Back to the basis. What is an arena? A close place where put your miniatures for a fight. So you have to built a wall around a flat base. The square form is the simplest. So, with a couple of balsa wood sticks, glue and some skills you can have an arena. This one is rough but effective. And it is a real scenario and not a flat base. Such a simple arena. You can find more here.

A pretty big arena proposed in a convention. A stylized and solid amphitheatre on a hexagonal base. There is a lot of spectators realised by multicoloured pins. A great idea to do an unique look and to represent people. Too often gladiators fight without public.

A round place is fundamental for an arena, here you have the essential. This one was created for Victus, another gladiator game. Look at the hexagonal approach of the rules. However the board seems interesting, irregular surface with a rough finishing. Marble or MDF? Maybe with smaller pieces for the floor you could compose something with a great feel. More infos on the creator’s blog.

Balsa for this arena by Historical Miniaturist

Another polystyrene arena. It was from 10 years ago from Belgium.

Another creativity example: an arena made by polystyrene. This guy took some thin polystyrene sheets, then shaped them to create a circular arena. I would prefer an elliptical shape, but he opted for a circular one. To complete the overall look two doors and a podium with columns below were added. The boulders that constitute the walls were engraved with a pen, like the hexagonal terrain. A realistic paintwork gave the final touch. On the close-up you can see the fine details. Well done!

This arena was built by Mike Vasile to play with his rules. I think that he used polystyrene for the building and added some decorations as columns and roof from railway modelling. Easy, frugal, but huge because it is for 28mm miniatures.

To play a gladiator fight with 15mm miniatures you haven’t the need of a big arena. Utilising few blocks you can realise a simple but effective arena. And some final touches can give it a respectable aspect. What can I add? Easy to storage.