This update focuses heavily on relationships, morale recovery, events, and reducing late game frustration, alongside several balance changes and quality of life improvements.
Save Compatibility
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Existing saves are compatible.
However, starting a new run is recommended to fully experience the updated relationship and morale systems.
Morale & Relationship Changes
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Rival fights have been adjusted significantly.
Previously, rival fights could trigger once gladiators reached -30 relationship. This has now been moved to the Most Hated tier only, greatly reducing constant internal fights inside the ludus.
The status report now provides more detailed relationship tier updates as gladiators progress through friendships and rivalries.
Training Partners
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Gladiators can now be assigned training partners.
Training together will:
• Increase relationship bonds
• Improve morale interactions
• Create long term relationship growth between gladiators
Brotherhood Trait Sharing
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Gladiators who reach Brotherhood status can now trigger special bonding events.
These events can:
• Teach one positive trait to their training partner
• Remove a negative trait from their training partner
Maximum hardcoded trait slots have also been increased from 3 to 4.
Rest System
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A new Rest feature has been added.
Resting gladiators:
• Recover morale every day
• Receive 20% additional medic healing recovery
• Are removed from normal activities while resting
Resting increases upkeep costs by x3 due to the ludus providing wine, entertainment, and comfort for recovery.
This system is designed to give players a proper recovery mechanic if morale has been mismanaged.
Hall of Fame Ceremony
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Freeing a gladiator with 10+ victories will now trigger a Hall of Fame ceremony.
During the ceremony:
• Gladiators exchange farewell dialogue
• Spectators gather to witness the event
• Gladiators receive morale changes depending on their relationships with the freed fighter
This is intended to make veteran gladiators feel more meaningful to the ludus over time.
New Events
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Prisoner Execution Event
A magistrate may occasionally request one of your gladiators to participate in a public prisoner execution.
Rival School Event
A rival gladiator school may arrive requesting a sparring event.
These events can feature battles up to 12 vs 12.
Key differences from normal combat:
• No deaths
• Injuries still possible
• Excellent for experience gain
• Strong morale and relationship growth opportunities
Weapon Changes
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Normal gladiators can now equip and use spears.
However:
• Non-Hoplomachus gladiators use spears like standard swords
• They do not receive spear reach advantages
• Hoplomachus remains the dedicated spear specialist class
Late Game Balance
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Several morale penalties have been reduced significantly.
Recovery mechanics and morale management options have also been expanded to make late game runs far more manageable and less punishing.
Ethnicity System
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A new ethnicity interaction system has been added.
Examples include:
• Rival ethnicities insulting each other upon recruitment
• Matching ethnicities praising or supporting one another
These interactions can trigger morale buffs and debuffs while adding more personality and atmosphere to the ludus.
General Improvements
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• Multiple bug fixes
• Combat and morale balancing improvements
• Additional relationship dialogue and interaction variety
• Quality of life improvements across multiple systems
Closing
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This update is a major step toward making gladiators feel more alive inside the ludus rather than simply being combat units.
Relationships, rivalries, morale, friendships, and recovery are now becoming a much larger part of the overall experience.
As always, feedback is extremely important and directly shapes development.
Thanks
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Special thanks to everyone testing the game, reporting issues, and helping balance the new systems.
What’s Next
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• More personality interactions
• More events
• Expanded relationship consequences
Will need a few more updates to expand the system and then once a good foundation will begin on the next 3 gladiator classes.