Hoplomachus Remastered & Pandora's Wake
- Greg White
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Hoplomachus Remastered is designed by Adam Carlson, Josh Carlson and Logan Giannini and published by Chip Theory Games. It's a streamlined and repackaged version of the original Hoplomachus (2013) and its subsequent expansions. Art is by Yoann Boissonnet, Anthony LeTourneau and Federico Pompili. This new improved version tweaks and simplifies the original rules, offers improved components, adds a variety of game modes and allows for compatibility with the new solo-only Hoplomacus Victorum.
Through its multitude of game modes, Hoplomachus is a gladiatorial skirmish game. The most basic form of play is the Skirmish Mode: two players pitting their chosen hero and troop of 10 faction chips against each other in either the Pozzuoli arena or the Colosseum.
The New Argonauts, Atlanteans, Lamosians, Amazons, Parthians, Kunlun and Pluto's Refugees are the seven factions included in the game: a mixture of the historical and fantastical. Each offers a slightly different style of play but all are made up of five main unit types: Attackers, Defenders, Archers, Tacticians and Beasts. Each faction has its own hero which is more powerful than the standard units.
Each player's chips clearly depicts the type of unit with all new art and the unit's stats for Health, Range, Movement and the number and colour of dice rolled to attack; innate, passive and special skills are also listed.
In turn order, units are deployed to the arena hexes, and health chips of your team's colour are placed under it. As with all Chip Theory games upgrading to the deluxe weighted health chips is money well spent. Players can then assign tactic chips from their limited supply to one of the units; beneficial ones to their own (Adrenaline for extra speed or Bolster Health), detrimental ones to opponents that they are adjacent to (Hamstring or Stun) or one of their unique faction chips.
The active player then moves their units one at time into attack positions or retreat (Never!). Units then activate any abilities that they have and proceed to engage the enemy.
Combat is straightforward: collect the coloured dice listed on your unit, roll and despair at all the misses (that may just be my dice luck). The custom six-sided dice range from yellow with 2 hits to Red with 6 hits (yes, there is actually a dice with the same hit symbol on each side!). Health chips of damaged units are removed until depleted and the unit dies. Play continues until either you defeat your opponent's hero or defeat all their units.
Crowd favour can also be gained from the cheering crowds and is recorded on a track at the side of the arena; special abilities, tactics and the chance to deploy your hero are unlocked as you progress. In Skirmish Mode, favour is gained in a variety of ways, depending on the arena, but chopping off a head is generally guaranteed to get the crowd screaming your name.
The other game modes offer something different. In Onlaught Mode, 1 or 2 players take on wave after wave of AI-controlled enemies in a battle against the immortals. The AI is simple to run and works extremely well in a very human-like opponent kind of way. Ascension Mode is a team skirmish where 1 or 2 allies battle against a powerful Titan and his minions.
In Pandemonium mode, 3 or 4 players face off in a free-for-all battle to the last. Personally, it's my favorite way to play. You can increase the number of players in this mode above four but we wouldn't recommend it.
All modes of play are great fun and as always with Chip Theory Games the component quality is second to none: the weighty chips and double-stitched neoprene mats can be further enhanced with deluxe health chips and CTG even offer the option of table-denting metal dice: totally unnecessary but highly reommended!. The rules are clear and easy to follow and the player aids with all the skills are essential and excellent. The box can fit all the new expansion content comfortably.
Pandora's Wake adds a new arena and a new faction – the Vesuvians - and two new game modes. In Condemned Mode, each player has a controlled unit called The Wretch. You must either beat your opponent's Wretch or escape past the enemy to the exit. Naumachia Mode takes place in the flooded Colosseum and utilises new crocodile chips and ship minis. Command can be taken of the ships and increases the power of the current captain. Last team standing is the winner, unless of course the crocodiles get everyone!
Hoplomachus will appeal to casual players in search of some quick gladiatorial fun but also to those looking for more strategic depth. The tactics employed can become almost Chess like in some situations. It doesn’t have a best player count as it excels at solo, two-player and also with three or four. It's simple to teach and can be enjoyed with all ages.
(Review by Greg White)
