Fugitive (game)

Fugitive is a game created by combining many various outdoor games such as Capture the Flag and Cops and Robbers. Fugitive is played with "runners", "drivers", and "riders." The group is split into two sides, the "fugitives" and the "police."

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Basic fugitive fundamentals – A straight line is not always the best route for a fugitive to take from Point A to Point B.

Game Basics

The fugitive's goal is to run from a starting point to a finish point without being tagged by any of the riders. The fugitive must remain on foot, no vehicles or alternate modes of transportation other than swimming. There are no boundaries for where the fugitive may go; he/she can cut through yards, over fences, on roofs, through businesses, houses, roads, beaches, woods, etc. A time limit is established for the fugitives based on the distance and difficulty, meaning they have to pace themselves in their travel. The drivers role is to transport the riders around town trying to find the fugitives. The riders and drivers may use cell phones or walkie talkies to plan their pursuit. The drivers may not hit the fugitives; they should remain within reasonable limitations of traffic law. If a fugitive is caught before the safe zone surrounding the finish point, he/she becomes a rider, making the game more difficult for fugitives. Riders must stay within reasonable distance to their vehicles, and must tag the fugitive with their hand. After the time limit is up, all remaining fugitives are considered busted. A new route is chosen, and another game may begin from the finish point. Often, five or more games are played in one night. There is no prize for being a winning fugitive, just freedom (glory, honor, and bragging rights included).

Variations

In some instances of the game, fugitives attempt to smuggle items to the destination. Objects ranging from cell phones to mail boxes to giant squid are all accetable items to be smuggled. If a fugitive successfully reaches the objective point with a smuggled object, that fugitive gains a predeterminded amount of points. Smaller objects that are easily consealable are considerd easy to smuggle and have a low point value in comparison to larger items. (I.e. a box, broken chair, desk.)

Other areas require fugitives to be in teams. Teams can range from pairs or massive "unigroups." Teams are competing against another to accumulate the most points. Riders, or Cops, may also be in teams competing against other rider teams. Full points are awarded for fugitives, usually 10 points, while cops receive half points for a capture, like 5 points per fugitive. This concept adds an additional degree of difficulty especially if one fugitive team is familar with a cop team and decides to inform the cops of other fugitive teams' locations.

In certain parts of Arizona, the same game is often called Manhunt and in Fargo, North Dakota, it is known as "Slip."

History

Fugitive can be played during the day. However, the fugitive founders and current loyals would say that it is meant only for night. It is still unclear where the name originated, but the term is commonly used in Oak Harbor, Washington(Home to former Fugitive Masters Robert White, David Marriott, and Henry Vasquez), Mount Vernon, Washington, Richland, Washington, Omaha, Nebraska, Lake Oswego, Oregon, Medford, Oregon, Corvallis, Oregon, Petaluma, California (Where Fugitive authority Matthew Brooks and prominent Fugitive Organizer Trevor L. Hoffmann both reside), Peoria, Illinois, Los Alamitos, California, Mukwonago, Wisconsin, North Prairie, Wisconsin, and Pima, Arizona where it is played by local residents around town even today.

In North Prairie the fugitive game is played by the most intense players in the whole country. They play in -20 degree temperatures during the cold Wisconsin winter. Mukwonago eh they pussy out most of the time cause they're not very intense, like Ben Beine.

Hints/Tips

Actual police in some of these areas are aware of this activity, especially in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The Lo-Po's are always out to catch those/us crazy kids just out trying to have some fun. In some cases up to five police cruisers have showed up to a destination. It is advised to stay away from main thoroughfares and exposed areas, as not to draw attention to oneself.

If players are skilled enough they should not have to worry about being caught by the real police for violations of curfew or criminal mischief. A true fugitive should be able to furtively avoid the real police as well. It is advised to stay out of private property, as there is no saying what the owner might do. However if you must, and usually you must, then make sure to make your entry and exit as fast as possible.