Excuse the Absence!

I've had a pretty chaotic week! After I'd gotten back from Easter shenanigans at a friend's house, the game began. Indeed. Humans vs Zombies week began. The Apocalypse came to my campus.

Humans vs Zombies originated in Goucher College where a bunch of students came up with this eccentric game. It became so popular that it is now played in hundreds of communities and colleges nationwide. More information can be found on their website http://humansvszombies.org/.

HvZ is like a giant "big-kid" game of tag! Humans wear bandanas as armbands and Zombies wear them as headbands. It starts with an OZ - Original Zombie - who tags as many Humans as they can, infecting them. Those tagged by the OZ immediately become Zombies. The OZ wears an armband for the first 24 hours of the game, or until they tag 10 Humans. A tag is quite literally a tag. A Zombie has to chase after the Human and tag them.

Tags, for Zombies, equate to kills for food. A Zombie must "feed" or be "fed" every 48 hours, or they will stave to death. That is the only way to "lose" HvZ. Sometimes some Humans equate becoming a Zombie with losing.. That's not the case. In fact, living without the paranoia of getting mobbed by Zombies is a rather nice feeling. One can only lose if they do not tag anyone.

Tags are regulated through the website hvzsource.com. Every human has an ID number, which they carry with them at all times. So, when they are tagged by a Zombie, that Zombie enters the ID number into the website. When submitting the tag, the Zombie is able to "feed" two other Zombies as well. By feeding fellow Zombies, you increase the survival time of the horde.

Humans are not defenseless! They are allowed to use Zombie repellent. Nerf Darts and balled up socks can stun Zombies for 10 minutes. Typically Humans will stock up on both and fortify themselves in no-play zones. Many Humans will create packs or squads to protect each other and attempt to survive longest. It all becomes about who you know and where they are. By building up one's social network, a person can survive for quite a long time. This is a game of networking and social capital. You don't want to protect someone who can't protect you! Ultimately, you'll get killed for it! But, as a Zombie, you contact your Zombie friends and create a horde. Your horde will go to the missions, or go out Human hunting with you. Both parties are stronger in groups than alone.

Anywho, so this was the game that was played for a week, with missions to keep up excitement. It was supposed to span from Monday to Sunday, but us Zombies took out too many Humans. On Friday, our Moderators gave 7 Zombies (chosen from a lottery) revives, and the ratio of Humans to Zombies was relatively equal: 52:48 or so. But, then came the Friday evening mission. It was a glorious last stand for the Humans, and a magnificent win for the Zombies. 20 or so Humans versus 15 Zombies, maybe fewer. Strategically, the finale was definitely in our (Zombies') favor. So, the game ended earlier than intended.

I was sore, I was tired, I was bloody exhausted... But, HvZ was the most fun I'd had in a while. I met some fantastic people and bonded with some I already knew. Being a Zombie was tons of fun! Sprinting after Humans while going to class made the mundane ... absolutely wicked. So, spread the word! Maybe you can get one started in your community! At home? At camp? Family gatherings? Anywhere!! Check humansvzombies.org and hvzsource.com and find a game near you!!

More books to come! =)

Happy Hunting!
-Isabel