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r/numenera•
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Ninth World Colosseum

Hi r/Numenera!

I'm starting work on a new one-shot set in either Vralk or an isolated part of The Beyond where the PCs will be taken into a classic Gladiatorial combat situation. I'm looking for ideas that would help make this concept seem to fit in with the Ninth World.

Strange weaponry and beasts, usable installations during combat, a race to a cypher chest, etc.

What would you do to situate a Colosseum squarely in the world of Numenera?

Edit: Any other doctors ready to weigh in? lol

Posted Jan 14, 2020, 6:23 PM UTC · edited

1210
drmike0099•

The colosseum could mess with the rules of the reality so that the fights aren't straight fights but fights where there is no gravity, or where the elements are reversed (fire becomes ice) or something else that's wacky. They obviously fight weird monsters with weird devices all day long already, so that would make it different.

Of course, that raises the question of why a prior world would have created such a thing, but you can apply the universal "it's just weird" explanation here. Maybe it was actually a prior research lab that was playing with universal laws and still has running experiments?

5
Current-LocationOP•

Oh these are some nice thoughts. Thank you

1
DrBozzo•

Maybe I would opt for a race of exploration since pure combat is not a core in the game. Try with a sort of foci olimpic game, puzzles or the sort or... Dunno, maybe an investigation about the mega-city behind the coloseum that can only be reached by passing through the battle zone? Mmh, don't have better tips sorry. Good luck!

4
kindalikebatman•

I like the idea of pushing for a (partially) non-combat ”arena” as well. The tri-wizard tournament from HP comes to mind. Race to a goal with a variety of obstacles: traps / puzzles / combat. Maybe the combat comes into play because other competitors dont follow the rules. Might be more surprising than simply releasing monsters into the arena.

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DrBozzo•

Yeah something like this. Thumbs up!

1
Dr_DNA•

Make the Colosseum, itself, some unknown obviously repurposed structure.

4
Current-LocationOP•

Ohhh that's a pretty good idea. Lots of way to go with that one, thank you!

1
gvblake22•

Maybe a rich group or city built a series of buildings to test the abilities adventurers. People from all around now strive to compete in a competition to be the most capable Delve. Sort of a Ninth World Ultimate Ninja Warrior thing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/cug9pv/a_gameshow_puzzle_dungeon_parody_of_the_crystal/

3
Belzughast•

- You could use portals from other worlds to fill in the beasts and make a table of random encounters if you're really fancy.

-NPC mastermind/owner I feel is needed, somebody who is a materialistic manipulator for example. Or it may be something like a guild owned thing to test warriors.

-Old olympic stadion would be a good setting (thinking about Akira here)

Just a couple of ideas.

2
Bdi89•

Maybe the Colosseum is some sort of meat grinder. Literally. Maybe it starts off with solid walls, then gets more organic as combatants travel inwards, then perhaps there's even strange translucent/energy barrier walls. Perhaps the spectators are viewing from screens and the PCs can unplug those and find a means to escape?

2