I'm re-reading Poseidon's Spear by Christian Cameron, technically third in a series, but works as a standalone story. Reason being it fills a gap in the main narrative which covers the Greco-Persian Wars, but after the battle of Marathon the Persians have to rebuild their western forces and it's a decade before they have another go at Greece.

Anyway, the book takes the protagonist of the series away from his established stomping ground and into the western Mediterranean, by the expediency of him trying to kill himself (he came back from Marathon to discover his new wife had died in childbirth) by jumping off a cliff, only to be captured by Carthaginians and made a galley slave. He eventually escapes along with six new friends, also former slave oarsmen. They make a pact to work together to attempt something seemingly impossible: break the Carthaginian stranglehold on the tin trade and get some from it's source in Alba (Britain), thereby making themselves ridiculously rich in the process.

Could they sound any more like a group of Player Characters with a mad scheme that forms the core premise of the campaign?

The seven are recently freed, having risen from their benches and joined in on the side of Etruscan raiders who boarded their ship, besting the Carthaginian marines. They don't have much more than a small share of the spoils and the clothing on their backs when they arrive at the beach in Syracuse, one of the greatest cities in all the world.

They are:
Arimnestos - led the Plataean phalanx at Marathon and veteran of several battles and dozens of skirmishes and ship fights. Has been a pirate, but also a journeyman bronzesmith and received an aristocrat's education as a slave in Ephesus.

Neoptolemous - a dispossessed Illyrian noble betrayed by his uncle and taken as a slave. Plans to one day raise an army and take his homeland back. Has a natural talent for musical instruments.

Doola - a merchant from Numidia, not especially tall, but broad and strong. Excels at bargaining and trade, good with people. Not really combatant, but good with a bow.

Seckla - a craftsman from Numidia (different tribe to Doola), tall, thin and active. Good with his hands and a natural sailor.

Demetrios - a Sikel sailor and trader, a former fisherman who is an exceptional helmsman. Small and clever, doesn't like fighting.

Daud - a wandering Gaul who's the very stereotype of the barbarian. Big, red-haired, quick to anger or weep, loves (unwatered) wine, terrible with money. Enjoys a fight and good with horses.

Gaius - impoverished Etruscan aristocrat who turns his hand to trade when he's safely out of sight of his peers. Looks like he could be Daud's brother, despite being from completely different stock.


How would you model this situation and those characters in your preferred system? None of them are really "starting characters" in many systems, especially not Arimnestos.

A system like GURPS, where skills are important is probably best.  The D&D-class type systems would make these guys all fighters and rogues. 

Runequest/Basic Roleplaying might work too, you will have to eliminate magic which is a staple in that system.

I am sure Tenbones could point you to a version of Savage Worlds that would work. 

And there is likely a derivative of Traveller/Cepheus, that fits the bill.  Mercator supplement is set in Ancient Rome but you could probably tinker with it and make it further back in time.