The gods are displeased and Capua has suffered as a result. A crippling drought has reduced crops to dust while oppressive heat smothers citizens, slave and dominus alike. To appease the gods, the noble Magistrate Calavius turns to the lanistas, the masters of the gladiatorial ludus, to arrange a contest so spectacular as to win the favor of the gods and grant relief to suffering Capua. And what contest it shall be, a Primus event bringing together the titans of the age! From the storied house of Batiatus, the champion of Capua, the undefeated Gaul, Crixus, shall be paired with the mysterious Thracian, Spartacus, whose recent victories stir the hearts of the crowd. Together they face a legend, a myth given form, brought to Capua under the auspices of good Solonius, the shadow of death, a monster who has never been defeated, Theokoles!
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death is an expansion for Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery and Spartacus: The Serpents and the Wolf. With greater emphasis on Primus events, contests in the arena are sure to sweep all Houses up in a blood frenzy.
The Shadow of Death presents a new noble house for players, Magistrate Calavius. The game contains everything you need to add a seventh player to your games or just be another house for your players to choose. The Magistrate lords his power and connections over the other noble houses, who in turn fall over themselves to win his favor. Comfortable in his position, he sees influence rise as lesser houses flounder around him. Woe to the house who has earned the ire of Calavius as his power and connections undercut the reach of a rival.
New Schemes and Reactions offer new opportunities for wealth and influence. A prideful Dominus may Boast about the prowess of a Gladiator in their service. The rewards are immediate, gold, renown, and power! But the crowds are fickle, should the promoted Gladiator ever see combat, he had best live up to the reputation his Dominus has crafted lest his master see influence fall in the wake of humbling defeat.
A new form of Intrigue is introduced in the form of Festivals. A Festival always takes the form of a Primus event and imposes special conditions on the contest. Traditional strategies and tactics fall to the wayside as the Houses scramble to meet the conditions of the event. The contests themselves shall be glorious and sure to bring fortune to the Houses who partake.
Finally, three Gladiators are reborn in The Shadow of Death! New versions of Spartacus, Crixus and Theokoles with new Primus-only abilities in addition to their normal abilities take to the arena sands. Accompanying these new Gladiator cards are new Gladiator models, each in the likeness of these three champions. Now a House that controls one of these titans can claim the Gladiator’s actual miniature to add to their House. New abilities require new tactics; and rivals must set aside their differences long enough to claim victory!
No. of Players: 3 to 6
Min. Age: 17
