Previously: The Living Doll Game.
This game goes by a number of names; Deadman’s Tag is the most prevalent, but you might also find it under the title of Dead Man Tag, or simply referred to as How To Play Tag With The Dead. Regardless, though, you’ll almost certainly recognize its form: It’s a classic childhood game… although the ante has been upped considerably.
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The game of tag has existed for centuries — we have evidence of it that dates back to the second century AD — and, as a result of its longevity, there are almost as many versions of it as there are cultures in the world. Deadman’s Tag is probably best likened to Manhunt: Played outside and in the dark, it’s as much a game of hide-and-seek as it is a game of tag. The darkness adds a sense of thrill to the activity, as does the predatory nature of its framework… so when you add an “It” which may not be of this world? Well, let’s just say that it doesn’t get more thrilling than that.
It’s also, of course, a lot more dangerous.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- At least three participants. There are no principals.
Requirements:
- One flashlight per participant.
- One timekeeping device per participant. (Optional, but recommended.)
- A playing field. Ideally, the playing field will be outdoors, spread out over a very large area, and equipped with spaces or geographic features that may be used as hiding places.
Instructions:
The Invitation:
- Begin shortly before dark on a night with little to no moonlight. An overcast, cloudy night or a night on which the new moon falls are ideal.
- Gather all the participants together with their flashlights and timekeeping devices at the playing field.
- As a group, decide where home base will be. Home base must be a physical object in the area you can touch; an easily identifiable rock, tree, or other unique geographic feature is ideal.
- As a group, decide how long you wish to have to hide once the game has begun. This length of time should be measured in seconds; a number between 10 and 100 is recommended.
- Wait until night has fully fallen.
- When it is fully dark, assemble all the participants at home base and face out into the darkness.
- Choose one person to speak the following: “We invite you to play a game of tag. Home base is [name your home base]. When the game begins, we have until the count of [name your length of time] to hide. Then you may look for us. Once we have all returned home, the game is done.”
- Then, in unison, call out together, “You’re It!”
- Scatter. Run. Hide.
- If using timekeeping devices: Refer to them to track how long you have left before It comes looking for you.
- If not: Estimate the passage of time as accurately as possible through the method of your choice.
- In both cases: Use your time wisely.
The Main Event:
- Your goal is to make it back to home base without getting caught. Do whatever necessary to accomplish this goal. The following pieces of advice may prove useful:
- You may move around and/or change your hiding location as much or as little as you desire.
- Do not hide or move with any other participants.
- Your flashlight may be used whenever necessary; however, it is recommended that you use it as sparingly as possible. Nothing makes someone easier to find in the dark than a bright light indicating where they are.
- If, at any point, you sense someone else nearby, you may do one of two things:
- Remaining hiding where you are;
- Or, leave your current hiding place and either attempt to find a new one or run directly to home base.
- NOTE: Whomever — or whatever — you sense nearby may not be one of the other participants.
- Above all: Whether hiding, moving, or running for home base, remain as silent as possible.
- When you see an opening to get to home base, take it.
Olly Olly Oxenfree:
- When you return to home base, touch it with your hand and call out the word, “Safe!” NOTE: You MUST both physically touch home base and call out “Safe!” in order for your return home to count.
- Wait for the other participants to return to home base.
- NOTE: Before proceeding, confirm that all the participants assembled at home base are the same participants with whom you began the game. If they are not, DO NOT PROCEED.
- When all the participants have returned home, face out into the darkness once more.
- Choose one person to speak the following: “We win. The game is over. Thank you for playing.”
- Disperse.
- Go home. But in the future, when you’re alone in the dark… be careful. Your opponent might try to begin another game with you — whether you want to play or not.
Additional Notes:
The game’s difficulty may be scaled or increased by making the following adjustments:
- Choosing a cemetery as your playing field;
- Deciding upon a brief length of time with which to hide;
- Playing without a flashlight;
- Playing without a timekeeping device;
- And/or playing with just one participant.
However, it is NOT recommended that you play this game with only one participant. See: If A Participant Is Caught.
Do NOT attempt to finish the game if the participants gathered at home base at the end are NOT the same participants with whom you began.
Do not assume there is only one It.
If A Participant Is Caught:
Avoid interacting with that participant at all costs.
If they have been caught, you’ll know.
You might be able to strike a bargain to get them back, but be warned — souls don’t come cheap.
If the participant who has been caught is you…
…I hope you trust your friends.
And I hope they’ll have your back when you need it most.
***
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[Photo via Marco Bianchetti/Unsplash]
Nice one!
But I have a question:
-What do you mean by don’t stay at a dark room, I mean if you were sleeping in your room of course you will turn off the lights, or if the electricity was gone you will stay in the dark. Is that mean you will play again with him?
You must be careful in the dark in general post-ritual. It says that it could initiate another game sequence if you remain in the dark too long whether you’re ready for it or not.
only if you’re alone
It is not always being alone in a dark room, “it” might want a rematch with you alone whether you want to play or not.
I love this!!!
Wow I love this one. What you do is great! I can’t wait to play this one!
*shivers*
My biggest question is whether or not you can see whomever you’re playing with (the non-human participant(s), that is). Do they manifest physically so you can track their location? Or are they non-corporeal, and therefore you have to sense where they are?
It says to avoid getting near, hiding with, or associating with all participants during the game. I’d take this as a hint that whom/whatever you’re playing with is capable of possessing a human being, or assuming human form (manifesting physically). But they could also be non corporeal. Since it’s possible that you could be playing with more than one It, I’d use all senses to the best of your abilities. This game is of high-risk, so you can’t be too careful in this one.
What do we get from playing this game? I mean, is it just for fun or is there some sort of a reward or granting of a wish or desire or something..?
There’s no real reward other than the experience and bragging rights. Not worth it really.
So what happens if it’s not the same people you started with? What do you do since you can’t finish the game in this event?
I don’t know about you but I guess we’ll go and look for our friend, then as a group we’ll return all together to the the home base.
If it’s not the same people you started with, does that mean a participant was caught and is the new “it” and whoever else is there is the now freed spirit? Is it that or something else? If it’s something else, Who would be in place of the original participants in this event?
If anyone has discovered the tale of gozu on the internet please give me the link.
P/S:I’m desperate.
You have the highest chance of discovering the original story in its official written language: Japanese. All English translations have been obliterated or rearranged and paraphrased in a way that it is not harmful to oneself or others when reading it (it’s one of several methods to contain the curse). Although I’m not sure why you would want to read something so risky and dangerous, I hope you find what you’re looking for.
I’ve actually played this game and at the base I saw something unbeliavable…
WHAT DID YOU SEE?! *excitedly waits for response*
Are you still alive right now?
Omg….what did you see? ???*Waiting*
But what do you do if the participants are not all the same people you started with?
Why would trusting your friends come into play if they’re caught? This is just speculation, but do they essentially become puppets for whatever entity/entities you were playing with? Can the entity control that friend and use him/her for its own purposes?
The ending couldn’t have been better.
It just couldn’t have.
Make sure that the “friends” who play this game with you really are your “friends”, guys…. they say they have your back, but only time tells if that’s true. Like, if you’re the one who gets caught…..
You’ll know.
I just hope that it won’t be too late.
What may that deal be?
I don’t personally believe in satan, but maybe a deal with him? Or at least a demon (I do believe in demons, but not in a christian way)
I think maybe you could give them the thing that means the most to you.
U-N-B-E-L-I-A-V-A-B-L-E
The end left me with Chills…
My only question…
If I return to my base and I find that one of the friend is someone else, what should I do? What happened to my friend?
How to get a friend back? Any examples?
What if I cheat by hiding under the staircase of my house and then touch it as soon as the time is over? Or can I st the time period for 1~5 seconds?
I’m never trying it. Not because I am afraid. It’s just that I happen to know my friends very well…
“I’m never trying it. Not because l am afraid. Its just that I happen to know my friends very well.” Now THAT have me chills! But I completely get where you’re coming from. Hell, I don’t even trust my own flesh and blood to do right by me in a game like this unfortunately…
1. Your friend’s a puppet. There’s nothing you can do, he/she’s a freaking puppet.
2. Er, search for some of that black magic and witchcraft stuff. Probably Deal with the Devil, I guess?
3. That’s a stupid idea. Never do it.
Very, very interesting! I really like your posts and this one is no different!
Oh, and can you please do The Boatman ritual? I think your readers would love to read it!
For how long will we have to continue to run and hide?
I mean like….it can’t go on for eternity!!!
what do you mean that you know your friend has been caught?
basically if you don’t start with the same people you started with you’re screwed perhaps call out the name of your friend see if they come running,maybe they lost track of time, or summat, that or call the police. When they say if you get caught you have to trust that your friends will help you.
Can I place items to hide in before the game commences?
And, oh goodness, if you find out that there is someone at home base that you didn’t play with, would that mean you all would have to stay there until the last participants return? What if they’ve been caught?
I suppose what I’m dancing around is this; in this case, would you and your friends be stuck at home base forever?
On a lighter note, I can imagine two entities arguing over who’s It.
“They spoke to me!”
“No, I could swear the humans called out to me!”
“Over my dead body!”
My only question is, if you’re running for “home base” is it possible for the spirit to catch you from behind? ‘Cause not to be cocky, but I’m fast asf and I feel like if I had to go full sprint I could outrun this spirit. So I just wanna know if the spirit is either like inhumanly fast or super slow.
Depends on what spirit comes. And I don’t think you can outrun a spirit. Spirits are unpredictable.
This one’s creepy, like very creepy. Just one little piece of advice I would like to mention- the closer you hide to home base, the easier it is for “It” to find you. Take that as you will.
Are you allowed to play this game again after successfully ending it a first time?