Blood of Heroes - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Blood of Heroes

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
caul
Dec 14, 2003 15:40:40 Has anyone seen this movie? I think this would be a great sport to showcase on Athas, and dread though the world might be, there must be some form of entertainment. This could definately be played in the arenas of the various city-states and trade towns...
#2
jon_oracle_of_athas
Dec 14, 2003 15:50:56 Could you describe it? I haven't seen the movie.
#3
Ryltar_Swordsong
Dec 14, 2003 16:22:27 Two teams in a football-style game. The point is to put a dog skull on a stake. Each team has a quick who tries to put the skull on the stake, a fend who weilds a chain weapon and protects the quick, and three slashes who weild staff weapons and provide blocking. The game is divided into three periods counted by 100 stones being thrown against a wall. The slashes wear heavy armor while the quick and the fend wear lighter armor. Anything goes in order to put the skull on the stake.
#4
caul
Dec 14, 2003 16:26:52 The game, which is not actually given a name in the movie, is played on a small field, I would estimate 30 yards in diameter, with two stakes placed opposite one another. Play begins in the center of the field, where a smaller circle of roughly five feet in diameter, contains a dog's skull in it's center. There are two teams of players, known as juggers, made up of the following positions. The Quick, who is the only player allowed to touch the skull, and wields no weapons. The Chain, who wields a chain weapon of some sort and usually guards either the team's stake or the Quick. The Charge and the Backthrust, who wield blunt staff weapons and basically act as guards. And finally the Slash, who also wields a blunt staff weapon of some sort, and acts as the team captain and leader on the field. The point of the game is to simply get the skull onto the opposing team's stake. The game is timed and broken into "thirds", represented by the call "100 stones, three times" in which an off field caller methodically throws stones from one of three piles at a gong of some kind, while in between each third the players may rest for a small amount of time. The weapons of the Charge, Backthrust, and Slash sometimes have hooked ends, allowing these players to trip and pin their counterparts, effectively taking them out of the game. Anything goes in this game, and though the weapons are blunt (except for the chain, which is sometimes spiked) injuries are commonplace. A team may also have alternates to bring in between thirds if one of their players can not continue. Play begins with the opposing Quicks facing off at the center circle before the first stone is thrown, and then grabbing for the skull. From that point until either the skull is on a stake or 100 stones are sounded, anything goes. In the movie, a team is rated by the number of skulls they own, as the winner takes the skull.
#5
Ryltar_Swordsong
Dec 14, 2003 17:40:22 It's been a while since I watched it, but I know that they are called Fends, not Chains.
#6
jihun-nish
Dec 14, 2003 18:20:53 Since Tyr is a free city, thus no more *fatal* arena games, I think this new SkullChase would fit in this city.
#7
Ryltar_Swordsong
Dec 14, 2003 18:41:57 This game is depicted as extremely violent, with several juggers being carried off the field, blinded, and maimed. While this would go over well in the other cities, I don't think the new touchy feely Tyr would allow it. Kurn and Saragar would probably not allow it either.
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 14, 2003 19:00:56 Wow, that's where it's from...

I watched a few games of Jugger a few weeks ago at the Folklore Festival (in Wellington the weekend before the Lord of the Rings premiere).

The medieval recreationists here in NZ also have a variant using more conventional (but blunt) weapons (eg spears instead of whirly balls on strings).

Now I have to go rent the movie...
#9
Grummore
Dec 14, 2003 19:54:15 Btw, overall, was that movie any good?
#10
Ryltar_Swordsong
Dec 14, 2003 20:45:22 It was alright. Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen, Delroy Lindo and Vincent D'onofrio are in it. Not high budget, but it was enjoyable in a B-movie way.
#11
zombiegleemax
Dec 14, 2003 22:33:35 I only wish it was on DVD! I have been trying to find a copy even on VHS so I can DIVx it. No luck in my local area. IT was a movie that was sorta like mad max meets roller ball. Very DS in flavor. I would think that this would be a game played in minor towns and cities using a lizard skull of some kind as I havn't seen mention of dogs in the DS books much, as its a desert... Though Cayote might be found N the desert. Would make a great prestige class for gladiators/fighters/rouges and brutes. no 1/2 giant quicks though! thats outta flavor.
#12
caul
Dec 15, 2003 0:26:33 It actually is available on DVD now, a buddy of mine just picked it up and forced (yes, it didn't sound that good) me to watch it last night...needless to say, I loved it...
#13
Kamelion
Dec 15, 2003 2:45:34 It was first released back in the 80s with the title "Salute to the Jugger" or something like that - you might still find it under that title. I wasn't very impressed with the movie (felt like a lame Mad Max ripoff) but the game would certainly fit Athas down to the ground. Makes a nice alternative to endless rounds of Hawke's Gambit at least... ;)
#14
jon_oracle_of_athas
Dec 15, 2003 10:18:18 Ah - the fond memory of endless rounds of Hawke's Gambit...
#15
caul
Dec 15, 2003 12:25:37 Hawke's Gambit?
#16
Kamelion
Dec 15, 2003 13:05:19 Hawke's Gambit is a dice game that is introduced in the first of the Tribe of One trilogy (by Simon Hawke). An excerpt of the chapter featuring the dice game was also included with one of the flipbook adventures (MHoA maybe but not sure). The rules are easy to figure out from the book and it ended up in our games as a way to kill time or rip each other off or fleece the locals for that extra percentage or whatever. Guess we weren't the only ones ;)

Maybe this is a naughty copyright breach or something, but the rules are this:

Each round each player rolls successively larger numbers of polyhedral dice, with the winner of each round taking ante. In the final round, side bets are also placed on the winner overall total - these side bets are the so-called "gambit".

Round 1: Each player rolls 1d4. Ante is 4cp each. Winner takes all.
Round 2: Each player rolls 1d4 + 1d6. Ante is 1 sp. Winner takes all.
Round 3: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8. Ante is 18 cp. Winner takes all.
Round 4: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10. Ante is 28 cp. Winner takes all.
Round 5: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10 + 1d12. Ante is 4 sp. Winner takes all.
Round 6. Place bets on overall winner if desired (with no limits). Not all players need take part in the gambit. Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10 + 1d12 + 1d20. Ante is 6 sp. Winner takes ante. Overall winner of all rounds combined takes the bets on the gambit.

Make sense?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 caul Dec 14, 2003 15:40:40	Has anyone seen this movie? I think this would be a great sport to showcase on Athas, and dread though the world might be, there must be some form of entertainment. This could definately be played in the arenas of the various city-states and trade towns...
#2 jon_oracle_of_athas Dec 14, 2003 15:50:56	Could you describe it? I haven't seen the movie.
#3 Ryltar_Swordsong Dec 14, 2003 16:22:27	Two teams in a football-style game. The point is to put a dog skull on a stake. Each team has a quick who tries to put the skull on the stake, a fend who weilds a chain weapon and protects the quick, and three slashes who weild staff weapons and provide blocking. The game is divided into three periods counted by 100 stones being thrown against a wall. The slashes wear heavy armor while the quick and the fend wear lighter armor. Anything goes in order to put the skull on the stake.
#4 caul Dec 14, 2003 16:26:52	The game, which is not actually given a name in the movie, is played on a small field, I would estimate 30 yards in diameter, with two stakes placed opposite one another. Play begins in the center of the field, where a smaller circle of roughly five feet in diameter, contains a dog's skull in it's center. There are two teams of players, known as juggers, made up of the following positions. The Quick, who is the only player allowed to touch the skull, and wields no weapons. The Chain, who wields a chain weapon of some sort and usually guards either the team's stake or the Quick. The Charge and the Backthrust, who wield blunt staff weapons and basically act as guards. And finally the Slash, who also wields a blunt staff weapon of some sort, and acts as the team captain and leader on the field. The point of the game is to simply get the skull onto the opposing team's stake. The game is timed and broken into "thirds", represented by the call "100 stones, three times" in which an off field caller methodically throws stones from one of three piles at a gong of some kind, while in between each third the players may rest for a small amount of time. The weapons of the Charge, Backthrust, and Slash sometimes have hooked ends, allowing these players to trip and pin their counterparts, effectively taking them out of the game. Anything goes in this game, and though the weapons are blunt (except for the chain, which is sometimes spiked) injuries are commonplace. A team may also have alternates to bring in between thirds if one of their players can not continue. Play begins with the opposing Quicks facing off at the center circle before the first stone is thrown, and then grabbing for the skull. From that point until either the skull is on a stake or 100 stones are sounded, anything goes. In the movie, a team is rated by the number of skulls they own, as the winner takes the skull.
#5 Ryltar_Swordsong Dec 14, 2003 17:40:22	It's been a while since I watched it, but I know that they are called Fends, not Chains.
#6 jihun-nish Dec 14, 2003 18:20:53	Since Tyr is a free city, thus no more fatal arena games, I think this new SkullChase would fit in this city.
#7 Ryltar_Swordsong Dec 14, 2003 18:41:57	This game is depicted as extremely violent, with several juggers being carried off the field, blinded, and maimed. While this would go over well in the other cities, I don't think the new touchy feely Tyr would allow it. Kurn and Saragar would probably not allow it either.
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 14, 2003 19:00:56	Wow, that's where it's from... I watched a few games of Jugger a few weeks ago at the Folklore Festival (in Wellington the weekend before the Lord of the Rings premiere). The medieval recreationists here in NZ also have a variant using more conventional (but blunt) weapons (eg spears instead of whirly balls on strings). Now I have to go rent the movie...
#9 Grummore Dec 14, 2003 19:54:15	Btw, overall, was that movie any good?
#10 Ryltar_Swordsong Dec 14, 2003 20:45:22	It was alright. Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen, Delroy Lindo and Vincent D'onofrio are in it. Not high budget, but it was enjoyable in a B-movie way.
#11 zombiegleemax Dec 14, 2003 22:33:35	I only wish it was on DVD! I have been trying to find a copy even on VHS so I can DIVx it. No luck in my local area. IT was a movie that was sorta like mad max meets roller ball. Very DS in flavor. I would think that this would be a game played in minor towns and cities using a lizard skull of some kind as I havn't seen mention of dogs in the DS books much, as its a desert... Though Cayote might be found N the desert. Would make a great prestige class for gladiators/fighters/rouges and brutes. no 1/2 giant quicks though! thats outta flavor.
#12 caul Dec 15, 2003 0:26:33	It actually is available on DVD now, a buddy of mine just picked it up and forced (yes, it didn't sound that good) me to watch it last night...needless to say, I loved it...
#13 Kamelion Dec 15, 2003 2:45:34	It was first released back in the 80s with the title "Salute to the Jugger" or something like that - you might still find it under that title. I wasn't very impressed with the movie (felt like a lame Mad Max ripoff) but the game would certainly fit Athas down to the ground. Makes a nice alternative to endless rounds of Hawke's Gambit at least... ;)
#14 jon_oracle_of_athas Dec 15, 2003 10:18:18	Ah - the fond memory of endless rounds of Hawke's Gambit...
#15 caul Dec 15, 2003 12:25:37	Hawke's Gambit?
#16 Kamelion Dec 15, 2003 13:05:19	Hawke's Gambit is a dice game that is introduced in the first of the Tribe of One trilogy (by Simon Hawke). An excerpt of the chapter featuring the dice game was also included with one of the flipbook adventures (MHoA maybe but not sure). The rules are easy to figure out from the book and it ended up in our games as a way to kill time or rip each other off or fleece the locals for that extra percentage or whatever. Guess we weren't the only ones ;) Maybe this is a naughty copyright breach or something, but the rules are this: Each round each player rolls successively larger numbers of polyhedral dice, with the winner of each round taking ante. In the final round, side bets are also placed on the winner overall total - these side bets are the so-called "gambit". Round 1: Each player rolls 1d4. Ante is 4cp each. Winner takes all. Round 2: Each player rolls 1d4 + 1d6. Ante is 1 sp. Winner takes all. Round 3: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8. Ante is 18 cp. Winner takes all. Round 4: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10. Ante is 28 cp. Winner takes all. Round 5: Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10 + 1d12. Ante is 4 sp. Winner takes all. Round 6. Place bets on overall winner if desired (with no limits). Not all players need take part in the gambit. Roll 1d4 + 1d6 + 1d8 + 1d10 + 1d12 + 1d20. Ante is 6 sp. Winner takes ante. Overall winner of all rounds combined takes the bets on the gambit. Make sense?