Laser tag strategy post
- If you haven't played laser tag in ~30 years, you'll need to make adjustments: the equipment is much different (and better) than you remember, and the rules are probably more complicated. Start by internalizing the idea that you don't need to get as close to your target as you used to.1
- If you're playing a laser tag variant with "power ups" or limited special abilities, some are likely to be vastly better EV choices than others. So, for example, the ability to shoot more rapidly is probably much more valuable than a 50% point bonus. (Even ignoring many of the other benefits of rapid shooting, you're almost certainly going to get more than 1.5x as many hits!)
- If you are one of a handful of adults filling out the rosters at a birthday party, remember that the other adults are not random adults. They are adults who prefer playing laser tag both to conversing with other adults and to being on their phones. If nothing else, they're probably quite motivated.
- Eight- and nine-year-olds are likely to use what poker players call "level one" or "level two" thinking, where they're either (i) reasoning directly about their goal without considering that others can anticipate their actions (that's level one), or (ii) making only the next-higher-order adjustment (level two). In this situation, consider defaulting to level-two thinking, but ready to switch into level three.
- If you are a tall adult, you might have qualitatively different strategic options available (e.g., simultaneously defending both the upper and lower levels of a two-level arena).
- If you're on the fence about volunteering to fill in an empty spot, do it. A bigger, mixed-age group will feel more exciting for the kids, and laser tag is fun!
Results: my team went 3-1, and I was the second-highest scorer, but a kid 1/3 of my weight and 1/5 of my age not only beat me but quadrupled my score. Here as elsewhere, (i) basic competence and careful planning can get you to the 95th percentile or so, and (ii) the very best talent is way better than everyone else (and even more productive than everyone else combined).
This applies to modern Nerf guns, also.↩