Dark Sun for Sword of Cepheus: Part IV – Gladiators

Here’s the next career for my Dark Sun conversion to Sword of Cepheus – the Gladiator. I pulled a lot of ideas from the Dark Sun: Complete Gladiator’s Handbook

Creating these careers is taking a little longer than I thought, but it is fun. Coming up with entries for the Mishap and Events tables really makes you think about the world the character comes from, and gives you ideas for scenarios. More Cepheus/Traveller designers should make custom careers for their worlds, instead of just using the stock ones. I think it adds a lot of flavor to a setting.

Gladiator

Warriors trained to fight for the entertainment of crowd in the stadia of the city-states.

Useful Traits for Gladiators: Blind Fighting, Combat Readiness, Hardy, Martial Artist, Signature Weapon, Vigilant

New Traits for Gladiators

The Dance of Whirling Blades: Can move and attack twice in one action. Must make an END 8+ roll to avoid dizziness. If the roll fails, they lose their second action and all attacks against them are at DM+2 until they recover in the next round.

Famed Champion: If the gladiator is in the home city where they fought, they get a +4 to all reaction rolls. +2 in other caravans, villages, and cities that trade with their home city.

Qualification	STR 8+
Survival	STR 9+
Advancement	DEX 10+
Re-Enlistment	5+

Rank	Title	Skill or Bonus
0		Melee Combat-1
1
2	Professional
3
4
5
6	Weapon Master	Leadership-1
7	Champion	Trait: Famed Champion

Mustering Out Benefits

1D	Treasure	Materials
1	10 cp	Weapon
2	50 cp	Weapon
3	100 cp	+1 STR
4	5 sp	Armor
5	30 sp	Ally
6	50 sp	Mount
7	5 gp	Retainer

Skills & Training

1D	Personal Development	Service	1D	Specialist	Advanced Education
1	+1 STR	Melee Combat	1	Animals	Medicine
2	+1 DEX	Athletics	2	Carousing	Streetwise
3	+1 END	+1 STR	3	Archery	Tactics
4	Melee Combat	Carousing	4	Streetwise	Survival
5	Athletics	Recon	5	Leadership	Animals
6	Carousing	Stealth	6	Medicine	Liaison

Mishaps

1D	Mishap
1	A cheating halfling gladiator uses an Agony beetle on you: Roll on Injury table.
2	Locked in a Pillory: Throw END 10+, if you fail you lose 1 point of END
3	A Templar tried to fix a match, but you would not be bribed – gain an Enemy
4	Branded! – You have a crime token tattooed to your face.  DM -2 to all reaction rolls
5	King’s Pyramid – You must fight your way to the top of a greased pyramid to win a match. Throw DEX 10+. If failed, roll on Injury Table.
6	An angry mob psionically attacks you during a match. Lose 1 point of INT.

Events

2D	Event
2	Mishap – Roll on Mishap table.
3	You are sent to a distant arena away from the city. Gain Survival. Lose one benefit roll.
4	Train as a Montare – Montare are gladiators who ride mounts. Throw DEX 8+. If you succeed, you gain Riding. If you fail, roll on the Injury table with a DM+2.
5	You fight a beloved champion. Throw STR 8+. If you succeed, gain one promotion and an extra Benefit roll. If you fail, roll on the Injury Table.
6	Gain Signature Weapon trait.
7	Roll on the Life Event Table
8	Work with the Reavers (they collect wild animals for the arena) – gain Survival
9	Train with the beast trainer- Gain Animals
10	A Noble becomes a loyal fan. Gain an Ally. You are automatically promoted.
11	Train with or as a Jazst (performing fighters) – you gain the trait The Dance of Whirling Blades
12	Psionics – A latent psionic ability becomes active – roll on Psionics Table