Arena Combat
{{short description|Play-by-mail gladiatorial combat game}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox game
| name = Arena Combat
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| publisher = Schubel & Son
| years = 1980s to unknown
| genre = Play-by-mail, gladiatorial combat
| language = English
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| playing_time = fixed
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| materials = Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
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Arena Combat is a closed-end, computer-moderated play-by-mail (PBM) gladiatorial combat game.
History and development
Arena Combat was a closed-end, computer-moderated PBM game of gladiatorial combat run by Schubel & Son of San Jose, California.Derham 1984. p. 46.
Gameplay
According to the publisher, Arena Combat was set in the world of The Tribes of Crane.Kelly 1987. p. 10. Combat was in a "Roman-style" gladiatorial arena. Players customized fighters for personal combat by allocating limited points to character attributes such as strength, and precision.{{efn|The ten characteristics were: "strength, endurance, intelligence, will power, coordination, agility, reflexes, precision, balance, and speed".}} Players could also select weapons and equipment. Four helmets, nine armors and 23 different weapons were available.Muir 1983. p. 13.
Combat took place over five rounds. Players recorded tactics choices on a computerized orders sheet.
Reception and legacy
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".McLain 1983. p. 27. 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.
See also
Notes
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References
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Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite magazine |last=Derham|first=Richard|title= Arena Combat|magazine= Gaming Universal|issue= 3–4|page= 46|date= Summer–Fall 1984|ref=Der84}}
- {{cite magazine |last=Kelly|first=John|title= The Clash of Cold Steel: Arena Combat Reviewed|magazine= Paper Mayhem|issue= 19|pages= 10–12|date= March–April 1988|ref=Kel88}}
- {{cite magazine |last= McLain|first=Bob|title= Gamealog: Arena Combat|date= November–December 1983|magazine= PBM Universal |number= 1|page= 27|ref=McL83}}
- {{Cite magazine |last= Muir|first=John|date= 1983|title= Setup Evaluation on Arena Combat|magazine= Nuts & Bolts of Gaming |page=13|volume=3|number= 14|ref=Mui83}}
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{{Play-by-mail games}}
Category:American role-playing games
Category:Role-playing games introduced in the 1990s