Arena Combat

Lore & Background

According to the publisher, Arena Combat was set in the world of The Tribes of Crane. Combat was in a 'Roman-style' gladiatorial arena.

In Their Own Story

The wind howls across the stone floor of the arena, carrying the scent of dust and ozone. Sam grips the minigun, feeling its weight settle against his shoulder as the first wave breaches the perimeter. Shadows detach from the ruins; Klakks scuttle forward with jagged limbs, while Skedar hover overhead, their claws gleaming in the harsh sun. There is no cover here, only the open ground and the roar of gunfire. He spins, spraying lead into the charging horde, watching health packs flash on the ground where foes fall. In The Second Encounter, these arenas are often dynamic environments, such as rooms with multi-directional gravity, multiple arena floors, or slippery ice sections, and traps appear more frequently. The end of each thematic setting features a boss battle, including the wind god Kukulkan, the Exotech Larva, and Mordekai the Summoner.

Reader's Guide

Players customized fighters for personal combat by allocating limited points to character attributes such as strength and precision. Players could also select weapons and equipment. Four helmets, nine armors and 23 different weapons were available. Combat took place over five rounds. Players recorded tactics choices on a computerized orders sheet.

Did You Know?

• W.G. Armintrout reviewed Arena Combat for Fantasy Gamer magazine and stated that 'Arena Combat makes a great little beer-and-pretzels game. Try it — I think you'll be surprised by how much fun it is.'
• Bob McLain reviewed the game in the November–December 1983 issue of Paper Mayhem. He stated that, given its focus, it would be 'good for combat buffs, but probably won't hold anyone's attention for long'.
• Richard Derham provided a review in the Summer–Fall 1984 issue of Gaming Universal. He thought it had potential but needed various revisions to reach full potential.