How to Play Professional Laser Tag

While home laser tag has its perks, many players like the increased level of involvement in professional arena or outdoor play. Professional laser tag facilities invest in the latest, most powerful game software and equipment, making games more complex or realistic. The social element of public play is an entertainment draw and more exciting than playing with the same taggers all the time. Learn to win at professional laser tag.

Things You'll Need

• Access to an indoor laser tag arena or outdoor park facility

Instructions

Learn the Rules

1. Start the game as you enter the arena or field, or from a home base as designated by the professional staff.

2. Add points, or "lives," to the number that you start out with in each particular game by tagging other players' body sensors with your laser.

3. Lose points when you are tagged. A referee may add or subtract lives to your tagger unit depending on your performance.

4. Lose the game when you run out of lives. You may have to exit the arena or go to a special "dead zone" for a period of time, according to specific game rules.

5. Win the game by staying alive and by getting the highest accuracy (hits to shots made) score.

Play the Game Like a Pro

1. Move defensively, according to the type of body equipment you have. Note where your sensors, or targets, are located, and approach your opponent with the sensors facing away, even if this means moving sideways or backwards.

2. Use the professional setting to move offensively. Catwalks, mazes, pillars and outdoor blinds can be used for sniping your opponents.

3. Strategize where you will go on the playing field and implement an attack and retreat routine.

4. Take advantage of more sophisticated equipment. Each action may correspond to a certain audio cue on a body pack. Learn what the sounds mean, and you'll be able to "hear" what your opponent is doing even when you can't see him and act accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out facility-specific rules before you play. Most arenas have rules for the physical protection of players and to prevent cheating.

• Dress for success. Wear dark or camouflage clothing to avoid detection under arena black lights or in outdoor terrain.

• Don't go into the game clueless or you'll get slaughtered. Take a few minutes to watch other players or an orientation video to review the basic rules and tactics.

• Crouching or crawling is dangerous in low-light arena conditions. You may trip somebody or damage equipment.