Arena Combat

Arena Combat is a closed-end, computer-moderated play-by-mail (PBM) gladiatorial combat game.

Arena Combat

Publishers	Schubel & Son
Years active	1980s to unknown
Genres	Play-by-mail, gladiatorial combat
Languages	English
Playing time	fixed
Materials required	Instructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil

History and development

Arena Combat was a closed-end, computer-moderated PBM game of gladiatorial combat run by Schubel & Son of San Jose, California.^[1]

Gameplay

According to the publisher, Arena Combat was set in the world of The Tribes of Crane.^[2] 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.^[1][a] Players could also select weapons and equipment.^[1] Four helmets, nine armors and 23 different weapons were available.^[3]

Combat took place over five rounds. Players recorded tactics choices on a computerized orders sheet.^[1]

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".^[4] 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.^[1]

See also

• List of play-by-mail games

Notes

1. The ten characteristics were: "strength, endurance, intelligence, will power, coordination, agility, reflexes, precision, balance, and speed".^[2]