This group incorporates all the games (ludi) which were so popular during the roman age. So you'll be involved in two different games or in just one of them, however you like. This way you can double the fun!

The Agitatores

Historical note:

The Agitatores could be compared to super stars during the Roman age. They all were well known by anyone in a city that had a circus, without any social dinstinction. Unlike the gladiatores, they were not necessarily slaves, just considered INHONESTAE PERSONAE (not honest persons), even though there were young patricians and also Imperatores among them. They could earn lots of money, and their wealth was widely known, as were their horses as well. This group's motto, "VINCAS NON VINCAS TE AMAMUS POLIDOXE" (you would win or not, we love you Polidoxe, which was the name of a well know horse) shows how deeply the Roman population loved this "sport", so much that this motto has been found on a mosaic in a Roman domus in Pompeii, surrounding the image of an Agitator with his horse. It was so important for the people that the DOMINUM FACTIONUM (the lords of each contesting faction, named by their own colour) could directly arrange with the Emperor when to schedule the races, which horses woud run, the number of laps per round, and even the prizes.

The Equipment:

The equipment provided consists of:

1. a short tunica of your faction's color, with leather jacket;
   
2. some bandages for your legs, as the real agitatores were used to wear
3. a leather cask with a comb of coloured horsehair, in according with your faction color. The DOMINUM FACTIONUM and the PRAEFECTUS LUDIS will be recognizeable by ah helmet like the others, but the comb has black horsehair, independing by the color of the worn tunica.
   
4. An optional pair of sandals and a scripted whip for extra realism

The group has its own rules for races.

The Gladiators

Historical note:

The two most popular entertainments in the ancient Rome were the chariot races (agitatores) and fights among armed combatant(gladiatores).

Some gladiators were war prisoner, some slaves, some, less frequently, free citizens.

The organization of the two kinds of "ludi" (=games) was considered crucial for the quality of life of the capital, but also of many well developed cities, hence the saying that the people needed "panem et circenses"," bread and games in the "circus".
For these reason, the most important men of the political establishment spent incredible amounts of money in organizing these entertainments: incredible not really for the cost (which was similar to the modern one for football or soccer) but for the fact that they were free to attend. Their aim was in fact to mantain the public order and to gain political supporters.

Gladiators were organized in schools, with an owner (editor) and one or more trainers (lanista). Their living conditions were usually better than slaves but worse than soldiers. They did not risk their life every day, as suggested in the movies. A good gladiator was a valuable object, similar to a modern specialized soldier, and to lose one of them without a reward was for the editor a loss of money. Gladiators were difficult to replace quickly.

They could flame passions in the crowds. Women adored them and sometimes rich ones paid for a night in their "cubicula". Also the existence of female-gladiators is reported until the emperor Hadrian outlawed them. The blood of a gladiator was considered a powerful drug, capable to cure illness, epilepsy and sexual impotence.

Gladiators were usually allowed to have a family, to earn money (often very much) and eventually, at the end of their career, were set free during a publc ceremony where he received a "rudis", a wooden gladius.

The ROMA Group:

Regardless to how the FACTIONES were organized historically, this SL group will follow this hierarchy:

LUDORUM EDITOR: the group's owners. Two people, peter Woody and Alekso Minotaur, gave birth to this group, hoping that the agitatores in their group could have fun and compete in a (almost) ruleless race. All the decisions about disputes among racers, will be up to them. Until that decision, nobody is allowed to badly react to any "offence", or action considered as such. Keep clear in mind that they are your Dominum, Agitator!

PRAEFECTUS LUDIS: S/he is the SUPER PARTES MAGISTER, the referee of any contest. In his/her absence, his place can be taken by anyone chosen by the DOMINUM FACTIONUM. His/her decisions about the race in progress, must be respected as it would have been taken by the DOMINUM. Those decisions can be acted as penalties as disqualifiation of the agitator/es guilty of any not regular behaviors.

MAGISTER: S/he is what we can call the "capitain" of a team. Takes decision about who will take part to the next races, and responsible of the good training of the agitatores in his/her team. This role has the faculty to decide a sort of strategy, choosing whom racer will be more appropriate in regard of the other contestants chosen for the upcoming round..

AGITATOR/GLADIATOR: the racer/fighter . Before you can become an agitator or a gladiator you have to follow a training period to get acquainted with the (few) race's rules and the fighting skills, the vehicles and the weapons. A good racer must know his horse and his horse must know his agitator, as a good fighter must know his weapons. S/he is responsible to show an honorable conduct and help the Novicii in learning

NOVICIUS: the trainee. Before you become an agitator or a gladiator, you must follow a training. You'll not have an outfit, as you're not real part of the group yet. When the PRAEFECTUS LUDIS will decide that a novicius could be ready, the promotion will follow the novicius' first official race or fight. If the novicius will well behave and compete against his teachers (the full members), the PRAEFECTUS LUDIS can decide to promote him/her to agitator/gladiator. The decision to assign an agitator to a specific color is only up to the PRAEFECTUS LUDIS or to LUDORUM EDITOR (who always have the final decision).

The Equipment:

As Gladiator, you'll receive the following items FOR FREE:

1. An outfit of your most favourite gladiator type (you'll be told about them upon joining time)
2. Weapon of your gladiator type, which consist in the weapon itself and a shield in most cases

We're going to use the free of charge gorean meter, which also implements automatic updates and ease of use. Although there are tons of suitable weapons across SL, we'll NOT allow the use of any different weapon than the ones provided in the group, which are the only "legal" ones for use in our group. Please be aware of this, as we'll not tolirate any misbehaviour about weapons, which can lead to misbehaving member ejection from the group.

FAQ:

Q: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO BE A "LUDI ROMANI" MEMBER?
A:Well for first, to join a fun group. Then there are other good reasons, such as the historical reenactment of roman habits, to be a "star" in that moment, to help the Sim maintenance and to get prizes during the official events.

Q: WHAT? PRIZES? HELP THE SIM MAINTENANCE?
A: Yes, you understood correctly. During the official events, the Ludorum Editor will ask the Estate managers or the Paefectus or even the Emperor to rez a tip jar which the public can tip. The amount donated will be shown over the tipjar and will be shared among the winners this way: 40% to the 1st qualified, 20% to the 2nd and 3rd qualified, and the remaining 20% will be donated for the sim maintenance. Every round the public will be asked to tip once again, in regard of the skills shown in race or fight. So, do you love ROMA? Do you love playing a game which can make you earn some money? Join us!

Q:IS THERE A FEE TO JOIN THE GROUP?
A: No fee prompted. You can join us by invitation. We'll be glad to meet you in ROMA to talk about it and, in case, invite you.

Q: WHY "IN CASE"?
A: Because we want people who really like reenacting ROMAn habits, not people who will show up only for official events to try to earn money. ROMA visitors must feel the "history" when they visit us, so we need people to come also for the trainings , eventhough there are no prizes. Anyway, who will not qualify as 1st 2nd or 3rd, will not go back home empty handed. The Imperial Builds shop will always be glad to make a donation from the shops located in the markets, just nearby the circus.

The Ludorum Editor

Alekso Minotaur and peter Woody

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