Player hunter and hunted

Ruapehu Bulletin, 20 August 1991, Page 13

Player hunter and hunted

Looking for some fast and furious action or a chance to hone your strategy and cunning? The Ultimate Game can be both. It's strange to see the effect on the adrenalin that the hunted/hunter situation can have on people, according to organiser Phil Abel. Often the players who weren't very keen but are talked into it by friends end up being the most enthusiastic by the end of an hour and a half session, says Phil. "After you've been hit a couple of times and had to spend a minute out of the game, you are ready for revenge and people strategy changes a bit as thcy try to become the hunter and not the hunted." He said at the Ohakune Junction field they usually play & team game but an all-for-all variation is being worked on. After equipment and safety instruction, teams of between four and ten players start at their base at either end of a pine tree filled gully. Each base has a flag to defend. The object being to advance through the gully shooting as many of the opposition as possible without being shot yourself. If you're hit it's back to the referees' base at midpoint for one minute. Obviously the more opposition you can knock out along the way the better your chances of storming their base

and capturing their flag. Once captured the flag has to be returned through the gauntlet and dug into the ground beside your flag back at base. When the flags are together that game ends and everyone swaps ends and threats of revenge and another game starts. Sounds simple but games run for as short as two minutes and up to 45 minutes.

Goggles are issued and must be worn by everyone. Face shields are now available when requested. Shots above shoulders are not counted and discouraged. The pellets are a gelatin ball filled with a non-toxic biodegradable water soluble dye and overalls are available. The guns are C02 gas powered pistols and are surprisingly accurate up to 30 metres.