GM needing advice on an arena gauntlet scenario

[Renegadeshepherd]

Hi all. Got a problem I would like a little help in solving. I got a party that is in deep trouble with the local government/law for something they did. Strictly speaking it should be game over and TPK for them in a "realistic sense" but the bard made an empassioned speech to the Magistrate that they should die with a shred of dignity in the arena. The arena isn't used for sport but for punishment of criminals FYI.

So now I'm faced with a dilemma of should this be their last scene, should they be allowed a means to live, and how hard should it be? Does it seem realistic for a crowd to cheer for the abilities of the party well enough to force the Magisteate into allowing them to live? What difficulty is enough to seem impossible and impress the masses? How many fights seems fair to do in a session since this would be minimal skills or roleplay?

Advice requested.

[Selvaxri]

If i were playing this endgame, after every round, the party should try to rally the crowd and ply them to confront the magistrate to free them if any should survive.
This is your endgame, play it to be a TPK, don't hold back.

IMO, the first waves should be several enemies meant to whittle down their health, try to separate them, force them to use up their spells and skills.
Since the arena is meant as a form of punishment, have the first waves some other criminals and degenerates.

Also, time them out. Bring them out in X rounds regardless if they've already defeated all the enemies or not. No Rest for the Wicked, and all.

If the PC's are in an arena, have the enemies coming from alternating sides.
Wave 1 from the gate in front of the PCs,
Wave 2 from the gates to the East and West
Wave 3 from a random gate/s.

Don't be afraid to bring in Summoned Monsters. Why shouldn't the magistrate have a summoner on hand?
After fighting off waves of who knows what, bring out the Earth Elementals, bring out the Daemons, bring out the Bearded Devils.

And, if i was running this Arena Stomp, have a couple of greased pigs runs around after every few rounds with a chest that may contain some loot, may be an empty chest, or even worse- a mimic or a trap.
Likewise, if the pc's play the crowd, have the crowd reward them- toss some potions or scrolls onto the field.

Give the PC's a chance to survive, but don't just give it to them on a silver platter. This is their last hurrah, as well as yours

[Renegadeshepherd]

Good advice. The story could go on if the group survives this but would definitely be like the film Gladiator where a powerful politician wants em dead, this starting a new angle to the plot. The group is very powerful and work well together so I will have to be careful to make this work well.

[Selvaxri]

If the Magistrate wants them dead, think of ways to sabotage the party. have Ant-Magic/Silence zones to throw off spellcasters, have the party enter the arena exhausted- why would the Magistrate want them fully rested? give them broken weapons, or other equipment to hinder them.
Does the ranger notice that the arrows in his quiver are weighted?

There are plenty of ways to play this out.
Remember- the Magistrate wants them dead. He'll cheat and stack the odds. Do so yourself.

[Jayson MF Kip]

In a PFS Scenario:

You Have What You Hold:

Criminals in the arena are executed by having them fight (possibly literally) naked against gelatinous cubes and a 'crowd-favorite' manticore.

How adept is the party at unarmed combat? Make them fight with whatever weapons they can get from dead opponents.

You could also use performance combat rules from Ultimate Combat- -they're pretty much perfect for this.