Manhunt (people game)
Encyclopedia
Manhunt refers to a number of variations on the game of tag
. The goal is to avoid being tagged by anyone designated as "it", or (for those already "it") to tag anyone who has not been tagged. Some variations include teams and point scoring. Many variants exist. Some people play in teams.
In addition to running and hiding, hunted players may attempt to distract or draw off the attention of hunters, wear camouflage
, or pretend to be on the hunting team. To win, the hunters must corner the hunted who then surrenders. If the hunted is surrounded and has no way to escape without fighting, he is caught.
Any players not found or caught within the time limit will be counted for points. The more people not found or caught, the more points awarded. Points are accumulated over a number of pre-arranged rounds. Anyone caught or spotted out of boundaries is automatically out and must stay at base for number of minutes (agreed upon by both teams). If any injuries occur during game play, the injured must sit out and cannot rejoin until time is up. This variety of manhunt is sometimes known as jailbreak.
Four wild card bandannas are also hidden across the playing field, which can also be given to players who have lost their bandanna(s). If it is used, it should be replaced by a team color bandanna if one is available, and then the wild will be re-hidden.
To win, a team must collect ten bandannas of a single color, as well as two of a different color. A single "wild card" bandanna may contribute to a winning score as the eleventh or twelfth bandanna.
Players must wear their own team bandannas and carry bandannas they have collected.
In Central Texas, this version of the game is sometimes called Cops and Robbers. Another variant popular in the UK is British Bulldog
where players attempt to cross a playing field or playground to avoid two "bulldogs". When players are caught, they become bulldogs until there are no runners left.
A waterborne variant exists called Sharks and Minnows
.
Tag (game)
Tag is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations...
. The goal is to avoid being tagged by anyone designated as "it", or (for those already "it") to tag anyone who has not been tagged. Some variations include teams and point scoring. Many variants exist. Some people play in teams.
One vs many games
These games pit one participant, with a unique goal, against all other players, who share a common goal. Players may be required to indicate their participation with a marker such as a bandanna. Game play begins after one player has been designated (either as Manhunter or Hunter, see below) and remaining players are given time to run and hide. Games are usually played with time limits and boundaries.Regressive variant
This variation is called regressive due to the potentially exponential increase of tagged players. One person—the "Manhunter"—is chosen to be "it" and everyone else—"Fugitives"—runs away and hides. When a Fugitive is tagged, he or she becomes an additional Manhunter. The goal is to be caught last, to hide until everyone else gives up, or optionally to stay untagged until a predetermined end time.Reverse variant
In this variant, one man – the Hunted – hides, and everyone else – the Hunters – tries to find him. Hunters may set up squads to search certain areas, try to scare the hunted into giving up, and arrange traps before the game starts. If there are multiple hunted and one is captured, the hunters may try to interrogate him.In addition to running and hiding, hunted players may attempt to distract or draw off the attention of hunters, wear camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
, or pretend to be on the hunting team. To win, the hunters must corner the hunted who then surrenders. If the hunted is surrounded and has no way to escape without fighting, he is caught.
Homefree variant
This game is played with one hunter, who must guard a designated "homefree" section of the playing field. The hiders must get past the Hunter and tag the homefree spot before they are tagged by the hunter. Anyone who is tagged becomes another hunter. The hiders usually team up and surround the hunter to allow many to reach homefree.Spy Variant (Splinter Cell)
This game is played with one hider (spy) and many hunters (guards). It is best done in a dark building. The guards are assigned areas/hallways/rooms to guard, with an object hidden in a room decided upon by the guards. The goal of the spy is to get in and out with this object. Guards can try and catch the spy even if he is outside, but hasn't reached his base yet. If a lone guard sees the spy, they have to tag him. If two guards see the spy, they have to shine a flashlight on him, and if three guards see a spy, he is captured. The spy can take out guards by approaching them behind and 'choking' them. The choking is merely tapping them on the back. The guards are then out of play for five minutes (must sit on the floor). If they are found, they can be revived, but they cannot make any noise. The game ends when the spy is caught or the spy has retrieved the desired object.Team games
All team variations involve one team or group tasked with hiding or running, and one tasked with tagging or capturing the former. Team games may involve keeping scores, though the rules governing how points are scored may vary. Game play begins after players have been divided into teams and given time to hide or begin running. Team games usually involve team bases.Graveyard Widespread Variant
There are two teams in this variant. The hunted split up and find each other at a designated spot. The hunter will team up with someone who is caught. In some rare occasions in the game the hunter will try to help the hunted by leading them to a hiding place, or tricking them into a group of hunters who will catch the hunted. This is usually best played in bushes, trees, lots of cover, in the dark, a graveyard and around urban area's like a parking lot or close to an alley way. The game ends when all hunted are caught or the hunters give up looking for them.Team Tag Variant
There are two teams that alternate between hiding and seeking. One team hides and has about one to two minutes to hide in the proximity of the base. Once the hiding time is up, the seekers try to tag all of the hiders they can without letting any return to the base. Each hider that successfully gets to the base without being tagged scores one point. Once a hider is tagged, they are out of the round and must return to the base without scoring a point. No players in the base can assist any other players in hiding. Players can hide in groups or individually. The round is played until all hiders return to the base safe or not. The team with the most safe players at the end of the session wins.Capture variant
The finding team attempts to capture players from the hiding team and bring them to their base. A player who has caught a member of the hiding team must take them to the base and cannot catch other players until then. Captured players cannot try to free themselves when caught or in route to the other team's base. Captured players cannot resume play until another person on their team tags the base and shouts "Manhunt". Every player that is hiding must be caught within the time limit. The time limit depends on the number of players and the extent of the boundaries.Any players not found or caught within the time limit will be counted for points. The more people not found or caught, the more points awarded. Points are accumulated over a number of pre-arranged rounds. Anyone caught or spotted out of boundaries is automatically out and must stay at base for number of minutes (agreed upon by both teams). If any injuries occur during game play, the injured must sit out and cannot rejoin until time is up. This variety of manhunt is sometimes known as jailbreak.
Go to Court
Go to Court is a variation of tag involving "fugitives" and "marshals". The marshals consist of approximately 1/5 of the total group and in either a dark house or neighborhood. After the countdown, the marshals pursue the fugitives. If a fugitive is spotted a marshal may shout "Go to court!" whereupon the fugitive must go to a designated spot and await physical contact from another fugitive to resume part in the game. The marshals win if they successfully gather all of the fugitives.Scottish variant
The Scottish version of the game, known colloquially as "Code", is played with two teams. The hiding team think of a word that has the same number of letters as players. Each person is given a letter and may be forced to reveal it when caught. If the hunters correctly figure out the word within a time limit they win.Texas variant
This version of the game is played with multiple teams of four or five people each. Each team is designated a color and a base. Each player wears two team bandannas, and each team captain wears three. At the start of the game each team is given a designated amount of time to hide, after which they may begin hunting each other. When a team member is caught one bandanna is removed. All collected bandannas are kept in the team's home base. If a player loses all of his bandannas, he must return to his home fort where he must stay until he receives a replacement bandanna of his own team's color, and may guard the collected bandannas while there.Four wild card bandannas are also hidden across the playing field, which can also be given to players who have lost their bandanna(s). If it is used, it should be replaced by a team color bandanna if one is available, and then the wild will be re-hidden.
To win, a team must collect ten bandannas of a single color, as well as two of a different color. A single "wild card" bandanna may contribute to a winning score as the eleventh or twelfth bandanna.
Players must wear their own team bandannas and carry bandannas they have collected.
A to B variant
This variation is played with a group of hunters and a group of runners. The point is for the runners to make it from point A to point B without being caught. Hunters search the area for runners. Neither the hunters or runners are required to work together within their groups, and can at any time go on their own. When runners are caught, they too become hunters. A runner is caught when grabbed by a hunter while in sight of a patrol car. This is to prevent a single hunter from guarding the destination.In Central Texas, this version of the game is sometimes called Cops and Robbers. Another variant popular in the UK is British Bulldog
British Bulldogs (game)
British bulldogs is a tag-based game, of which Red Rover and Cocky Laura are descendants, played mainly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other Commonwealth countries by children at school. It was originated in Great Britain...
where players attempt to cross a playing field or playground to avoid two "bulldogs". When players are caught, they become bulldogs until there are no runners left.
A waterborne variant exists called Sharks and Minnows
Sharks and Minnows
Sharks and Minnows is a popular tag game played in swimming pools.-Rules:Generally Sharks and Minnows is played in the deep end of a large pool. The game starts out with one person selected as the shark and the rest as the minnows...
.