Laser Doom

First-person action

Concept: A laser tag game where a player tries to go through a house while opponents try to tag him out, similar to the video game Doom, Quake, Unreal, Duke Nukem, etc.

Number of players: 1 player/solo, 2 or more cooperative, 2 or more competitive

The Player: equipped with laser tag equipment, 10 hits, pinhole lens cover, 4 reloads, no max blast, no shields (written for Laser Challenge gear.)

Equipment: I prefer Laser challenge, V1, V2, PRO or any mix of these. To work well indoors and not have problems with the Infrared beam bouncing off walls and hitting hidden opponents and players hitting themselves, a pinhole cover needs to be added to each of the guns. The cover can easily be made by taking a piece of cardboard and making pinholes in it (2mm each, with one in the center and a grid around it, 9 for the pistol and 25 for the Firestorm) then taping it to the front of the barrel. If any player has a widebeam powerup, then the pinhole cover is removed, which allows that player to more easily hit targets even if hidden. I prefer the player to use the V2 vest and starts with a pistol and must fire it at single shot rate only. The pistols have only 4 reloads , but the rifles (Firestorm and EX-D) have 6 reloads and may fire in full automatic. The player may not use maxblast, shields or any pro codes until he finds the powerup that allows him to do so.

Number of opponents: 1-99+

Opponents: Equipped with laser tag equipment of varying levels of power and special features. Example: Number of hits (1-10); maxblast (0, 1, 2 or 3); shield (0, 1, 2 or 3); reloads (0, 1, 2, or unlimited); reset (0, 1, 2 or unlimited) or have a wide beam gun. Opponents may be "tethered" and must stay in a certain area/room/floor, or they may be "free" and may go anywhere. A point system can be devised giving more points for eliminating more difficult opponents. See the list of Opponent types at the end. Any of these opponents may be modified to increase or decrease the difficulty, by adding or subtraction special features. Example: a Lieutenant with a wide beam or a General with a pistol

Powerups (special features): These items may be picked up and used by the players. They are scattered randomly and/or placed in certain strategic locations. I recommend writing them down on 3 x 5 cards and placing them in easy to spot location, taping them to doors and walls or hiding them in boxes, closets or drawers. Examples: maxblast (0, 1, 2 or 3); shield (0, 1, 2 or 3); reloads (0, 1, 2, or unlimited); reset (0, 1, 2 or unlimited), extra pistol, extra machine gun (V1 EX-D or V2 Firestorm), PRO Vest, a wide beam gun (remove the pinhole cover for 1,2 or 3 minutes), a "real" shield that may be carried around, landmine/grenade/lasertrap, shootback B.A.R.T. on a radio controlled car or whatever you can dream up.

Prizes: These can be points (1-999+), keys to open locked doors, clues to a puzzle, helpers (helpers are players with limited abilities that may be used as directed by the main player.), scanners (scanners allow the game master to tell you where opponents, powerups, prizes, land mines and booby traps are and how strong an opponent is. Scanners come in different strengths, one time use to unlimited use, opponents only, powerups only, prizes only, through the next wall only, the this floor only, whole building, etc.).

Game Master: Walks behind player and makes sure he obeys the rules and keeps track of the score/powerup usage/time. He should have a map of opponents/powerups/prizes if the game being played allows a scanner device. He carries a pistol in Alien, Zombie, Jason/Micheal, land mine and booby trap games. A camcorder would make an excellent addition and would probably require a game master assistant to run it.

Game Variations: In all the games, people takes turns being the "Player" and the "Opponents."

Gauntlet: Enter one door and exit at another. Player who gets through the fastest wins. Alternate version is Get the "Thing"-have the player finding certain objects before he can exit (prize, a key to open the exit, etc.)

Free the Hostage: Similar to gauntlet but must find the hostage. The hostage can be a helper, but usually has a handicap (only 5 hits, can't run, blindfolded, etc.). Game over if the hostage gets tagged out.

Time Limit: Most points score before time runs out wins. Set reasonable times like 5-20 minutes, depending on the number of players.

Combat: 2 players enter at different doors and who ever survives the longest wins. The players may shoot each other.

Levels: Devise progressively difficult levels and see who is able to achieve the highest level. I prefer Free the hostage/best time wins/2 story house/5 opponents (three are 3 hit and two are 5 hit with 1 maxblast each)/all are tethered until the hostage is freed from the hostage room/powerups are 2x maxblast, 2x shield, 4x reload, 1x reset/prize is a blue key to open the hostage room and red key to get out the front door to exit.

Provided by Dr. Peter Montgomery