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Read updates to the rules here so you don't need to re-read the rules looking for changes.

  1. Rule #1
  2. Overview
  3. Objectives
  4. Safety
  5. Equipment
    1. Bandanas
  6. Safe Zones
  7. Off Campus
  8. General Gameplay
    1. Stunning a Zombie
    2. Killing a Human
    3. Missions
    4. NPCs
  9. Other Rules
  10. Enforcement

Rule #1: Don't be a jackass.

We're all adults here; lets try to act like it. Good sportsmanship makes the game better for everyone!

Overview:

Humans vs. Zombies is a game of tag. All players begin as humans, and ~3 are randomly chosen to be the "Original Zombies." The Original Zombies tag human players and turn them into zombies. A Zombie must tag and "feed" on a human every 48 hours or he starves to death and is out of the game.

Objectives:

If you’re a human, survive the zombie infestation! This may require you to make friends and complete "missions" that will be e-mailed to you. If you’re a zombie, strengthen the horde, spread the virus, and eat brains!

Safety First!

These rules are created solely for the reason of safety. Some of them were suggested by players, some by moderators, and others by the administration of Ball State.

  • No realistic looking weaponry. All weapons must be blatantly fake.
  • Modifications to your weaponry must be cleared by a moderator.
  • Darts must not hurt on impact.
  • Do not shoot, tag, or otherwise harass non-players.
  • Do not shoot or tag anyone in the head. See Rule #1.
  • Do not prop open and leave unattended doorways that would otherwise be locked.
  • The game ends off-campus.
  • Do not hold or tackle people, inside or outside.
  • Do not block interior doors, like elevators. Buildings are public spaces, denying anyone access to them is illegal.

Equipment:

This gear is required for all players:

  • Three (3) 3x5" index cards inscribed with your ID number, which will be given to you when you register online.
  • One BRIGHT NEON GREEN bandana.
  • Dart gun(s) and/or clean, balled-up sock(s) - More approved weapons.

Bandanas:

Bandanas signify which team you’re on.

  • COLOR IS IMPORTANT:
    • All players wear BRIGHT NEON GREEN bandanas.
    • All NPCs wear BRIGHT NEON ORANGE bandanas.
    • All Moderators wear WHITE bandanas
  • Humans wear bandanas tied around their upper arms, zombies wear them on their heads.
  • Humans must wear their bandana every day; there is no taking a break from the game.
  • Bandanas do not have to be worn indoors, but you must put your bandana back on before leaving a safe zone.
  • If a zombie is outdoors without their bandana on, they must either:
    • Wait 30 minutes after putting it back on to play again, OR
    • Enter a building, put the bandana back on, and resume play.
  • If your headband falls off accidentally, tags made at the time still count. The bandana must be immediately put back on, however. No stealthing.
  • Do not at any time wear your bandana or multiple bandanas in such a way that you might be confused with the another team. This is cheating.

Safe Zones:

Like any decent game of tag, there are places where you are safe. At BSU, the following areas are safe:

  • Inside all campus buildings - including all parking garages.
  • A radius of 30 feet from ENTERABLE doorways. Doorways that cannot be entered are not safezones. A friend inside the building, however, can open up safezones that otherwise would not be available.
    • Note: The doorway rule still applies to parking garages. If you jump over a parking garage wall, you are out of a safe zone, even if you're 2 feet away from the wall when you're tagged. Only DOORWAYS provide safe zone extensions.
  • Buses (but not Bus Stops)
    • Note: A stopped bus with an open door is treated as a building, and provides a safe radius. Buses in motion afford no such protection to those outside.
  • Campus Jobs (take off your bandana when on the clock)

Off Campus:

Leaving campus during the duration of the game is acceptable only if the player has a destination off campus. Cutting through an off-campus area to save time or avoid attack is against the rules and a bannable offense. If you are caught doing this by a player or moderator, you are expected to forfeit your cards. Players are expected to report receiving cards this way to a moderator.

General Gameplay:

Starting the game: The game starts with everyone on the human team, except for ~3 secret zombies known as "Original Zombies." In the first 24 hours, the humans and Original Zombies are exempt from wearing bandanas (Zombies the Original Zombies tag, however, must wear their bandanas). This is known as the "incubation period." During this time, the Original Zombies will (hopefully secretively) build up their hordes. This first day is designed to allow the Zombies to gain a foothold against the Humans, since they start with a very small number of people. After the first 24 hours, everyone must wear bandanas.

Stunning a Zombie:

Humans can stun zombies for 15 minutes by shooting them with a dart gun or by throwing a sock at them. If you’re a zombie and you get shot, put your bandana around your neck to signify that you’re out of play. DO NOT interfere with the gameplay at all, including acting as a shield. Move away from the action, and make it very obvious you’re not playing. After your 15 minutes are done, you’re back in play!

Killing a Human:

Zombies kill humans by tagging them. They must report a tag every 48 hours to remain alive. Humans must carry three index cards with their ID numbers on them at all times. If a zombie tags them, the human must distribute their ID cards to nearby zombies however they wish, with at least one going to the zombie that made the tag (if it was a solo kill, for example, give all three cards to the zombie making the tag to distribute as they wish to zombie friends). The killed human turns into a zombie officially in one hour.

The zombie who made the tag must report the kill in the database within TWO HOURS. Once the initial kill is recorded, the other two cards can provide a "feed" to their holders. Those zombies must report their kill within TWO HOURS of the first one, or the cards will expire.

Example: Lemmy, a zombie, kills Pete, a human, at 2:30 in the afternoon. Since Lemmy was alone, Pete gives him all three cards. Pete will become a zombie at 3:30. Lemmy should report the kill sometime before 4:30 to keep the database accurate, so he reports the kill at 4:00 and decides to give the other two cards to his zombie friends Nick and Teddy. Nick and Teddy MUST report their kills by 6:00 (two hours after Lemmy reported the original kill) or their cards will be worthless.

Once the incubation period ends, humans may also "bite" themselves. Humans are encouraged to do so if their zombie tagger is taking too long to report a kill, or if they have decided to quit the game. After a human reports their own death, the zombie who tagged them has six hours to report the kill. After this time they will not be fed.

Missions:

This game is largely plot-driven. Both sides will be given missions to complete. The scenarios are often simple, but the strategies used to complete them are often complicated. Each mission’s success or failure will determine the next mission for the next night. Sometimes a mission’s success will be rewarded by a change in the gameplay, such as making zombies starve more quickly, or reducing the time humans have to wait before "re-animating" as zombies. The game is won or lost through these missions, and through the plot. Failing a mission could spell certain disaster for your team, whether you’re humans OR zombies.

NPCs:

NPCs, or Non-player characters, are often used as objectives in missions, or as aids in moving mission objectives forward. In most cases a moderator will act as an NPC, but occasionally player volunteers are used. If you are acting as an NPC during a mission, sharing secret mission information with either team will result in stiff in-game penalties. For the Fall 2008 game, the only standing NPC position will be that of the Mission Photographer. If you have a camera and want to do this, let us know!

Rations:

For the Fall of 2008, moderators will be distributing ration codes to humans during missions. Humans that report these rations in the database will recieve credit for mission attendance. They are not mandatory, carry no game effect, and cannot be used by zombies. They are simply for bragging rights.

Other Rules:

  • Personal vehicles are prohibited for gameplay use. Commuting on and off campus or using the bus system is allowed.
  • No melee weapons.
  • Humans can stand inside a safezone and shoot zombies on the outside to clear a path.
  • Required academic events are safe for the duration of the event, just like work. This includes PE classes.
  • Athletes are safe during practices, but not on the way to or from practice.
  • Shooting non-players with darts is dumb. Don’t do it.
  • NO SHIELDS. Meat shields (non-players), umbrellas, etcetera. If your shield, backpack, or even hair gets tagged or hit by a dart, it counts as a hit on you. Humans’ guns are extensions of their body, and thus are "taggable."
  • Human players can pick up any ammo they find. Zombies can only pick up ammo when there are no humans nearby to contest them (If there's nobody around, please pick up any ammo you see, to prevent littering). A good rule of thumb is that if a human asks you not to pick up a dart, don't pick it up.

Enforcing the Rules:

If you encounter a situation in which the rules are called into question, you have two options.

  1. Work it out amongst yourselves, using the Official HvZ BSU Rules. Strike deals, flip coins, whatever. Good Sportsmanship and the Honor Code are key to keeping the game running smoothly.
  2. If #1 doesn't work, you may call a moderator. This moderator’s decision is final - please respect their judgment. They are all veteran players, and they all helped write the rules. If your situation is a case of "he said, she said", the Moderator will most likely resort to FLIPPING A COIN. If you’re not cool with your life in the hands of a coin toss, then I hope you’re willing to go back to option number one.

Report serious offenses to Jason White. He is the only person who has the authority to ban players. If a player is definitively caught cheating or putting others in harm's way, he/she is subject to IMMEDIATE REMOVAL from the game, and, depending on the severity of the incident, a REPORT TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

There are several moderators, their phone numbers are listed on the Moderators page. For each and every mission there will be dedicated moderators on duty. During those missions, call only those moderators. The designated moderators for the night will be indicated in the mission emails. If there is a dispute during the day, try any of the moderators.