Hoplomachus: Legends of the Sand

About this expansion

Hoplomachus: Legends of the Sand is a hex-based tactical gladiator game for 1–4 players, with a play time of 30 minutes. Set inside an ancient arena, it casts players as representatives of cities or civilizations thought to have been lost to the world, now competing on Rome’s doorstep.

Each battle has a clear objective: eliminate the opposing champion. Champions begin in the arena, but they are inactive and defenseless until the crowd is behind them, making crowd favor an essential part of every contest.

On each turn, players draw, play, and move gladiators from their hand, supporting them with tactic chips. You must adapt to your opponent’s moves and play style while managing your units, protecting your champion, and seeking the right moment to attack.

• Take over and hold crowd-favor areas.
• Assault an opponent’s champion and cover deployment zones.
• Eliminate tacticians to reduce enemy options.
• Fight beasts to gain crowd favor.

The crowd favor system also provides a sense of level progression, while the broader design combines combat, tactical positioning, chip management, team play, and player-versus-board challenges. The tactical possibilities shift with the developing battle, rewarding careful choices in the arena.

Legends of the Sand adds 15 chips containing new gladiators and tactics for each of the five cities in Hoplomachus. These selections form the game’s customizable portion: choose gladiators and tactics before each battle begins, then enter the arena ready to seize the crowd and claim victory.