Gladiators Online: Death Before Dishonor

Welcome to the Coliseum. Behold the sacred sand where blood is spilt and fortunes are made. ‘Tis not a place for the meek, so abandon all thought of tomorrow and bolster your courage. From now on Fate will be your lover, and her embrace holds no warmth - only death and glory.

Step into a more brutal Time

Gladiators Online provides an authentic look at what occurred in the life of ancient gladiators. Your main tasks as Lanista (owner of a gladiator school) will be to scout new talent, prepare and equip your men for battle, and control your fighters during combat - furthering the fame of your noble House!

Fight thousands of other Players

Combat in Death Before Dishonor plays out in real time allowing you to tactically control your gladiator’s offensive and defensive moves. Collecting Virtus energy through successful attacks and timing one of the 60 individual combat skills will decide over life and death in the arena.

Manage your Business

With over 600 items, consumables and techniques influencing the outcome of the battle, strategic management is crucial to a Gladiator’s success. Training and preparing your men for combat will require you to seek the professional assistance of Magisters, Healers and Courtesans.

Death Before Dishonor

Death in the arena is permanent, no magical potions, no divine intervention. As Livy points out: “We feel public misfortunes just so far as they affect our private circumstances, and nothing of this nature appeals more directly to us than the loss of money.” And that’s exactly what your men are: Capital investment. Tend to their needs and watch your fans and income rise. Let them die and you can bury your hopes right with them…

Class Descriptions

The Murmillo is the archetypical gladiator of imperial Rome. His name may derive from Latin “Murex”, a pointy-shelled sea snail, well-fitting a defensive combat strategy. He is heavily armored, fights with a gladius short sword and wields a large shield.
The Hoplomachus derives his name from the Greek “Hoplon”, the typical round shield of Hellenic fighters. Clearly the inspiration for this gladiator class was the Hoplite with his “Sarissa” lance, fighting in the armies of Alexander. The Hoplomachus is a medium armored combatant focusing on spear and small shield.
The Thraex class developed from the fierce warriors of the north-eastern province of Thrace. Gladiators of this type prefer fighting with curved swords such as the one-handed “Sica”. They wear medium armor and wield small rectangular shields.
The most iconic of all gladiator classes, he fights with the “Rete”, the fishermen’s net, and the trident. Retiarii are only lightly armored, predominantly with solid shoulder armor, the “Galerus”. They do not use any shields, generally relying on their tridents wielded with both hands.