To The Arena! 5th Edition D&D Gladiator Builds (Part 1?)

Gladiator PCs

Think of the normal D&D Character: a Holy Healer, a Charming Bard, a Raging Barbarian, a Bookish Wizard.

Now think of the average Gladiator: a Common Man, completely mundane without table manners or higher learning, forced to fight for his life.

Compare them. Go on, I'll wait.

Done? Not that many similarities, am I right? However, examine the class seen as the most generic and mundane class. You guessed it, the Fighter.

Think about it. Both the Fighter in D&D and the Gladiator in ancient Rome where seen as generic fighting machines, good only for killing and dying. And, partially, the ones who made this observation are correct. But there is one little fact that they overlooked: the Fighter and the Gladiator where BORN to fight, and they do it without the aid of Arcane, Divine, or Spirit-Animal Intervention. They fight the enemy head on, not skulking in the shadows like a Rogue, and hack and slash at foes in pure, honest combat. Or at least, as honest as combat can get. I mean, when locked in a life-or-death blood-fest, most of the time you aren't gonna have qualms about throwing dust in your foe's eyes or kicking him in the, erm, sensitive bits.

SO, I decided to convert some of the popular Gladiator types into D&D Fighter builds.

Here you go, in no particular order (P.S. All these characters should have the 'Entertainer' background) (P.P.S. If you want to make a Human Character with the Variant Feat Rule, or if you choose Feats instead of Ability Score Increases, I included suggestions for Feats).

I'll include Four Builds here, the ones I find the most interesting/iconic. I'll include more later on, so if you really like Gladiators, stay tuned for more builds.

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Dimachaeri
Two-Sword Fighter
-Skills: Athletics, Perception
-Feats: Dual Wielder, Athlete, Charger, and Mobile.
-Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting
-Martial Archetype: Battle Master (Choose Evasive Footwork, Parry, Riposte, Trip Attack, and Lunging Attack.
-Suggested Loadout: Two Shortswords/Scimitars, Leather Armor, Studded Leather Armor, or a Manica*.
-Useful Magic Items: Any that increase speed, weapon reach/damage, or Armor Class

The Dimachaeri were lightly-armored, up-close-and-personal fighters, balancing quick attacks and parries with either blade.

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Retiarii
Trident-and-Net Fighter
-Skills: Athletics, Perception
-Feats: Sentinel, Pole-arm Master, Charger, and Savage Attacker.
-Fighting Style: Dueling (Note: Consult DM to see if Net's count as a "weapon" at his table or not. If so, then choose Two-Weapon Fighting.)
-Martial Archetype: Battle Master (Choose Evasive Footwork, Lunging Attack, Trip Attack, Disarming Attack, and Goading Attack.)
-Suggested Loadout: Trident and Net, Leather Armor, Studded Armor, or a Manica.
-Useful Magic Items: Again, any that increase speed, weapon reach/damage, or Armor Class.

The Retiarii cast aside heavy armor in favor of a long reach and entanglement, relying on their reflexes to remain unscathed.
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Murmillones
Sword-and-shield Fighter
-Skills: Athletics, Perception
-Feat: Martial Adept ( Choose Parry and Pushing Attack), Shield Master, Sentinel, and Tough.
-Fighting Style: Defense
-Martial Archetype: Champion
-Suggested Loadout: Shortsword and Shield, any Light Armor or a Manica.
-Useful Magic Items: Any that increase Armor Class or Shields that grant additional functions.

Murmillones interpose a shield between themselves and their foes, sacrificing speed for greater defense, doing their best to survive against faster opponents.
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Equites
Horseman
-Skills: Animal Handling, Perception
-Feat: Mounted Combatant, Shield Master, Medium Armor Master, and Pole-arm Master
-Fighting Style: Dueling
-Martial Archetype: Champion
-Suggested Loadout: Longsword or Lance, Shield, Scale Armor, any sort of mount.
-Useful Magic Items: Any that deal with mounts.

Sitting tall atop their mounts, Equites fight in unison with their steed, relying on their mount for speed whilst staying moderately well armored themselves.
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Additional Equipment:
- *Manica (Full-Arm Guard): Adds +1 to Armor Class.

Well, if you liked this, then go ahead and share it and comment; tell me how good these are and how I might improve these Builds. And I know they aren't TOO unique, but most Gladiator types weren't to unique. However, all of the characters have access to Battle Master Maneuvers, which gives you some choice in creation.

Most of the choices are still in your hands, as the creator of the character in question.

Farewell, and stay Chaotic!