Death Bowl Basic Rules
Contents
Death Bowl Basic Rules
Sponsors
Each real life Player is a Sponsor. Players can roleplay themselves, use one of their existing factions as a Sponsor persona, or create something entirely new. Sponsors maintain Rosters of Gladiators and have a Standing Score. Simply, the Sponsor gains 1 Gladiator for each 1 point of Standing they have and may organize those gladiators for events however they see fit. Standing increases by 1 for each win the Sponsor is responsible for and decreases by 1 for each loss (which results in a gain or loss of gladiators, accordingly). As of Season One, Standing is rated on a scale from 1-20, allowing a maximum roster of 20 Gladiators. Sponsors who reach 0 Standing are ousted from the games and must come up with a new persona to play again.
Beginning Sponsors may rank their Initial Standing on a scale from 1-10, based on whatever rationale makes sense. A megacorporation, for example, might have a Standing of 9 or 10 to start, thanks to their massive amount of resources. A lone dominus just entering the games with only a single Gladiator to his name, on the other hand, would begin at 1 Standing. This choice is left to the Player.
If a Player maintains a Sponsor Persona, each match they Host nets them 1 Standing. They may not participate in matches they Host.
In Leaderboard Ranking, tie breakers for Standing are determined by the Sponsor's Total Worth. Total Worth is the total CP cost of all Gladiators he or she controls. If this is again a tie, the Grandmaster of Games makes the determination. The Grandmaster of Games is the Player who has Hosted the most games. In the event that the Grandmaster is unavailable, Quantumsurfer (as the creator of these games) decides or it is put to a vote.
Gladiators
Characters often train for months before becoming Gladiators so that by the time they enter the Arena, they're a cut above the average minifig. Gladiators are, by default, worth 5CP. When gaining new Gladiators, Sponsors can choose to build their own or take the Basic Package (a basic minifig with a Move of 7 instead of 5).
Each win the Gladiator helps to achieve nets him a payment of 1CP for him and 1CP for his Sponsor. The Gladiator can spend this CP to increase his Worth, gaining any Stat Increase, Specialty, or Supernatural Die he could afford at normal BrikWars costs. He may also save this CP over time. Weapons and equipment are provided freely to Gladiators and do not cost any CP whatsoever. The Sponsor can spend their CP to bid on Gladiators in the Open Pool.
When a Sponsor loses Standing, he loses access to Gladiators. Those Gladiators go into the Open Pool and can be drafted by anyone. A Sponsor who has an open point of Standing can start a Bidding War for any Gladiator in the Open Pool if he does not wish to simply gain another Basic Package Gladiator. Any Sponsor who also has an open Standing may participate in this Bidding War. Simply, the highest bidder wins the Gladiator, who is added to their Roster, and the CP spent on the bid is deducted from their accounts.
Every 3 wins (or 3CP Worth Increase) a Gladiator obtains, raises his Weight Class by 1. An 8CP Gladiator, for example, is a Tier 2 Gladiator, an 11 CP character is a Tier 3 Gladiator, and so on. Gladiators can compete within their own Weight Class freely (two Tier 3 Gladiators can face off in a 1v1 with no special considerations, for instance). However, each Tier of Weight Class makes the Gladiator count as one more minifig for purposes of facing off against lesser Gladiators. For example, a Tier 3 Gladiator is worth three minifigs so she can face off against three Tier 1s or a Tier 2 and a Tier 1 working together.
Alpha Wolf
An Alpha Wolf is the most common Basic Package Gladiator. Born from a teleporter accident gone terribly awry, the Wolves are a countless collection of clones. Their original was a famously lucky minifig who was popular in the early days of Dis' death games circuit. Each is called Alpha Wolf because no one knows who the original is...or even if he's still alive. Many a Sponsor's Roster is buffered out with Alpha Wolves.
Setting Up a Match
One Player is chosen to be the Lead. This can be accomplished however the Players participating in the match would like. Random determination, a Bidding War, or a vote are all viable options. The Lead chooses the Event Type and, if applicable, the team sizes (which range from singles to teams of five). He then chooses (from his Roster) his first Gladiator. Players proceed in turn order choosing Gladiators from their own Rosters to join the fight. This selection method is used in consideration of Weight Classes. Maximum team size further restricts what Gladiators can be added.
Example: Quantum, Scratch, and Silver are having a match. Quantum wins the Lead. He chooses KillZone with 5 man teams. He then chooses a Tier 4 Gladiator as his first pick. Scratch responds by choosing four Tier 1s. Silver decides on two Tier 2s. Quantum's second pick is a Tier 3. Scratch is now restricted to choosing a Tier 1, 2, or 3 as he only has one team slot left to fill. If he wants to remain competitive, he'll choose as close to 3 as possible. Luckily, Scratch has a Tier 3 hero for the occasion. Silver picks another Tier 2 and a Tier 1 and the match is ready to begin.
Notice that the Lead effectively sets the power level for the match and that the other players match it on a pick for pick basis. If the players all agree, this selection method can be replaced by simply choosing a Weight Class and a Team Size and making sure all Gladiators conform. For example, the three players above might decide to play a 3v3v3 with all Tier 2 Gladiators.
Once the event and gladiators are chosen, the Host either chooses, rolls randomly for, or gives to the Players choice over which Arena Complications to include in the match.
Complications
Complications are modifications to the Arena which alter the battle strategies from match to match. Hosts, if choosing themselves, are encouraged to create the nastiest and most interesting scenarios possible. The following Complications are the most common but the list isn't all inclusive. Hosts may feel free to make up their own Complications and Players may feel free to suggest them. Complications that see popular use will be later included here for reference.
Artificial Gravity
Artificial Gravity (or AG) can be toggled on or off. If on, combatants behave normally. If off, combatants require some sort of impetus to move around. Characters outfitted with thrusters of some kind are assumed to have nearly perfect maneuverability while in use. Otherwise, characters will continue moving in the same direction and at the same speed they moved last turn. Characters can adjust facing at will regardless.
Force Walls
Force Walls can be programmed to spring up along any of the neon green lines on the floor or the neon pink bands on the walls. They can be programmed to occur in any number of ways. Most often they are assigned a random order unknown to the combatants before the match. There is a small subset of fans, however, who look forward to "PuzzleBox" KillZone matches, where the Walls appear in a discernible pattern and can be "solved" and utilized by wily, attentive combatants.
Obstacles
Known by the more cowardly as "cover," this category of Complication basically just means "stuff in the way." In early focus group testing, space junk was used but the DB program has several themed sets being manufactured for use by the opener for Season One. It operates according to the normal rules for cover and terrain. In Zero-G, characters can use suitably massive objects as launchpoints to gain impetus or to create deadly projectiles. Common Sense rules apply here but Cinematic Rules take precedence.
