Here is a game that we plan to use in next weeks Scout meeting. I have attached the rules and the pieces in case anybody wants to try it. I took the rules and modified them slightly from another site.

The Rules

Boy Scout Stratego is a wide game that can be played with two or more teams. Each player has a CHIT that identifies who he is in the game. We are giving you the game play rules early so that you will have every opportunity to study them and get to know the game before you play.

Please follow all instructions immediately.

The Setup:

All areas of the camp/school are fair play zones with the following exceptions:

• Buildings and Classrooms are Out of Bounds.
• Campsites are Out of Bounds.
• Parking areas and equipment storage areas are Out of Bounds.
• Leaving the School Premises is Out of Bounds

You will be given a FLAG for your team that the other teams will be attempting to capture. This FLAG will be placed wherever your team decides to place its Headquarters. (You don’t want the other teams to know where this is.)

Adults will supervise your Headquarters (HQ).

Your team’s administrators (the adults) will have a bag of chits for your team.

The Game Leader will give you a start command. From this point you have five minutes to hide your Headquarters and the two adult administrators. The flag has to remain in the Headquarters area within 20 feet of the administrators, who are not allowed to move the position. Once the game begins, you are not allowed to move your Headquarters. As soon as you are in position, each patrol member will reach into the administrators bag to get your first chit. You can use any spare time to come up with a strategy for finding the other administrative areas.

The Game Leader will blow a whistle once. This is your signal that the game will begin in two minutes.

When the whistle blows again, the game begins.

The Chit:  The Chit is your rank badge.  They are selected randomly out of the administrator’s bag.  They are worth point when captured from the opposing team.

Low numbers defeat high numbers.  See “The Game” below.

The Game:

You are trying to capture the flags from opposing teams. You are also trying to gain points for your team by “capturing” other players. A “capture” begins when one player TAGS another. Tackling is NOT allowed!  When you tag a player from another team, both players show each other their chits. If you are “captured”, you have to give up your chit.

“Capture” rules are:

• The lower number “captures” the higher number EXCEPT for the following:
• Any player except the FIELD MARSHALL (1) can “capture” the SPY.
• The SPY “captures” the FIELD MARSHALL (1).
• The BOMB “captures” anyone except the ENGINEER (9).
• The ENGINEER(9) “captures” the BOMB.

If you have the same number then play a quick game of ‘rock, paper scissors’ to find who wins.

When you are “captured”, you give your chit to the other player. You DO NOT give up any chits you have “captured”.

If you have been “captured”, you have to return to your Headquarters for another chit. You are NOT allowed to try to find another team’s administrative area while you do not have your own team’s chit.

Remember that you are trying VERY hard not to let anyone from another team know where your Headquarters is and sneak back accordingly. You are OUT OF PLAY until you have another chit in hand. This means that you cannot chase other players while you do not have a chit (although you CAN allow them to waste time by chasing you).

When you return to your Headquarters, turn in any “captured” chits to your administrators. Get a new chit and go out again. Remember that other teams will be trying to find your HQ by looking for the area everyone is coming from, and plan your route back into play accordingly.

If your administrators are out of chits, you are required to sit quietly in your Headquarters until the game is over.   If it gets to that point, the game will automatically end shortly.

If you find another team’s Headquarters and FLAG:

• You take the Flag to the Game Leader immediately. (You have to have your own chit to be eligible to “capture” the Flag.)
• You MUST carry the Flag in your hands.
• The Flag is NOT to be altered or hidden in any way.

Flag “Capture”:

• If a player is “captured” while holding the flag, the flag must be given up with the chit.
• If you “recapture” your own flag, you need to return it to your Headquarters immediately. Again, you MUST carry it in your hands.
• If you “capture” someone who is carrying the opposition Flag, you are allowed to take it to the Game Leader immediately.

The Game Leader will blow the whistle two times (two long blasts) to signal the end of the game. When this happens, all players and administrators return to the game start area immediately (on the RUN, guys!).

The Game leader will end the game if:

• You are not playing by the rules (A Scout is Trustworthy, and cheating will not be tolerated.)
• One of the Team Flags is turned in.
• The game’s time limit is reached.

When you are all at Game Center, you are required to turn over the chits you have “captured”, along with your own chit.

All the “captured” chits are counted up to arrive at your total score for the game. Once counted, all the chits will be turned back to their teams. Winning the flag will result in an unspecified number of points.  Once we have the scores figured out, we play again! The more time you dally, the less time you will have to play!

Boy Scout Stratego