Fighting Animals: Add two to your charisma total and roll 1D6. If your roll is greater than (charisma + 2) then you die. If you have an aglity token then you may re-roll the die once. If you survive the animal fight you get a charisma token and money.
I know I am pointing out a lot of problems and very few solutions, but I hope I'm helping you with the balance issue between animals and gladiator fights.
In your last post the following situation could happen:
First Festival. No one challenges any of my gladiators. I challenge with one of mine on my turn. Two of my gladiators fight animals where they have a 66% chance of dying because I have to roll lower than charisma (0) +2 on a d6. Chances are I would lose both gladiators, almost for sure one. If you have thought about this and that is what you want good. I just thought I would bring it to mind.
By raising the +2 to +3 you increase the chances of them living at the beginning of the game but decrease the chances of them dying at the end of the game.
I lied I have thought of a possible solution.
Perhaps you could make it (charisma+training tokens +2). Anything more than this and the gladiators die. This way it allows an unchallenged gladiator to still use their training, thus making training all the more valuable. Players would have to decide about dividing their training tokens up in order to protect their gladiators who won't be particitpating in challenges. It would also help keep gladiators alive at the beginning of the game. Just an idea.
One last question, didn't thumbs-down mean life and thumbs-up mean death in Roman times?
Lucky me I was paying attention when we studied Rome, yes you're right. Back then a thumbs down meant life and the thumbs up, death.