I wonder what @Prof_Chaos and @Terriermon50 would have to say about that. Looks like you’re just playing a zero sum game.
It is true that many of the nobles would favour large “heroic” victories, games and military prowess to capture the support of their countrymen, instead of being overly focused on administration or business. But i can only imagine how shrewd politicians and established power houses would strongarm businesses into funding their campaigns. But I will have to agree with you on the point of business not being the first desire of the elite.
Ahh I would think an MC who survives the arena would retire into cushy luxury far removed from the horrors of his life, indulging in all sorts of pleasures.
Well. Adapting to foreign rule versus serving someone who used to be a street urchin… it might not be as palatable.
Very true. I wonder if you have tried playing the alternate routes?
Touche. This would be a sight to behold wouldn’t it.
Ahhh. I honestly didn’t think of it. But that would be quite a powerful scene. Slaves being chained to oars, being whipped into rowing the ship.
And your MC is wise to think this way. Without knowledge, others could swindle and drive him into ruin without him even knowing until its too late. Only with proper organisation and book keeping will his business even have a chance to prosper.
Actually. To my knowledge, it was not uncommon in the greek society for men to have open gay relationships. So I would imagine that adoption would be a viable option. With regard to your best friend, the conditional would be if she does not find someone else.
Well just look at brutus and cato hahaha. But I can understand fully your MC’s sentiments. But surely if your nemesis’ children come of age, they would pose a threat too, no?
But perhaps some foreign gladiators might find you too “romanised” for their liking, fierce purists who were captured and deeply loyal to their original cause. Haha just throwing out ideas.
Yes definitely more prudent to err on the side of caution. Probably give the player the choice to partake in said groupies with fans (when they get to that stage haha)
It would seem that Greeks would become quite a strong early build character, while gauls might suffer due to the difficulty to improve intellect and literacy without sacrificing other aspects.
You are right about the lanistas and slave masters. Most of the times, slaves were simply tools and aids, to be seen but not heard. I think one of the rules that Master Cato set was to not speak unless spoken to - not uncommon then. Perhaps with Latin one could conspire with the locals… perhaps swing the tides and winds of fortune with a well placed word or two
Sorry to hear about this 
it must have been pretty horrible. Sounds like quite a complicated education… American I presume? I always wonder how you guys afford education. Unless its in-state. With tuition fees being in the range of 40-50k a year, the debts accrued would totally outweigh the benefits of education.
Haha sounds like a pretty intense education journey you’ve had. With like 7.5(?) years ontop of 12 years of formal education. Holy shit thats almost 20 years!!!
I also liked how you didn’t shy away from detailing the harder and more gruesome parts- it made moving up from the plantation all the more sweeter for my character.
Its good to hear that you liked the characters! Dialogue and romance isn’t exactly my strong suit - prior to this most of my writing was academic hahaha so it’s definitely heartening to hear 
