Rather than being seen as small for a Capital Ship, Imperial planners conceived of the ship as a large patrol cruiser, self-sufficient and much larger than the light Capital Ships of pirates and planetary defense fleets it was expected to oppose. The Gladiator-Class was redesigned as a long-range patrol ship, able to carry the New Order- in the form of administrators, Starfighters, and troops- into the far reaches of the fringe regions. Blissex received little credit for the final design.

Further, the design was appropriated by the New Order and given to Kuat Drive Yards for improvement, after the Victory Star Destroyers were seen as something of a disappointment. However, the Gladiators were not put into production until shortly after the Clone Wars. The Gladiator-Class Star Destroyer was originally designed by Walex Blissex for Rendili StarDrive during the Clone Wars to serve as an escort to Victory I-Class Star Destroyers. Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Force Unleashed Campaign Guide

Star wars gladiator star destroyer