Zombeeeh mayheeem!

When I come back we play, yes?

Intro

Zombie Mayhem is a large scale outdoor game where a team of ”zombies” hunts down a team of ”humans” in a designated game area over a pre-determined period of time. At least 10 people are required for an effective game. The game is intended to play during night time, and aims for plenty of running, hiding, sneaking and suspense.

Preparation

What you need:

- 10 or more players

- A piece of cloth to be used as a head/armband with two different colours on either side (This is used for identifying teams.)

- Map marked with the game area and base point (see ”Game Area”)

- Charged mobile phone

Optional:

- Walkie talkie

- Flashlight

Walkie talkies – Ideally, all members of both teams would have multi-channeled walkie talkies, with which to communicate to members of their team. These rules are written assuming such is the case.

Game Organiser

One player should be designated the game organiser or game leader. It is necessary for the game leader to have every players mobile phone number, and for every player to have the game leader’s mobile phone number. This is partly necessary should any player become lost during the game or should something unexpected occur. Any players who drop out of the game for some reason must send an SMS to the game leader. The game leader also sends an SMS to all players at the end of the game.

Ideally all members of the human team would send an SMS to the game leader when they join the zombie team. This way, players will not be left prowling the game area when all the humans have been caught. Once the game leader recognises that all humans have been caught, he can send an SMS to all players to end the game.

Game Area

The size of the game area should be adapted to the the number of players. Generally the area should be fairly large, but can of course be varied depending on the type of game you wish to play. A too large game area may result in a uneventful game, where as a too small area may result in a confusing game with little suspense. Ideally, most of the game area should include plenty of dark areas and places suitable for hiding and sneaking.

A map with the game area clearly indicated is given to all players. Players are trusted not to leave the game area during the game, or to exploit non-game areas for shortcuts or other advantages. A base point should be indicated on the map, a place where players gather at the beginning and end of the game.

Teams

Before the game begins, the initial members of the zombie team must be determined. The size of the initial zombie team should be adapted according to the number of players, but should always number at least three people. All other players start the game as part of the human team. Members of opposite teams may not maintain any contact with each other

Prize

Because some human players may have the tendency towards pathetic and cowardly behaviour such has digging themselves into one hiding place and staying there forever, it is recommended that some kind of ”treasure” be placed in the game area. This should be placed in a location where it cannot be easily spotted by bystanders not taking part in the game, but where players can stumble upon it should they be randomly wandering the game area. The treasure should be placed in way that can be easily recognised as belonging to the game, with perhaps a congragulatory note stuck to it. Treasure can be as simple as a six pack of beer on a big rock, as long as it entices the human players to keep moving. It is not permissible for members of the human team to know the location of the treasure before the game.

Game End

A finishing time for the game must be determined. All players must be aware of the time the game ends and it is advisable for everyone to keep track of time themselves, for example setting a cell phone alarm to go off at the agreed time. The game leader should also notify the players via SMS when the game ends. When the game ends, all players return to the base point marked on the map.

The Game

Objective

The objective for the humans is simple, survive until the end of the game. The objective of the zombie team is to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

Catching Humans

Humans join the zombie team if they are grabbed or or obviously touched by a member of the zombie team. Slight brushes and cases open to dispute do not count. Play fair! When a human is caught, they join the zombie team and function in exactly the same way as other zombies, catching humans and turning them into zombies. A human player joining the zombie team must change his head/armband the other way round to display the colour representing the zombie team. Players must not move from their location while doing this and may only catch other humans once they have retied their head/armband. Once a human player has been caught they must cease any communication with their former team mates, although an ominous ”KRRHHAARGGHH...” may be said into the walkie talkie.

Game Sequence

1. Gather all players at base point.

2. Distribute maps and head/armbands if not already done.

3. Determine initial zombies.

4. Make sure game end time is clear to everyone.

5. Human team spreads out into the game area.

6. Aproximately five minutes later the zombie team spreads out for the hunt!

7. The game time runs out or all humans have been zombified, players return to base point.

8. Unclaimed treasure is retreived, or left in place for another round!