The Book of Spartacus

[darktrooper889]

Quick question: After Spartacus dies, can I still put order markers on him, and become inspired?

[Clarissimus]

I can't find anything in the rules that says you can't put an order marker a dead figure's card.

[Sherman Davies]

Unless the card says so, like with the Viking Spirits or Thanos, the powers of dead units can't affect the game.

[Tai-Pan]

I've played a couple of bigger free-for-all games (800-1000 points or so) and had the three gladiators as my last units. Even though they represent nearly 400 points, the opponents overlook them. Something about three scantily clad men with swords doesn't seem threatening. While my enemies warred back and forth I moved 400 points into position and struck the enemy in their weak spot.

[SpartanNinja]

Originally Posted by darktrooper889

Quick question: After Spartacus dies, can I still put order markers on him, and become inspired?

I found this on the Rechets of Bogdan Book.

Question
- BEFORE "SUMMONING THE RECHETS" : Placing Order Markers on the Army Card BEFORE the Rechets are Summoned
Can an order marker be placed onto a card that has not been activated?

Answer
By activated you mean placed on the board right? The answer is yes, you can place an order marker on a figure that is not
on the board, either because they are destroyed, or not called yet. HOWEVER. You do not get to use any of the special
powers on that Army Card if the order marker is turned over and they are not on the board. (Hasbro FAQ)

So, yes, you can place an order marker on Spartacus after he dies, but his special power cannot be activated.

[syvarris0]

IMO Spartacus is underpriced,he has the ability of the viking champions rolled in to 1,it lasts the whole round,you don't have to move him,he doesn't have to be dead or adjacent for his power to work+he has great stats.

[Soul Shackle]

Originally Posted by syvarris0

IMO Spartacus is underpriced,he has the ability of the viking champions rolled in to 1,it lasts the whole round,you don't have to move him,he doesn't have to be dead or adjacent for his power to work+he has great stats.

I would Embrace the Suck before I'd call him underpriced.

[DarkBladeCB]

His power is, in principle, a nifty idea except... well... the gladiators don't have any range and you're looking at three attacks all turn and you're going to get stomped by anybody any good. These things are more than a little bit of a problem.

So, it's not his power that sucks, it's more that you can't really do as much with it in practice, though it sounds cool.

[greenless]

Sparky isn't as bad as many have complained. just played all the gladiators for the first time against my daughters usual dragon army. Retiarius and Crixus took out Braxas and Nilfheim rather easily with sparacus bonus. but while i was camped takin out braxas mimrings fire pretty much toasted them and spartacus took out mimring in one attack. all of this was after i lost jotun to mass dragon special attacks while killing her sonlen.

i know i was basically fighting a non ranged army so thats why i had any chance.

I say if ever there is another gladiator unit spartacus will see alot of time on the battlefield at my house. he is well worth 200 points. my vote is for a common javalin unit i with bonding and something like 1 attack die ranged but 2 or 3 melee

[mccombju]

I've been wanting to play with Spartacus and his gladiators for a while now, but I've never been able to justify devoting 200 points to a powerful yet overcosted hero (in a 500 point game, anyways).

Having tried him out yesterday, the first thing I will say is that my army was terrible, including Sparatacus, Crixus, Nakita Agents and 1x Gorillinators. In our game, I drafted this army first and then let a player who is new to the game draft based upon his favourites from premade armies I'd given him in games prior. When I saw his draft choices, I was amazed/pleased that he drafted so well. He chose Major Q10, Syvarris, Raelin, Krav, and Kaemon Awa.

Outgunned and facing order marker hell vs. a faily strong ranged army of heros with ranged special attacks + one unique squad, I am surprised to say that Spartacus killed more than his points worth.

However, the problem for my army was that Spartacus was the only character who even came close to earning his points back. My plan was to move the gladiators up with Nakita support, but smoke powder only hit once in protecting Crixus, and the Nakitas failed in a squad-on-squad battle against the Raelin-boosted Krav. My monkeys never stood a chance and died with no incident. Suprisingly, an inspired Crixus was only able to put 2 wounds on Raelin before falling, whereas Spartacus fell a Raelin-boosted Q10 in one blow and killed two Krav before being slain by Syvarris.

With the exception of Spartacus' last ditch heroics, this was a disappointing game, because I had envisioned my army working differently. That said, I was pleased that my inexperienced opponent had drafted and played well against my army. Likewise, I was suprised that Spartacus would be the only character to earn his points in battle.

Although I'm certain that Spartacus isn't exactly worth his points in this scenario, I do like the hero killing power of inspired Crixus and Spartacus. I think that the next time I field Spartacus and Crixus in a 500 point game I will try out one of the following three armies:

1)

Spartacus - 90
Crixus - 90
Theracus - 40
Marro Warrios - 50
Airborne Elite - 110

Plan:
MW & Theracus (carrying Crixus) split order markers in the beginning. Inspire Crixus. AE drop planned once Crixus is mixing it up. Spartacus for cleanup duty. Hopefully, the MW get the opportunity to clone for end-game.

Spartacus - 90
Crixus - 90
Theracus - 40
Marro Warrios - 50
Krav - 100

Plan:
Krav & Theracus (carrying Crixus) split order markers in the beginning. Inspire Crixus. Spartacus as the next wave. MW for endgame cleanup. *Note* Substituting the Nakitas would play roughly the same and work given a 500 point limit.

Spartacus - 90
Crixus - 90
Deathreavers x2 - 80
Airborne Elite - 110

Plan:
Deathreavers clog up the field in the beginning. Inspire Crixus. AE drop planned once Crixus/Deathreavers are mixing it up. Spartacus for cleanup duty.

*Note* I didn't include Retarius in any of the above builds, because it seemed like too many points devoted to single activation hero killers.

Does anyone have a non-team game army using Spartacus that held its own that they would be willing to share? I'll happily report the outcomes of my games once I test them out.

[The B.I.V.]

Try:

Spartacus:200
Retiarius: 90
Crixus: 90
Ashigaru Riflemen x2: 120

Total: 500

Brandon

[TexMex]

Originally Posted by The B.I.V.

Try:

Spartacus:200
Retiarius: 90
Crixus: 90
Ashigaru Riflemen x2: 120

Total: 500

Brandon

I actually like that. I've been trying to come up with a 600 point tournament army for NHSD, and I really don't like using the "cliché" units. I was thinking

Spartacus: 200
Retiarius: 90
Crixus: 90
Capt. America: 220

I figure Spartacus makes a pretty big target, but so does Capt. America. This way, if one gets killed early (which seems to happen to me often in tourneys), there's still one left to boost the others.