Arena of Thyatis

Plot summary

Arena of Thyatis is a scenario for use with Dawn of the Emperors, in which the player characters become involved with a Thyatian senator and end up fighting in the Coliseum of Thyatis. The senator's mansion and the Coliseum are described and mapped, and the module includes brief guidelines on the Thyatian system of justice.

Publication history

DDA1 Arena of Thyatis was written by John Nephew, with a cover by Brom, and was published by TSR in 1990 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder. Editing is by Jon Pickens.

Reception

Ken Rolston reviewed the adventure for Dragon magazine #171 in July 1991. He reviewed it with Legions of Thyatis, and called them "two ambitious and original approaches to low-level D&D adventures", noting gladiators as the theme, and calling the setting "a D&D-game version of ancient Rome". He did, however, feel that this adventure may not be suitable for players' first D&D campaigns, where a first-time DM would be simultaneously trying to master the mechanics and rhythm of refereeing an FRPG and the subtle dramatic and manipulative techniques of open-ended scenario presentation. Rolston concluded the review of the two modules by stating: "Give them a split grade: four stars for originality, charm, roleplaying potential, and right-mindedness, and two stars for quality of DM staging, plot support, and suitability for D&D-game-style play. I do not recommend them for beginning DMs, but as an earnest and moderately successful approach to designing a module for open-ended, improvisational role-playing for the D&D game".