Retiarius

"Uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari."

"I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword." 

Sacramentum Gladiatorium, the Gladiator Oath

Retiarius 

One of the two most iconic gladiator types along with the Murmillo, the Retiarius is literally the "Net Man" in Latin. He is meant to represent the fisherman, the sea, the element of water, and the god Neptune. 

- Armament

The Retiarius is the least armored and, arguably, the least armed of the gladiator types with only a trident (L. tridens, or fuscina, more commonly the latter) and a weighted net or, in Latin, rete, which is where the Retiariii get their name. As with all gladiators, the Retiarius is further equipped with a pugio, or dagger, as a sidearm.

The Retiarius is, despite being basically unarmored, the most recognizable of the gladiators in the arena, not only because of their armature, but because they are the only type to not wear a full helmet, or any helmet at all for that matter. So, a popular Retiarius could be recognized on sight whereas other types of gladiator might go about anonymously outside the arena. 

- Armor

Gladiators don't wear much in the way of armor. They are bare-chested save for five types that weren't as popular in the arena (Scissor, Eques, Provocator, Cataphractarius, and Crupellarius). They all wield shields except for the Retiarius, Scissor, and Dimachaerus. They all wear some type of arm covering called a manica. All but the Retiarius wear their manica on the arm of their main weapon. They are equipped with either one or two ocreae which are greaves that cover the shins or lower legs.

Beneath some of this armor, or worn independently of other armor, is something called fascia, which is cloth or canvas stuffed with wool, cotton, rags, or straw and wrapped around certain parts of the body. Fasciae act as padding or as padded armor and are frequently used as the sole material for manicae or ocreae. Two types of gladiator, Thraex and Hoplomachus, wear full leg coverings, basically pants, made of fascia.

All gladiators wear the basic Roman canvas loincloth called a subligaculum, held up at the waist by a wide leather, or metal and leather, belt called the balteus which offers some protection for the abdomen and groin. Most gladiators fight barefooted, or wear, at most, Legionary style hobnail sandals called caligae.

Several armor types are used to make manicae for gladiators. One is chain mail (lorica hamata). Another is lamellar, or small rectangles of iron or bronze stitched over a cloth or leather base. There is lorica squamata, or scale mail. And there is lorica segmentata which is bands of iron, steel, or bronze that overlap horizontally. Lorica segmentata is the primary armor of the Roman Legions during this, the Imperial Period (31 BCE - 476 CE).

Additionally, solid pieces of iron or bronze are used as upper and lower protective arm bands (brassards and bracers), greaves, or, as in the case of the Provocator, a cardiophylax, or piece of chest armor.

Articles made from a solid piece of metal are often heavily decorated with symbols of victory, images of gods, or animals that represent bravery. An entire article unto itself is the helmets worn by the Murmillo, Thraex, Hoplomachus, and Provocator - wonderful works of art and martial craft.

This overview of gladiator armor is meant to demonstrate how comparatively little the Retiarius wears for protection.. They have a manica on their left arm made of fascia, leather, or metal armor. They are the only type to use a galerus which is a bit of shoulder armor with a large piece of metal coming up to give some coverage for the gladiator's neck and face. They also sometimes, though not often, have an ocrea, which is worn on the left shin. That along with the subligaculum and balteus is all of the Retiarius' armor. 

- Use of Weapons and Tactics

They do, however, have their net (sometimes called iaculum, or throwing net, which differentiates the rete from other net types). The net can be used as a shield to some extent, being able to disrupt sword thrusts, and possibly entangle a weapon so as to disarm an opponent. The net is approximately three meters across and the hem full of lead weights to make the thing more manageable and throwable. The net can be used like a flail in the offhand position, or as a primary action, cast to a distance of 15 feet and withdrawn by means of a rope tied to the throwing hand's wrist. 

A Retiarius' trident can be used one-handed with the net as a second weapon, or two-handed, doing more damage but at the expense of the offensive and defensive capabilities of the net. 

As a last resort weapon or to deliver a coup de grace, the Retiarius has their pugio, an odd, leaf-bladed, stabbing dagger. As a side note, most Romans of means carry a pugio, and the more elaborate the better. The weapon is ubiquitous in Roman society.

For the Retiarius, more than for any other gladiator, the number one tactic is to stay mobile, and out of reach of their opponent's weapon. Being very lightly armored helps in this regard, but the Retiarius should be a naturally dextrous individual with excellent stamina. (It's recommended that there be a minimum Dexterity score of 14 to play this archetype.)

The Retiarius is paired almost exclusively against a certain type of gladiator, the large shield wielding, heavy armor types (Scutarius). It is the Murmillo early in the existence of the Retiarius type. The Murmillo has more than a couple of disadvantages in this contest though - one being their elaborate helmet (cassis crista) which is easily snagged in the Retiarius' net. They are also heavily armored and tire easily in pursuit of the Retiarius in a prolonged fight.

Thus the Secutor and Scissor  (or Arbalist) come into being, what are called Contraretiarius, or anti-Retiarius. Those will be discussed in more detail in their separate archetype pages. 

The ultimate goal of the Retiarius is to tire their opponent, get them bleeding, use their own agility to jump and stab over their opponent's shield, and ultimately snare them in their net for the final call of the bout. 

It should be noted that these munera (the games) are well-officiated and tightly controlled. There is a person called a summa rudis who wears a white tunic with purple stripes and carries a thin wooden pole, the rudis, basically, they are the referee. They might additionally have an assistant called a secunda rudis. They are almost always freed or retired gladiators who know the rules of engagement well.

These fights are not "anything goes," and the summa rudis can stop things at any time, separate the gladiators, penalizing one for poor sportsmanship for example, and ultimately tell the person in charge, the sponsor of the event, the editor, who the winner is. It is then up to the editor to decide wether to give mercy or not.

Mercy is frequently given so as not to arouse the ire of the lanista (the owner of the ludus, or gladiator school, and its inventory of gladiators) who loses an expensive commodity on an editor's whim.

If the fight is declared munera sine missione, it is a fight to the death. A rarity. Of course, it is very easy to kill someone accidentally when using weapons like these gladiators use. But they also don't want to be accused of holding back, knowing their opponent most likely isn't going to be. The fights are hard-fought and well-fought. So the editor calling a draw or a loss for one man with mercy given, is rarely controversial.

Two other personalities present at the munera and in the arena are a character dressed to represent Charun, the Etruscan version of, the also present, Messenger of the Gods - Mercury. If a gladiator goes down and it doesn't look like they are going to make it, Charun uses a maul, or mallet (malleus), to cave in the dying gladiator's skull. Mercury has a metal rod heated red hot. His task is to put blistering hot iron to flesh to make sure those looking dead are actually dead.

Both of these figures from mythology are what are called psychopompoi, a Greek term meaning one who escorts the dead from this world into the next. 

- Fan Reaction

The Retiarius is obviously the most feared gladiator type if not the most loved by the fans. Arena-goers are generally divided into two groups - the scutarii and the parmularii, those who root for the big shields are the scutarii, typically favoring the Murmillo, Secutor, Provocator, and Scissor (though the Scissor didn't have a shield per se). The parmularii are for the Hoplomachus and Thraex.

Retiarius doesn't fit into this equation. In fact, the crowds generally hate them so much, there is another class of Retiarius called the Retiarius Tunicatus. That is a man who is dressed in a tunic, possibly with a wig, to make them look like a woman in an attempt to humiliate them - the Retiarius being seen by many as an effeminate afront to the games.

They are even housed in a different part of their respective ludi to separate them from the other gladiators who are already as low as it gets on the Roman social ladder.

Incidentally, the Retiarius is the only gladiator whose armature isn't based on military imagery - another reason for the infamy of the type, defying classification.

However they are received by the plebes in the arena, the Retiarius is probably the most recognized gladiator type historically. And the fact that other gladiator types (Contraretiarius) are introduced to be nothing more than a challenge for Retiarii, says much about how their peers and editors perceive them in the arena and without.

Lucius Fabius, Part I

My name is Lucius Fabius. Perhaps this will be the last thing I write, perhaps not. I go into the arena tomorrow, a gladiator if you can believe how far I've fallen. From patricius to infamis. The top to the bottom.

By Neptune's beard, my father is a damned iuris consulti (a lawyer), but I don't think he tried to get me off of these charges brought against me at all. Not at all. I rather think he relished the chance to be rid of me. He has always favored my older brother, Gaeus, himself now a consulti. And while Gaeus was ascending that social ladder, I was in my cups, chasing the grape, spending his money, a wastrel. I'm an imbecile.

What I've done to be in this situation is of no importance.  As I write these nightly meditations, I am damnati ad ludos, condemned to die in the games.

If the people didn't already have reason to hate me, a child of privilege, wait until they see me make my first appearance on the sands tomorrow at mid-day, as a gods forsaken Retiarius!

And all my former "friends" will be there, nearest to the arena floor with their patricii families, the populates, to laugh at me, now one of the lowly infames! Lower than a slave! As low as a prostitute, or an actor!

There is a surprise for them though, and they may not be laughing long.

- Retiarius Genesis

The Retiarius likely had their genesis in an attempt to bring something new to the munera. This is illustrated by a contest held in Pompeii in 20 BCE and discussed at length in Alfonso Manas' "Was Pontiarii Fighting the Origin of the Gladiator-Type Retiarius? An Analysis of the Evidence," a quick and enlightening read.

As a demonstration of the creativity of the editors, the people hosting these games and keeping them fresh, is a type of fightbas the one in Pompeii in which the Retiarius faces two Murmillones (or Galli). The Retiarius stands on a platform with two steep ramps leading up to it. The platform (called a pons, or bridge) is over water. The Retiarius has an early form of their armature including a helmet and a tunic of lorica squamata, but they also have a large pile of small, boulder type rocks with them on their platform.

The Murmillones are charged with taking the Retiarius down and the Retiarius with defending their position. In this fight, Retiarii are called Pontiarii, bridge protectors.

This fight is meant to be a reenactment of Alexander the Great's assault on the city of Tyre in 332 BCE in which the city's defenders repell the Macedonians with tridents, nets, and rocks.

These pons battles are reckoned by a number of scholars to be the birth of the Retiarius as a gladiator type. Putting that date back to 20 BCE. We just don't see mention of them as a distinct gladiator type until about 50 CE.

This also serves to demonstrate how these games are put on and what the public wants, and gets from them. The Roman public is obsessed with history and mythology, especially their own. But stories like the existential defense of a city, or of one great man's conquest of land all the way to the Indus River, Roman or not, are compelling backdrops that enrich the spectacle of the battle between the gladiators. A history lesson, a drama played out in actual fighting, the possibility of a history rewritten, in the imagination at least, that is the full drama of the arena and the munera.

 - In the Game

The Retiarius as designed here, for use in Dungeons and Dragons 5e, is a bit of a different take on the typical fighter archetype. Their armor class is derived from the amount of time spent training to create a synergy between their personal armor, armament, and agility. This gives them an enhanced base Armor Class score that increases with level (training).

They cannot wear any other armor with this armature or the bonuses to AC are forfeit. They may wear complimentary pieces such as magical jewelry that enhance AC, but not a shield, helmet, or other piece of armor. Your DM has discretion on whether or not items like belts, boots, gauntlets, cloaks, etc. may be permitted.

Additionally, other weapons are not allowed save for ranged weapons like bows and crossbows. Your DM has discretion on what is allowed or not allowed, however. They may, if they wish, come up with homebrew enhancements, such as magical nets, tridents, manicae, or items of that nature. 

The trident here is a 1d8 weapon treated as a polearm, Polearm Master feat eligible, and is versatile, becoming a 1d10 weapon when used two-handed. This seems to be the direction 5e 2024 is going with the weapon as well from what has been discussed in recent Unearthed Arcana.

The Retiarius' net can be used as a shield or can be held in the hand also holding the trident in which case it's not being used as a shield. For this reason, you should put a shield in your inventory and name it Net or Rete. So when you want to use your net as a shield, simply equip it and vice versa.

The net is on a length of rope attached to the Retiarius' wrist to be reeled in quickly after it's thrown. It can also be cut from their wrist if their opponent tries to take it or use it as leverage against them. 

Included in the Retiarius' set up at 3rd level, is the option to use a shortbow (arcus) or light crossbow (arcuballista) for no other reason than to give the player a ranged weapon option. Spears (hastae) and javelins (pila) would be options as well, but where they are stored or carried is problematic.

Of note, the arcus is a short composite bow. We use a range for it of 80/320. That is for the arcus as well as the arcuballista. Both do 1d8 + DEX modifier piercing damage. Of further note, the arcuballista almost certainly existed, but its use is extremely limited, and it isn't widely written about, or described in any detail. We give it the benefit of the doubt, comparing it to a well-functioning light crossbow, but it's likely a bit of an anachronism.

Note: Much of the design and most, if not all, of the special attacks for this archetype and other gladiator archetypes is assuming a medium- to small-sized humanoid opponent. Certain moves would obviously not work against a beholder or red dragon. The Retiarius' net, for example, would not ensnare a creature of large or greater size. Things like a leg sweep aren't going to be effective against a frost giant. You'll need to discuss all of this with your DM before trying to play as a gladiator. It may simply not be suitable for their campaign. There are also elements added to be used in a PVP arena setting that won't matter in your typical dungeon such as crowd involvement and interaction. For that, your Charisma score is more important, but it still counts toward your Charisma (Intimidation) checks in a party setting, making you tankier and more likely to be the party's Face.

Lucius Fabius, Pt. II

In the month of Quintilis, the very heart of our Roman summer, with the blazing sun high in the mid-day sky, Vulcan looks up from his fiery domain beneath our feet and wonders how we handle the heat.

I cannot vouch for the veracity of that statement, but it has a poetic lilt to it, and I am savoring these, potentially, last few moments of my life.

Standing 50 feet away, across the arena's sands, stands my very own proposed psychopomp. He's a Secutor named Astyanax. Most certainly not his true name, but telling of a Greek ancestry.

In his fish-like helmet, a fin atop a steel ball with tiny eyeholes, the Greek must be sweltering. I simply need to keep a gladius' distance from the fellow until he has heat stroke. Easy.

The man's chest is already heaving as he chases the minimal fresh air sneaking into his helmet through those eyeholes.

By the gods, the armature of the Secutor, it's like standing before Hades himself, the humanity of a face absent, buried in metal.

He bears the large, heavy shield (scutum) of a Legionary, an ocrea on his left leg over padded fascia, banded lorica segmentata completely covering his right arm.

His only weapon is his gladius, a shortsword. Yet, if the man is well-trained, if he has military experience, it's all he needs for me to be gutted and cleaved in twain.

And here am I, bare legged, my subligaculum and balteus about my loins and belly. My manica is of simple fascia, but topped with a bronze galerus that remarkably gives me some modicum of reassurance. Perhaps it's the heat.

In my left hand, my net (rete) and in my right, my trident (fuscina). A cloth band about my head to keep the sweat out of my eyes - not working - and I'm as prepared for battle as much as I'll ever be. 

The cheering of the plebes dies down as the summa rudis, his secundus, Charun, and Mercury step into the space between Astyanax and me.

My mind has settled into an odd, yet calm disengagement as I watch these proceedings from my family's seats not 50 feet away. As if none of this was happening to me.

My adversary in these ridiculous proceedings is announced to eager cheers from the upper decks of the arena. I'm announced, to jeers of course, as Proteus, one of Neptune's sons. Gods, how the plebes eat this up!

I raise my trident over my head and the thousands of spectators go momentarily quiet. The summa motions to us both to come in closer and stops us at 10 feet from one another.

I can smell the sweat of this man. His scent is onions, garlic, and lemons. And confidence. He is husky, tallish, and covered in a mat of black hair.

Astyanax is announced as having four wins, two draws, and no losses. To laughter, I'm introduced as tirones gladiatores, a first time fighter with no record. 

There is tension and excitement in the air, the summa steps back as the rest of his crew get to a safe distance. Waiting until they're needed. The summa raises his rudis dramatically, and I would swear I can hear the drops of sweat hitting the sand at the feet of my opponent.

Then the rudis is swiftly brought down like a butcher's cleaver cutting into a cow's loin, and the Secutor begins to walk, not cautiously, toward me, with purpose, shield forward with only the top of his helmet visible behind it. The crest of his helmet looking like a fin cutting through water.

I walk backward, matching the Secutor step for step. But I've forgotten how far behind me the arena wall is. I may have 20 feet. I may have five.

THE GLADIATOR SERIES 

The Retiarius is the first entry in an entire line of gladiator and "barbarian tribesmen" types turned fighter archetypes designed for use in Dungeons & Dragons 5e. The authors will try to stay as historically accurate as possible, but this is a fantasy TTRPG and there will be some concessions made for playability. It's equally important to make the various gladiator types fall in alongside the rest of the character types one will come across in the average dungeon-crawling party. 

For those already well-versed in all things gladiator, you'll forgive the amount of exposition given and the Gladiators 101 treatment for each type. It's meant to be as comprehensive and easy to understand as possible.

The main thing to remember about anything dealing with gladiators is that there is a lot missing in their story. Much has been filled in with supposition and educated guesswork.

For the sake of the game, we're going with what is basically a consensus opinion on what some of these gladiator types are and how they are equipped, fight, live, and die.

As a side project that fits in here historically, other types of warriors from this period will be included. They may be those who appear in the arena as prisoners of war, or are at least some who have faced off against the Roman Legions in open battle, and are meant to fight in set pieces in their native armature.

One of these, already completed, is what the Romans call generically, the Germani, actually a Longobard (Lombard, lit. Long Beards) - a people who would end up controlling the Italian peninsula from the 500s to 700s CE and for whom the Lombardy region is named today. 

We will also visit the Huns, Celts, Alans, Franks, Vandals, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vikings, Dacians, Kushites, Berbers, and Quadi to name a few of the many other tribes who went up against and sometimes bested the highly touted Roman Legions, defining the boundaries of that Empire.

Our focus is solely on the Rome of the Imperial Period, so some famous adversaries (Greeks, Carthaginians, Egyptians, etc.) will be left out, perhaps to be visited at a later date.

The gladiator types we will be making into playable fighter archetypes are, in no particular order, Retiarius, Murmillo, Thraex, Hoplomachus, Secutor, Provocator, Scissor (Arbalist), Crupellarius, and Dimachaerus. The horse-mounted Eques, beast hunting Venatio, archer Sagittarius, heavily armored Cataphractarius, and pugilist Cestus are under consideration. 

We will also be including brief, fictional backstories to complement some of the gladiator types, and to add flavor and context appropriate for the period. They are meant to be nothing more than edutainment and any similarities to real persons past or present is purely coincidental. Any use of these archetypes in your own campaign is welcome and encouraged. We only ask for credit where it is due.

The way these are designed, it would be amazing to play them as a standalone PVP mini game. Even playing contests with multiple fighters in the arena. If this hasn't already been done, we'd be happy to discuss making it happen with interested parties. Credit as well as permission would certainly be due here.

Any critiques, questions, advice, or general conversation are welcome. Please recognize that this is a work of personal passion as well as an attempt to educate others about this period of Roman history and shed some light on a frequently misperceived topic. For that reason, there may be some overpowered or underpowered abilities, talents, skills, attacks, etc. that we need to dial back or up. If you have advice in that regard, it is more than welcome.

Hopefully you find this work entertaining at least, educational at best. May it encourage you to find out more, and to return to correct any mistakes we've made here.

Lucius Fabius, Pt. III

I have to chance a backward look over my shoulder. I cannot risk being backed up against the arena wall. I might as well pull my pugio and gut myself.

My galerus momentarily obscures my view, the sweat in my eyes refracting the light of the sun in a dance of faeries. But there's the wall, still safely 15 feet away. I exhale and turn to follow its curve. As I bring my head back to face my enemy, the man is nearly upon me!

I jump back as the gladius whistles past my gut, barely missing. Just barely. I must stay cautious, dammit! This adversary of mine means to finish me quickly, approval of the plebes be damned!. He's much more agile than what I've guessed!

I pick up the pace of my backward walk, now more of a jog. Murmurs of disapproval trickle down from the upper decks. They think I will run. Maybe I should.

But calm settles back on me like a soothing quaff of wine, and I begin to implement my strategy. Well, not mine, but my doctores strategy, my instructor at the ludus.

Still six feet away, wary of lunges from my foe, I begin tapping his shield with my trident - its tines making a clacking sound that I keep up at a steady pace. Rhythmically. Every time I jab, he raises his shield. Good. That thing weighs more than 20 pounds. He's tiring his arm each time he lifts it in this heat. Soon, he'll struggle to hold it up at all.

I whip my net in the direction of his ribs, its lead weights thwacking heavily on the cured cow hide and wood frame of his scutum. I can just barely make out his eyes through those one-inch holes and there seems to be a question forming there. Maybe a tiny bit of doubt?

I want to ask his real name. I say to him, "I'm Lucius, Lucius Fabius." And he grunts in reply and steps up his pace. So much for diplomacy.

I have him paying close attention to my face, looking for some glimpse of my intentions, my next move, and he doesn't notice that I've begun to drag my net. So intently focused on my face he is, and there's his first major mistake.

With each step he takes I slow down just enough to let him gradually catch up. I know there's a wall looming behind me as I angle toward it. In his eyes I begin to see hope - hope that his big chance is coming. Him thinking I'll be an easy kill after all.

Finally! It's time! His next step puts his right foot on my net and I jerk sharply upward, sending him reeling backward, the realization of his mistake showing in his eyes as he lands roughly on his back. I am over him quickly with the tines of my trident at his gut, just pricking the flesh enough to draw a narrow trickle of blood through the sweat and thick, black body hair.

In the moment, such clarity. I can see that he was oiled up prior to the fight. I can see fear in his eyes. I see acceptance there as well. Is it sadness? He thinks he will die today for the poor showing he's given. He tentatively raises his right arm, index and middle finger extended - he pleas for missio, for mercy.

The summa rudis steps forward to assess the situation briefly and declares, "Proteus victorem!" I am the winner. 

All eyes in the arena turn to Scipio Valerus Marius, the editor of today's munera, the man who holds the fate of my vanquished foe in his hands.

From his box, not 20 feet from us, he raises his right hand and, as the tension in the amphitheatre swells, awaiting the pollice verso (the verdict), he signifies reprieve. There are some groans from the plebes who obviously wanted more from their Secutor this day. But this man has recorded wins, and today was too quick a fight for a fatal verdict.

"Aberkios. Aberkios is my name ... Lucius, Lucius Fabius. You fight well this day," he says to me in his thick Greek accent, muffled through his helmet.

"As I will tomorrow," says I. That confidence was not in me before ... well, before the ludus and the doctore. Am I finding myself? Here, in this cursed sand?

I look for my family in their box and see them there, or rather their backs as they're leaving. I catch my father's face in a quick glance back at me and see shame on his countenance. I can't tell if he's ashamed of me for being here, or for himself and his role in getting me here. But it matters not. My path and his, theirs have diverged. My destiny is mine to make now. 

I am Proteus, son of Neptune - one win, no draws, no losses!

 

Ludi Incipient!

Let the Games Begin! 

Retiarius Skills, Special Attacks, and Proficiencies

3rd level Retiarius features

- Retiarius Skills

• You have proficiency with the Strength (Athletics) skill.
• You have also had a chance to pick up on a number of skills at your ludus and you have learned one, you choose which one, with which you've gained proficiency.
• You may choose another skill at 10th level in which  to receive proficiency, as well.

- Special Attacks

• Off-hand Net: Used as an off-hand, flail-like weapon, you may use your net as a bonus action attack. It does 1d4 + STR modifier bludgeoning damage on a successful hit. If you use your net as a primary attack, you may not use it as a bonus action in the same round. 
• Disarm: You may use your net in an attempt to entangle your opponent's weapon and disarm them. If they fail a STR saving throw, you pull their weapon from their hand and it falls to the ground. If your initial attack misses, your opponent has a chance to take your net from you unless you can make a STR saving throw.
• Leg Sweep: You use your trident to make a sweeping attack at your opponent's legs in an attempt to knock them prone. If you make a successful attack roll, they must make a DEX saving throw or be knocked prone.This attack does 1d6 + STR modifier bludgeoning damage which scales to 2d6 at 10th level.
• Ensnare: You attempt to throw your net and ensnare your enemy. If your attack roll is successful, they must make DEX saving throw or be caught in the net and knocked prone when you cinch and pull its cord. They may not make any attempt to do anything but escape the net for their next turns and will do so if, at the start of the subsequent turn, they make a STR saving throw.
• Net Trip: You may attempt to wrap your net around one of your opponent's legs, pull it, and knock them prone if they fail a DEX saving throw.
• Jump and Lunge: You jump up and forward toward your opponent jabbing your trident over their shield and at their chest and neck area. This attack is made at -2 to hit. If successful, this attack does 2d6 + STR modifier +5 piercing damage. If the attack is unsuccessful, you leave yourself exposed and attacks on you are made with a +2 to hit for one round while you recover. You may not use this attack on the same opponent more than once.

Note: All of these special attacks may be used once per long rest each at 3rd level, twice at 10th level, and three times at 18th level.

- Playing the Crowd, Goading

• Playing the Crowd: At any point in a fight, you can use your bonus action to play to the crowd, that is, interact with them to get them on your side. This requires a Charisma (Performance) skill check. If successful, it can demoralize your opponent, giving them a -1 penalty to hit and damage, make a saving throw, or make an ability check for each time you successfully get the plebes (the commoners of Rome) on your side. For every unsuccessful attempt, your opponent gets a point back. 
• Goading: You may also use a bonus action to goad or taunt your opponent. If you make a successful Charisma (Intimidation) skill check, they suffer from blinding rage and intense anger that hurts their ability to fight rather than helping. On a successful skill check, your opponent suffers a -1 penalty on their attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, or ability checks. 
• Opponent's Recourse: Both of these features' effects can be countered by your adversary making a WIS saving throw. Cooler heads prevail if their saving throw succeeds. They can only attempt this saving throw once per contest.

- Saving Throw DC

DC = 8 + Ability mod + prof bonus

- Charisma Proficiencies

• You gain proficiency in the Charisma (Performance) and Charisma (Intimidation) skills.
• These proficiencies become expertise at 10th level. 

Retiarius Armor and Armament

3rd level Retiarius features

- The Armor 

You are lightly armored with only protection on your left arm and shoulder (manica and galerus), possibly protection on your left shin (ocrea), and groin and abdomen protection in the form of subligaculum and balteus. 

Your base Armor Class is 13. This rises to 14 at 7th level, 15 at 10th level, 16 at 15th level, and 17 at 18th level. You get your full Dexterity bonus and, if you equip a shield in your inventory, you get that +2 bonus.

Note: You must equip a shield in your inventory to receive full benefit of your armor. The shield represents your net being used as a shield. It should be unequipped if you either lose your net, or you are using your trident two-handed.

- The Armament 

You are armed with a trident (fuscina or tridens), a net (rete), and a dagger (pugio). You may add a bow (arcus), or light crossbow (arcuballista) as a ranged weapon at your DM's discretion. The arcus is a short composite bow that does longbow damage with a range of 80/320. The arcuballista uses the light crossbow stat block. Both of these weapons use standard arrows or bolts (sagittum).

Note: You must have selected the two-weapon fighting style to be able to use your STR modifier on your off-hand attacks. You may retroactively select it if needed and if you want this benefit.  Also, your trident is considered a polearm and the Polearm Master feat may be selected and used with it accordingly. It's worth noting that you can hold your net for easy access while holding your trident two-handed. So, you also get the benefit of using the butt end of your trident as a bonus attack. But you still lose the AC benefit of having the net as shield. 

Arcuballista

You are equipped with a light crossbow called an arcuballista.

Arcus

You are equipped with a short composite bow called an arcus.

Drop and Stick/Shield Kick

7th level Retiarius features 

- Drop and Stick

You've learned when you can go low on an attack with your trident, dropping to one knee and stabbing upward with your weapon. On a hit, you catch your opponent in the thigh or another area uncovered from that angle. On a miss, you've hit your opponent's shield or ocrea. A successful hit in this sensitive area does 2d8 + STR modifier piercing damage.

- Shield Kick

You approach your opponent and kick their shield in an attempt to knock them prone. Your attack roll is at advantage due to the ease of the task. But you must roll a d6 to see how much strength you were able to put into your kick. A roll of 1 or 2 reduces your saving throw DC by one point, a roll of 3 or 4 has no effect on the DC, and a roll of 5 or 6 adds a point to the DC. Now, this is put into effect when your opponent tries not to be knocked prone. If they succeed on a STR saving throw (with applicable modifier), you merely knock them back 5 feet. A failed saving throw has them knocked prone. 

DC = 8 + ability mod + prof bonus

- Improved Critical 

You score a critical hit on a natural roll of 19-20.

- Improved Base AC 

Your base AC improves by one point.

- Athletics Advantage

You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) ability checks.

- Dexterity Bonuses

The training you've been receiving at the ludus has given you an instinctive agility you didn't know you had. You gain a +2 bonus to your Initiative rolls, proficiency in Dexterity (Acrobatics), and an additional 10 feet per round of movement speed.

- Artisan's Tools Proficiency 

At 7th level, you may choose one type of artisan's tools or supplies with which you have proficiency.

Bind and Stab

10th level Retiarius features 

- Bind and Stab

At 10th level, you learn a special attack in which you sling your net around your opponent like a rope, briefly binding their arms to their sides and keeping a shield, if equipped, out of the picture. You then can stab them in the chest with your trident.

You must make an initial roll to hit with your net at a -5 penalty. If the attack is successful, your opponent has an opportunity to make a STR saving throw (DC = 8 + STR mod + prof bonus) to break loose before you can strike with your trident. If they fail their saving throw, you can roll to hit them at advantage with your trident doing 3d8 + STR modifier +10 piercing damage.

Your opponent can attempt a CON saving throw at this point. If successful, they suffer no further damage. If not, they lose blood at the rate of 2d4 untyped points per round until they either die, the wounds are stanched by a Healer's Kit, or they are healed by a healing spell which restores them to at least half their hit point maximum. If they don't reach this mark, the bleeding continues until the wound is stanched or a healing spell gets them to the half way mark.

- Improved Base AC 

Yoir base Armor Class increases by one point. 

- Additional Skill Proficiency 

Select a skill with which you will have proficiency. 

Divert and Impale

15th level Retiarius features 

- Divert and Impale

At 15th level, you can make a feinting move with your net, diverting your opponent's attention long enough to expose their ribs to your trident. 

Make your attack roll at -5 to hit. If the hit is successful, your opponent must make a WIS saving throw (DC = 8 + WIS mod + prof bonus) to see if they fell for your diversion. If they didn't you roll normal damage for the attack. If they fail it, they take 4d8 + STR modifier +10 piercing damage to their exposed rib area and, if they fail a CON saving throw, they continue bleeding at the rate of 4d4 hit points of untyped damage per round until they either die, have the wounds stanched by a Healer's Kit, or have a Heal or Mass Heal spell cast on them. If a spell doesn't get them to half of their hit point maximum, they continue to bleed out until a spell is cast that gets them to that point. If they make a successful CON save, they avoid blood loss. 

- Improved Base AC 

Your base Armor Class improves by one point.

- Improved Speed

You gain an additional 10 feet per round of movement speed.

Head Down

18th level Retiarius features 

- Head Down

At 18th level, you've figured out an amazing special attack where you throw your net over your opponent's head, cinch it, use it to swing yourself around to their back, pulling the head down and disorienting your opponent, and stab your pugio into their shoulder and down into their heart.

The attack is supremely hard to pull off and the initial attack roll is made at -5 to hit with your net. If your attack is successful, your opponent has one chance to make a DC 19 STR saving throw to take the net off of their head. If unsuccessful, you attack with advantage, stabbing your pugio into their shoulder. If you hit, this attack does 8d8 + STR modifier +30 points of piercing damage. 

If your opponent survives this attack, they can attempt a DC 19 CON saving throw to avoid further damage. If they fail the saving throw, they take 3d8 hit points of untyped blood loss damage per round until they die, are magically healed by a Heal or Mass Heal spell that takes them to half of their hit point maximum, or have someone with Wisdom (Medicine) expertise stanch the wound with a Healer's Kit. If none of these things happen, the bleeding continues until death.

This attack may only be attempted once per long rest.

- Improved Critical 

You now score critical hits on natural rolls of 18 - 20.

- Increased Base Armor Class 

Your unarmored Armor Class, base AC, increases by one point.

- Dexterity Bonuses 

• You have advantage on your Dexterity saving throws.
• You also have become so agile, and have learned to use what armor you have so well, you've gained resistance  to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

- Your Rudis

If you are an escaped slave gladiator, the Roman Senate has granted you your rudis, a wooden sword given to freed or retired gladiator slaves as a sign of their freedom earned. You no longer have to watch your back, or worry that the Vigiles have found your trail. Because of the heroic life you've lived, the Senate has also given you a villa on the Adriatic coast in the province of Dalmatia. The perfect retirement spot. 

If you have already been granted your freedom, the Senate rules that you are to be awarded 50,000 gold pieces for your service to the Imperium, a nice pension for a beat-up and worn-down old gladiator.