The Gladiator's Oath: Blood and Sacrifice (WIP) (42k)

The Gladiator’s Oath: Blood and Sacrifice.
Captured and enslaved, your path to freedom lies in the blood-soaked sands of the arena. With your sibling fate in your hands, rise as a gladiator, face impossible odds, and discover love in the most unexpected places.

The setting is inspired in rome and the colosseum(off course) but I’m trying to mix it with some low fantasy concepts.

Link to the demo: Dashingdon WIP (42k)

ROs (No spoilers)

Claude/Claudia (M/F) - (Default M)
Age: 20 (Same age as the MC)
Height: 5’9’’ (M) - 5’6" (F)
Description: Your sarcastic childhood friend.

Selena (F)
Age: 25
Height: 5’6"
Description: Your very carefree familia owner.

Titus (M)
Age: 30
Height: 6’1’’
Description: Your serious and strict trainer.

Valentina (F)
Age: 19
Height: 5’5"
Description: Naive and simple girl. Surely, right?

Oliver/Olivia (M/F) (Default M)
Age: 24
Height: 6’1’’ (M) - 5’8" (F)
Description: Priest/Priestess of Solara. Gentle and caring.

Fenris/Freya (M/F) (Default F)
Age: 22
Height: 6’3’’ (M) - 6’0" (F)
Description: Gladiator from another familia. Loves fighting.

Idk if those height make any sense really, I’m a connoisseur of cm not inches

ROs References (just a 'quick' google search)

Reference pictures:

Update Log
DD/MM/YY Update
24/08/24 Prologue release. (+16k)
12/09/24 Chapter 1 release. (+26k)

Note: Feedback is highly appreciate please, this is my first time ever trying writing something so please go hard. (Well, without being too mean :sweat_smile:).
Any feedback when something is feeling awkward, dialogue or just overall scene, are highly appreciated! I’m yet to figure it out the right order to write things with different branchs. Maybe even a especific choice you would want to see in some scene?? Open to suggestions :smiley:

148 Likes

Nice! You’ve got a good style, very descriptive and well constructed. I personally am a sucker for being a protective big sibling as a motive, but you’ve also set up multiple goals (that I assume will complicate each other) and that’s great!

I did find this: “Arthur clings to me, his breath quick and panicked. You put a finger to your lips hoping he understands,” Your perspective shift needs to be fixed there, but I didn’t see that issue anywhere else. And the comma should be a period.

Just remember that you can’t rely on feedback alone to get you through. If you care about it, find ways to motivate yourself too!

I also always suggest making a specific list of the type of feedback you’re looking for. It helps readers think about specific things (esp on subsequent playthroughs) and will be more encouraging for people who may not be sure they have anything worthwhile to offer in the comments.

Overall a really good start! Great job and good luck!

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This demo is very similar to a game called Price of Freedom.

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Oh, I fixed it there, thanks!
And about the feedback, when writing I’m always thinking about avoiding too much text without choices, so it would be cool to be warned about that. And sometimes I feel conflicted on describing things too much, so you telling me that you liked the way it is right now is great!

Oh, and about the fantasy part. I’m still figuring it out if I should go with a lower or higher setting.

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Yes! That was one of the first IF that I played, always bothered me that it never had a continuation(i think so?). That was one big inspiration to make me write this. Especially the sibling interaction. I’m hoping to not make it too similar tho.

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Would love it if we thought for freedom like in Spartacus not buy out freedom

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It was made free on dashingdon because it used the code that cog has for its games and there were legal issues if i recall correctly that prevented them from publishing it. To my knowledge the continuation came about on a other site that im not apart of. Yet if this is inspired from that game then i am very curious :smiley: so will be giving a read some time soon.

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Not bad. Can’t wait to see more

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So far so Good.

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Pretty good prologue

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There are a few continuation and grammar errors, as well as with the tense, something Grammarly won’t fix. Id advise on fixing your narrative humour and scene descriptions, it seems to break the immersion vastly, especially since you’re embracing the Rome theme, you won’t expect sailors speaking in English accents, or slave children to be so witty in their remarks, etc.
All in all, needs some polish and refinement and some scene changes, otherwise very nice. I see what you drew inspiration from, Galdiator’s Choice is one of my favourite stories, especially with the conflicting death of MC/love interest ending.

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Gonna follow this story :sneezing_face: I was just getting to it!:sob:

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I have a sister, not a brother; after that the scene keeps thinking I’ve a brother, but before that one, it was saying sister.

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Oh, thank you. Wasn’t using the variables there. Just fixed it.

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I like it, have potential. Bookmarked

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Would you mind giving a bit more info about the ROs? That and the possible names usually helps me with picking a gender.

Also, I took a look at your code, to figure out what to pick for the RO gnders actually and saw there’s the opportunity to play as asexual. I’ll try that out once I’ve the time.

I know it’s a good bit more effort and code but a nonbinary option for the MC or RO/sibling would be nice.

I know it will be tricky with names though because Latin is a gendered language so if it’s a worldbuilding thing I can understand that.

It’ll be interesting to have another gladiator game.
Good luck with this.

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Will there be multiple Patrons with diff agendas that can sponsor the MC? Kinda like the old Gladiator Begins game.

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This is an interesting premise, and well written. I’m looking forward for new content and new characters.

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Oh i love this!!! So much!! It was a joy to read. Can’t wait for more.

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Well, it took me some time to find some pictures similar with what I envisioned them. When I’m finished with chapter 1 I’ll edit the post and give a little description of them.

@Ghast Kinda? I have some ideias on that…

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