[MH] Underground Fights in a Tourist Resort in the Caribbean?

[johndallman]

Here's an approach that may work. Rather than assuming there's a large and wealthy audience for gladiatorial games that kill people regularly, there's one person who's really, really into them. Indeed, they're the reason he set up the resort.

This way, they're in the background for most of the visitors. They add to the atmosphere of decadence and privilege, but visitors who aren't curious don't find out how far they go. Those who are, get drawn in and corrupted into enjoying them far too much.

The owners motives can be quite complex and multi-layered. He calls the place Domus Aurea and that's a good way to present it, possibly with added Bond Villain trappings, like shark tanks.

That gives him a good reason for fake fatalities. His deeper motives can vary from wanting to take part as a gladiator himself, having a good way to dispose of other bodies "accidentally" killed, or believing he's Nero reincarnated, to actual supernatural influences. It has a lot of potential for confusing PCs, and a good excuse for enough security that they can't just burst in and kill everyone.