How To Play Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a popular game that combines strategy, teamwork, and agility, offering an exhilarating experience whether you’re playing paintball or laser tag. But, the rules (and the game’s many variations!), can sometimes be hard to grasp. Our team is here to help. So, first things first, how do you play Capture the Flag?
At its core, the objective of this exciting game is simple: capture the opposing team’s flag and return it to your base without getting eliminated. This classic game can be played with varying team sizes, flag placements, and rules to fit any setting.
Read on to learn the basics of how Capture the Flag works, from the starting positions and gameplay to winning strategies and exciting game variations that work for both laser tag and paintball.
How Does Capture the Flag Work?
Capture the Flag is a really simple game to play – and the clue is in the name! We explore every important element of the game in more detail below:
Objective Of the Game
The main goal is to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to your base without being eliminated (i.e. shot in paintball or tagged in laser tag). It may have to be done within a certain amount of time, depending on the variation of Capture the Flag you are playing.
Teams
Players are divided into two teams, each with a base and a flag. Teams can really have as many players as you’d like in them, but we’d recommend 10-15 people per team. Or, if you don’t have that many people playing, smaller teams of six (or even each man for themselves) work well when playing Capture the Flag.
Top Tip: Designate a colour for each team, and incorporate it into the protective gear (such as colour helmets or a coloured band around a player’s arm), as this makes it easier to distinguish who is on which team when playing.
Flag Placement
Each team’s flag is usually placed at their base or a designated spot in their territory. If you have castle-like structures in the arena or playing grounds, we’d recommend hiding the flag high up or within a room of the structure to make the game harder for the other team. The flag should be placed and left alone before the countdown to gameplay begins.
Starting Position
Teams start at their respective bases, typically with a countdown before the game begins. The bases are typically located at either end of a field or arena, as far away from each other as possible (as this makes the game harder!) Teams must not leave their base before the countdown finishes, as this leads to disqualification.
Gameplay
As a basic guide, Capture the Flag follows three simple steps, which include, but are not limited to:
- Players move across the field, strategising to capture the enemy flag whilst defending their own base.
- If a player is shot (paintball) or tagged (laser tag), they might have to return to their base to “respawn” or sit out temporarily, depending on the rules you’ve chosen.
- Teamwork and communication are key to attacking the enemy base and defending your own, and whoever succeeds at bringing the enemy’s flag back to their own base, wins!
Rules/gameplay may differ depending on the Capture the Flag variation you are playing (more on this below).
How To Win Capture the Flag
The game ends when a player successfully captures the enemy flag and brings it back to their base, or by completing other specified objectives (as outlined above in the many game variations). Whichever individual, or team, successfully captured the flag is declared the winner!
For more advice on how to win your paintball or laser tag game, check out our helpful blog: 10 Tips and Tactics for Paintball Success
Capture the Flag Variations
There are many different variations of the Capture the Flag game that can be introduced to make the game shorter, longer, or more challenging! Popular variations of the game include:
- Unlimited respawns
- A time limit to capture the flag
- Sudden death rounds
- A single/centre flag is placed in the centre of the field and both teams compete to grab it and bring it back to their own base
- Multiple flags for each base
- An invisible/hidden flag (which means each team has to search for each other’s flag!)
- Reverse capture the flag, where teams have to safely transport their flag to their opponent’s base without getting caught out
Where Was Capture the Flag Invented?
Capture the Flag dates all the way back to the 19th century, more specifically to 1860, when the rules first appeared in a gymnastics manual from Germany. It then became popular in France and more of Europe and was widely referred to as “Barlauf mit Fahnenraub”, which translates to “Bar Run with Flag Robbery”.
The English version of Capture the Flag that we know today gained popularity in the early 20th century as it was often played in Scouting groups. Today, it is a go-to game for paintballers and laser tag players alike, with some Capture the Flag games even being available to play online!
For a quick history lesson on laser tag and its many variations, read one of our newest blogs: Laser Tag – Everything You Need To Know
Where is Capture the Flag Played?
Capture the Flag is a game that is now played across the world, but is still most prevalent in Europe. It is usually played in outdoor settings, such as dedicated paintball or laser tag arenas, in fields or woodland areas, but it is also a popular game to play in school sports halls, Scout huts, and gymnasiums.
Believe it or not, but Capture the Flag is also often played virtually in cybersecurity classes or in military academies.
Epic Paintball & Laser Games in the South Of England With Velocity Paintball
Ready to put your Capture the Flag knowledge into practice? Get in touch or visit our paintballing centres in Bristol, Tunbridge Wells or Slough. We can’t wait to welcome you for a game of capture the flag during your session with us!
If you’re looking for more comprehensive gameplay guides, check out the rest of the blogs on our website: How To Play Paintball – How To Play Laser Tag
