Laquearius (Sine Scuto)

Gladiatoris - Laquearius (Sine Scuto)

laquearius

He is gladiator similar to the retiaria, but he changes the net for a lasso (laqueus) that can also knock his enemy down, but is easier to use than the net. He can use it to attack his enemies from a great distance and avoid the counterstrikes. He is the less popular gladiator in the Sine Scuto team.

He starts at Level I with Throw the Lasso, a versatile special attack that allows him to move one hex (usually to flee), and at the same time, knock down and push one enemy (except big ones). At Level II, he gains Lassoing, a special skill that allows him to attack any foe in a 3-hex radius (long weapons can only reach 2 hexes away, and only the Paegniaria can attack from so great a distance), but the attack is completely wasted with a single Fumble. He can’t advance to Level III.

Laquearius (pl. laquearii): Evolution of the retiarius, he changes the retiarius’ net for a noose (laque), which is easier to handle than a net. He catches his opponents with the noose. In the other hand he would wave a trident and a poignard (the two at the same time, like the retiarius), with the manica and the galerus also on that arm.

Excerpt from the glossary of GLADIATORIS, checked by Alfonso Mañas.

Design process

Gladiatoris - Laquearius prototype (Foundry Miniatures, modified)Maybe saying he’s the “less popular Without Shields gladiator” is an understatement: the Laquearius was chosen as the worst gladiator at the survey we made during three years of Ludi Pucelae leagues. The reasons: he can only get to Level II, and the Retiaria and the Dimachaerus, his team comrades, are two of the best gladiators in the game. To sum it up, if he goes into the Arena, it’s always because of a failure with the sortitio roll…

When we started the design process, we had the chance to pay homage to the brilliant Draba from Kubrik (Spartacus, Stanley Kubrick, 1960). We also took world champion Usain Bolt as inspiration.

Gladiatoris - Laquearius "Fulgur" David early (April 2016)

We abandoned our idea for a “funny” stance, and chose instead an ambiguous one: he’s running, and he can be either attacking (as the Retiaria) or fleeing (“splitter!”). Also, fleeing was a typical strategy for these light gladiators, who tried to wear their heaver opponents with heavy shields down. We armed him with a manica hamata, a chainmail like Draba’s, with the galerus overlapping as an additional reinforcement (and decorated with the blue tea’s Leopard).

We only know the laquearius from a fragment written by Isidore of Seville, who lived from 560 to 636, almost two centuries after the gladiature vanished. Furthermore, his texts about gladiators are not very reliable. We must be very cautious with this gladiator.

Alfonso Mañas’ notes on the Laquearius.

Gladiatoris - Alfonso Laquearius Mañas (April 2016)Alfonso: “That trident with the exterior tips outwards (identical to Draba’s) is not accurate regarding the ones preserved, or the ones we see on the sources. 
The subligaculum isn’t accurate either.
I’ve never seen rings on the wrist on any source either.”

Gladiatoris - Laquearius 3D in process

In the first 3D detailed model, the sculptors changed the weapon hand, and went back to the outward tips trident… but Alfonso, patient, corrected it again.

Alfonso: “Yes, David. It’s not possible to change the weapons arm if you don’t change the manica as well. We suppose the laquearius fought like a retiarius (since they evolved from them) and the manica was a disadvantage when using the lasso. Therefore, the manica was worn in the trident’s arm, and the hand holding the trident would also hold the dagger.”

Gladiatoris - Laquearius corrected by Alfonso Mañas

LAQUEARIUS_09 bWhen choosing between changing hands or the galerus back again (that looked great in their new position) the sculptors opted for the second option.

The second trident model was not great, so we decided to copy the small trident from the Museum of London. That said, we’re working with a 25 mm miniature, so we stuck to the big-sized tips (even the museum’s webpage doubts that such a small trident could be useful).

And the Laquearius was ready!