Noelle - Day 146 (Manhunt!!! BWAHAHA!!!)

Ok, to clarify:
I am not a psychopath!  Just wanted to say that before I start sounding like a crazy person.  Well, more crazy than I already am.

So in the next few weeks, I want to detail some of our (NJ homeschooler's) favorite games, starting with Manhunt (both versions)  Comment with your favorites! (I already plan on doing Mariokart, Uno, Man Overboard and Master's Command)

Anyway, videos may or may not be coming soon (until then, just boring text posts.  Sorry)

Alright, so most kids will probably know how to play Manhunt, but just in case you don't: it's tag.  It's a heavy-adrenaline version of hide-n-go-seek tag.

Basic Idea: There are seekers and there are runners (hiders?).  The seekers want to capture (tag) all the runners.  The runners want to get past the seekers and make it to the base alive.

Rules:

1. Tagged runners are "dead" and go to jail.  To prevent cheating, the international rule "dead men don't speak", so you can't warn your fellow runners away from a trap if you're dead.
2. Runners can break their friends out of jail (and they get ten seconds to run if they do)
3. Stay in the boundaries
4. Play at night or in twilight for creepiness factor

Things to Watch Out for (if you're a runner):

• Seekers tend to pair up.  If there's one seeker, there's another near by.
• Know where you are in relation to everything.  How far can you sprint?  Do you have a straight shot to your goal or is there things in the way?  Knowing that can help you get away if somebody finds your hiding spot.
• Don't climb a tree.  You're basically stuck there if you do, and then you've got nowhere to go if somebody finds you.
• Pair up!  Find somebody you can trust and stick together.  They might have better night vision or better "forest ears" (the ability to tell the difference between trees and approaching people)
• If discovered, leave your partner behind.  There is reasoning behind this madness, so hear me out.  It's dark and confusing.  If the two of you split up, at least one of you will get away free.  If you are chased, you just slip up two seekers.  Now they're just as lost and confused as you are, and you can use that to your advantage.
• If this is a preprepared Manhunt, wear the right clothes.
• When in doubt, lay down.  Trust me, if its dark, and you're wearing dark clothes, nobody will see you if you just pancake yourself against the grass.  Seriously.
• If you're having trouble, here's a solid runner strategy:  Pair up together and hide until you're sure the first "wave" of seekers has passed by.  Once that has happened, make your way closer to the base.  Split up, wish each other luck, then slowly get closer.  If the base is in an open area, army crawl (you think I'm joking?  I'm not)  If its in a wooded area, avoid stepping on leaves, use the shadows to your advantage, and always stand so that your shadow is straight.  If the whole area's leaves, then move only when there's wind.  Get as close as you can, and wait till the seekers guarding the base are distracted (if you're still with your partner, you can use each other as decoys) and make a break for it.  If you're spotted and there's too many seekers heading your way, do your best to make as much noise as possible - stay close to the base and try to draw the guards away but always, always, always watch your back.  Run if you must.  Now, for some seeker advice!

Things to do (if you're a seeker):

• Go in threes.  I mentioned that seekers like pairs, so be the weird ones and go in threes - one with good night vision and at least two good runners.
• Trap them.  Split up and use your numbers (three remember: the magic number in Manhunt)
• Know the lay of the land.  This is self explanatory.  Know the hiding spots and the open areas.
• Guard the land marks.  Remember, there's a jail and a base.  There's going to be runners going for both.  Make sure to catch them.
• If you're having issues, here's a solid seeker strategy: follow the main trails and don't talk.  Don't go slow or fast, but walk.  Turn off your flashlights and let the night vision person go in front.  If you see a loner or suddenly stopped movement, walk directly towards if.  If it's a runner, you'll make them nervous or better, yet, make them run.  Send your sprinter after them (if you catch them, great, if not...)  Jog behind your sprinter (or if you're the sprinter, give it your all!) and then if the first person fails, send your second runner to chase.  If you get split up, have a pre-determined meeting place.

That's all I got.

See you tomorrow for some more game advice!  (Tomorrow I'm doing the other version of Manhunt, Zombie Tag style)  Comment below with your requests and advice (and if this new game advice thing is stupid or not)  :)  Have a God-blessed day.

P.S.

#Pray4Paris