Gladiatorial Game Rules
Now that we are so close to the Game Day, here are the rules for the Gladiatorial games.
Players can use any and all of the 3 core rulebooks (noting official errata). This is firm and not negotiable, regardless of how cool a certain feat/spell/ability is from X supplement. This is supposed to be simple and fun and short.
Maximum challenge rating (CR) = 9 [Yes, I mean CR, not ECL]
One exclusion: no dragons. It is well known that dragon CRs are skewed.
That means you can play a 9th-level paladin elf; a 9th-level sorcerer halfling; a 5th/4th-level ranger/rogue human; a 6th/3rd-level fighter/dwarven defender dwarf; a 5th-level barbarian minotaur; a stock bebilith; etc.
If you choose a standard (PHB) race, you get 28 points for buying ability scores.
If you choose a 'monster' character, you must start with the standard stats as listed in the Monster Manual. You can add class levels on top of the standard stats to bring it up to CR 9 (1 class level = +1 CR). But no reverse engineering. I just won't have time to double check everyone's calculations -- much easier to just check the MM stat block for accuracy.
Starting money = 36,000 gp
The arena is the size of a standard battle mat: 125'x110'. There will be some minor obsatcles to break up the open terrain. All of the arena is made of solid stone. Off the map in any of the 4 compass directions is out of bounds. Beneath the floor more than 20' is out of bounds. Higher than 40' in the air is out of bounds. Opponents will start the match at set points about 20' in from the opposite ends of the mat. Opponents have no spells or effects active before the start of the match. Buffs must be cast in the arena. No combatant will be flatfooted.
As game DM and referee and judge, I must see and approve any and all gladiator character sheets before the fight. If you have special combos or 'secret weapons' that you want to spring on your opponents, that's fine (and fun), but run the ideas by me first to make sure it is all rule legal. Surprising your opponent is great, ambushing the DM with a twisted rules abuse is not.
Fights will be to the death, or till one opponent cannot act. There may be some situations where the judge has to make a call for the winner.
You can fight as many times as you want, but no more than 3 times against the same opponent. The overall Gladiatorial Game Winner will be determined by best win:loss ratio against at least each entrant once.
Questions? Suggestions?
Quasqueton