient Rome gets a little bit fantastical when it comes to Legio XIII. Celtic might joins with Roman discipline when it comes to this Ludus.

"Legio XIII, Ludus Britannicus, is the premier Gallo-Roman Imperial gladiator school. Sponsored by the military, this ludus marries the raw ferocity of the Celtic warrior with discipline of the Roman legions. ​

Legio XIII, Ludus Britannicus, focuses on Medieval European, Celtic, and Roman Military influences in a blended aesthetic."

Morituri

From the sands of Egypt come the Morituri with their exotic weapons and strange fighting styles. All three of these warriors look very different from the rest of the range and I could see them featuring bright purples and blues in their colour scheme.

"The royal ludus of Aegyptus, the Morituri elevate and twist the munera far beyond the scope of anything Roman. Believing these sacred funerary games not only honor the fallen, but have the power to breach the boundaries of the afterlife, the Morituri eternally prepare for the next royal munera to aid in the restoration of their divine rulers.

The Morituri aesthetic features the opulence of the pharaonic tomb, zealous and exotic warriors, and a dark fascination with death."

Zephyri

Last but not least in terms of Ludus we have the Zephyri who come from more Northern climbs. These warriors would definitely be my pick if I was looking at picking Gladiators for the sands of the arena.

"Based out of Hibernia in the Gallo-Roman Empire, Ludus Fratrum Cruore is the only gladiator school that can claim fabled Atlantean fighters in its ranks. Composed of a unique mix of Nordic warriors and natives of the far western continent, the Zephyri draw huge audiences within the empire and republic alike. ​

The Zephyri aesthetic is a vibrant and uncharacteristic mix of Viking and Native American cultures."

I love the big cloak of Bjarrhvit (right) and the pose of Sven as he winds up his coiled spring of a body to throw that javelin towards his foe.

Which Starter Set do you like best?