Game Overview

HOSTAGE is essentially a huge game of cat and mouse!

The hostages are real and must be found and held until conditions are achieved for them to be exchanged with relevant authorities.

Both armies and two small rescue forces are looking for them. Assistance is provided to both North and South armies in the form of an electronic location system which can be used to track the hostages.

This game is not about control of territory, it is about control of people.

The hostages are being electronically tracked continuously by both sides and by  the rescue forces. There is no-where to hide. They will either have to be regularly moved as their captors try to stay one step ahead of the enemy, or held by sufficient numbers of players to repel continuous enemy attacks.

Hunter or Prey? The choice is yours. Defend the hostages held by your team, or hunt down the others. With 4 ever moving target characters, several game entry points, and  1000 players, we think we might just have the conditions set for you to create and enjoy a classic Warped Big Game.

Angelina and her bodyguards are in hiding, the bodyguards are armed. 

George and his (armed) bodyguards are  trying to make their way to an extraction point where it is hoped they can contact UK or US rescue forces.

The two airmen are armed and trapped at the chopper crash site awaiting contact from rescuers.

The UN Rescue force is on patrol in the area looking primarily for Angelina. If they find her they will attempt to move  her to an extraction point and will defend her at all costs against any threat.

The US Rangers force are en-route to the crash site to reinforce and attempt to extract the airmen. They will use all force available.

The two Warlords, “Col Cambodia – The South Side Boys” and “The General – Northern Freedom Alliance”, are arch enemies and both are desperate to capture the target characters for the purpose of holding them HOSTAGE to help increase their power and hold over the country.

Both have used all of their contacts and resources to gather together allies amongst clans, mercenaries, ex-govt forces, and rag tag bandits, forming two massive rebel armies.

YOU are in one of these rebel armies!

The target characters, bodyguards, and rescue forces are pre-assigned participants – briefed to encourage varied gameplay and to maintain effectiveness of the game scenario - they are not given any specific allegiance to either army by the game scenario.

You will gather at the relevant HQ (see map) for your army at 09.00 to receive a briefing from your commander and/or his staff (each side will choose its own command structure).

Please make sure you leave the staging area in plenty time to chronograph prior to entering at the main game entry point – the only entry/exit point which will be open at that stage – and then to make your way to your HQ. tip: chrono early to avoid queues

We suggest that even if you have marker problems or are not quite ready to begin play, that you still try to be at your relevant start HQ for the briefing so that you are aware of your teams command and control structure, and general strategy – this will be a big help when you are ready to play – you can return to the staging area at any time and there are no restrictions on game re-entry except as detailed in GAME ENTRY/EXIT section of the game booklet.

When the game begins you may enter the game directly from the HQ or may enter the game entry/exit corridor and make your way to one of the other game entry/exit points – these points will be controlled by an entry point marshall, please see GAME ENTRY/EXIT section of the game booklet for further info.

All the target characters must attempt to evade capture at all costs. They are of course virtually resigned to the fact that they will all be captured and taken hostage at some point unless neither army gets to them before they can be rescued.

All armed target characters have been briefed to defend the unarmed characters  until such times as it becomes unreasonable to do so, at which time they must withdraw and allow the winning force to take control of the hostage. In the case of the two airmen they will surrender by laying down their weapons and raising their hands.

In the initial stages of the game both armies are likely to encounter at least one set of characters and may run into one or both of the rescue forces. All armed characters and rescue forces personnel are valid game targets, they may be eliminated in the usual way although they may have a medic present. If you encounter them and you severely deplete them they will withdraw, they will raise a red flag to signal withdrawal, you may not shoot on any group identified by a raised red flag. If they are in control of a hostage please attempt to identify the hostage before attacking and DO NOT SHOOT the hostage.
The hostages will remain in character throughout the game and have a difficult and key job in making the scenario work so you are expected to help us to protect them at all times. Each will be accompanied at all times by a hostage marshall. If you overwhelm the defending group you will be awarded control of the hostage by  the hostage marshall who will bring the hostage to your group – the defenders will withdraw.

On capture the hostages will enact a pre-arranged role. They have information which you will require. Keep them safe and try to grant their requests and you will be rewarded with information.

All of those currently missing have had training in how to deal with captors in a hostage situation. They will co-operate with captors where necessary but will gladly switch sides or escape if the opportunity arises.

Your team will score points for each hostage it has in its control at the designated scoring times (every hour). Additional points are gained for each hostage by completing the whole hostage cycle   capture→negotiate→exchange.  This will take some time and will not be easy to complete. Hostages may end up changing hands several times before being exchanged and your team will require to negotiate with relevant authorities and meet appropriate conditions before exchange can be completed.

As the game unfolds your team will attempt to exert sustained presence across the game zone. This will help you defend and move hostages in your charge, and help seek and capture any hostages being held by the opposition or rescue forces.

Here we’ve thrown in a little help - each hostage has been fitted with an electronic location finder transmitter (bug) and your Warlord will be issued with a transceiver which is capable of receiving direction signals from all hostages in correct conditions.
This, along with good intelligence from the field will help your team plan more effectively.
tip: if you find or see a hostage at any time make sure you get the info to your Warlord or HQ asap and seek further instructions.

Intelligence gathering will be vital and well timed assaults will be required - you should try to keep a link to your command structure whenever possible tip: check in at your HQ each time you re-spawn.

When eliminated you must immediately withdraw from the immediate firefight at all times. You may respawn on receipt of an armband from a designated medic or by receiving another armband at any one of the three respawn points shown on the map with a red R symbol.