Live
Stratego
Two camps in the forest, a flag on each side and a card in your pocket that decides who wins when you're tagged. We mark out the area and run the game.
How live Stratego is played
Live Stratego is the board game translated to a forest or field. Two teams each get one half of the area and a flag they have to defend. Every player carries a card with a rank, visible to nobody except the game host. If you tag an opponent, you walk to the game host together and the higher rank wins.
Whoever loses picks up a new card at their own camp and can rejoin the game. So nobody stands on the sidelines for long. A round lasts thirty to forty-five minutes, and we usually play two or three, with time in between for the team to rethink its tactics.
- Rank cards, flags, tape and bibs in two colours
- Area scouted and marked out beforehand
- Game hosts in the field and at the referee point
- About two hours, from about 20 people
The ranks that make the game
The high ranks
Anyone with a high rank can tag almost anyone and is therefore the attacker. The risk is that the opponents quickly work out who it is and send a bomb after them.
The bombs
A bomb stays by its own flag and loses to nobody except a miner. Bombs give the defending team peace of mind, but a team that leaves too many players behind won't get anywhere itself.
The spy
The lowest rank of all, with one exception: the spy beats the highest rank if the spy does the tagging. Whoever draws this card needs patience and has to wait for the right moment.
The scouts
Fast runners with a low rank who head into the area to see where the flag is. They're often knocked out, but what they report back shapes the tactics of the rest.
The full rules, with all the ranks listed, are in our blog on the rules of live Stratego.
A running game needs clear agreements
Adults get more competitive in this game than they expect, and you need to be prepared for that. We only tag with a hand on the shoulder or back. Holding, pushing and grabbing cards isn't allowed, and the game hosts step in if it gets too rough. We explain that in the briefing, before anyone starts running.
We walk the area beforehand. Ditches, barbed wire, steep edges and roads are kept out of the playing area, and we mark the boundary with tape you can see even while running. There's one assembly point with a first aid kit and a whistle signal at which everyone stops. We ask participants in advance to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty.
The number of game hosts depends on the group and the area. In an open field we can manage with fewer; in a dense forest where you have little overview, we put more out.
Companies, clubs and groups of friends
On company outings, you quickly see who takes the lead and who'd rather quietly make a plan behind a tree. Teams have to agree who defends and who attacks, and that conversation is often just as much fun afterwards as the game itself. Clubs and groups of friends mainly play it for the running and the rivalry between the two camps.
For those who don't want to run, there are jobs in the camp, by the flag or as a bomb. So the game needs less fitness than it seems. If the group is mixed in age, we adapt the area so speed counts for less.
We play across the Netherlands, from Enschede. The price depends on the group size, the area and the number of game hosts. You'll get it after a short enquiry, within 1 working day.
Stratego is a trademark of its owner. AvonturenEvents is not affiliated with it. We organise our own outdoor game that is reminiscent of the well-known board game in its set-up, and use the name to describe the game principle you can expect.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of live Stratego?
Two teams each have a flag on their own half. Every player carries a card with a rank. If you tag an opponent, you compare cards with the game host and the lower rank is out. The first team to bring the other team's flag back to its own camp wins the round.
How many people do you need for live Stratego?
From about 20 people it becomes a proper game, with enough ranks on both sides. We play groups of 60 or more on a larger area with more game hosts. With a smaller group, we take a few ranks out of the game so the balance stays right.
Is live Stratego safe?
It's a running game in a forest, so someone can always trip. That's why we only tag with a hand, without holding or pushing, scout the area beforehand and keep ditches, barbed wire and roads out of the playing area. There are game hosts on hand and a first aid kit at the assembly point.
Where can you play live Stratego?
Ideally in a forest with some undergrowth, so you can hide. A park or a large field with clumps of trees also works. For public land, you sometimes need permission from the land manager. We'll sort that out together with you, and we can also suggest a site.
Tell us about your plan
Interested in live Stratego? Fill in the short form and we'll send you a price estimate within 1 working day.
Live Stratego with your group
Tell us the date, the number of people and whether you already have a site, and we'll send you a proposal.