Game: Outdoor Survival

Thread: "The Deadliest Cliffhanger" Scenario *Makes this game FUN!

Dagnarus — 2008-06-25T19:01:05+00:00

Here's the scenario:

We are searching for a dude who has something important, but he is lost
in the woods along with his party of companions. We (the players) are all
lone rangers trying to get to the important treasure that the lost dude
has. We have GPS locating devices and have hacked into the lost party
members' cell phones to obtain their tracking signals. The only problem
is that we don't know which signal belongs to which party member. The
party members are spread out in the wilderness, probably because they
jumped out of an airplane and got scattered. This means that the one
important dude we are looking for could be any one of the tracking
signals we are looking at.

We begin our individual journeys into the wild, searching for the
treasure dude.

When we find dudes that aren't the treasure dude, we find that they are
dead/they are not the right guy so we kill them and eat them/they reveal
some secret to us/they tell us some back story to help us understand the
mind of the treasure dude/anything.

Once someone finds the treasure dude they take his treasure/him/whatever.
Once this happens shit hits the fan.

All of the other players that didn't find the treasure dude are suddenly
aware that one of their signals is on the move. At this point the other
players deduce that someone must have beaten them to the punch and found
the treasure. They really really don't want anyone to have the treasure
but them. Now the objective for each player is to run down the player who
has the treasure before he escapes off the map.

The problem is that the guy with the treasure is now LOST. He is not
following any GPS dots any more. He is just trying to get out alive.
Meanwhile, all the other players can still follow their GPS to the
treasure-bearer!

Once someone runs down the treasure bearer they may have some options.
Maybe they want to kill the treasure bearer and take it for themselves
and make a go at the wild on their own. Maybe they want to cooperate with
the treasure bearer and split the treasure and try to get out together.
Who knows.

The objective is to get out with SOME treasure at least, preferably all
of it. Alive.

The dice rolling is going to have to change. For instance, once you get
the treasure you are lost, so your dice become less powerful, you may end
up wandering random directions like in the original "lost" scenario that
we played. Meanwhile everyone else still has more powerful dice, this
makes them actually able to catch up to you.

Obviously there are other details that need to be fleshed out, do that yourself!

Everybody is just going to die in the end anyways.

Thread: Re: Looking for rules

Devon Harmon — 2008-05-07T17:05:15+00:00

Thanks. I might have to try Ynnen's variant. It might make the game better

Thread: Re: Looking for rules

astroglide — 2008-05-06T21:24:36+00:00

ynnen wrote:
The snarky part of me really wants to respond:

1. Roll a six-sided die.
2. Move in the direction indicated on the die.
3. Starve and/or Thirst.
4. Repeat until dead.

But I will resist the urge... I'm sure someone around will be able to help!

one can only wonder what you would have posted if you didn't resist the urge!

http://gamebits.gameroom.com/RULES/Outdoor_Survival_Rules.ht...

Thread: Re: Looking for rules

ynnen — 2008-05-06T20:55:48+00:00

The snarky part of me really wants to respond:

1. Roll a six-sided die.
2. Move in the direction indicated on the die.
3. Starve and/or Thirst.
4. Repeat until dead.

But I will resist the urge... I'm sure someone around will be able to help!

Thread: Looking for rules

Devon Harmon — 2008-05-06T20:32:18+00:00

I purchased this game (it was part of a lot), and it is missing the rules. Would anyone happen to have a scan, or know where I can find the rules? Thanks.

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Guantanamo — 2008-04-27T17:49:01+00:00

Sample Scenario

Thread: Re: Dungeons and Dragons

Great Dane — 2008-03-21T10:40:07+00:00

While AH at the time naturally promoted the game as one of their greatest successes - without telling the proper reason but maybe they were simply ignorant about the impact the new genre had

Thread: Re: Dungeons and Dragons

aramis — 2008-03-21T10:00:07+00:00

watcher_b wrote:
I had once heard that this game was required (or stongly encouraged to have) in order to play an early version of Dungeons and Dragons. Does anyone know anything about this?

In my '78 printing D&D boxed set, it is listed on the recommended supplies list.

Thread: The Hunt Scenario

the czar — 2008-02-21T16:59:42+00:00

Hi I was wondering if anyone has the Outdoor Survival "Hunt" scenario that they could post here or send me scans of?
Thanks in advance,
Dave

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MoraleCheck — 2008-01-22T17:03:40+00:00

Front of the rules. They fold up like a road map.

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MoraleCheck — 2008-01-22T16:00:59+00:00

The game included a 24-page guide of real life outdoor survival tips.

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MoraleCheck — 2008-01-03T22:51:22+00:00

Side of the box

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MoraleCheck — 2008-01-03T22:49:08+00:00

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

castrass — 2007-11-14T03:04:45+00:00

I purchased the game around 30 years ago and remember it being an entertaining game, but not enough action. My friends and I soon added rules additions to include rifles and "running man" scenarios.

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zeruf — 2007-10-05T21:51:35+00:00

thick trail that is easy to go through

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zeruf — 2007-10-05T21:49:24+00:00

mapchart

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zeruf — 2007-10-05T21:48:20+00:00

Life trail

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zeruf — 2007-10-05T21:47:40+00:00

Life level index chart

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

misteralan — 2007-06-18T16:56:38+00:00

misteralan wrote:
Its original purpose in the 1970s was for everything to be discarded bar the board, in order to be used as a campaign map for the original Dungeons & Dragons role player.

rri1 replied
No, but that is the reason quite a few copies were sold

So, it's true then, irony IS lost on Americans. I did know, I was working in a games shop back then. I now feel very old.

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

baba44713 — 2007-06-12T11:28:06+00:00

Well not just this game. Everyone should GET LOST!!

It's such a great TV show after all...

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

rri1 — 2007-06-12T01:58:34+00:00

misteralan wrote:
Its original purpose in the 1970s was for everything to be discarded bar the board, in order to be used as a campaign map for the original Dungeons & Dragons role player.

No, but that is the reason quite a few copies were sold.

Its real original purpose was to win a bet between game designer James Dunnigan and AH VP Tom Shaw. Dunnigan bet he could design a wargame on any suggested topic--Shaw said "Get Lost!" And history was made!

Not really. Yes, Dunnigan and Shaw did make the bet with Shaw publishing the game if Dunnigan succeeded (No word on what Dunnigan would have had to do had he lost the bet.) and did suggect getting lost in the woods as a topic.

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

ced1106 — 2007-06-11T23:07:24+00:00

Great review. I love the OS reviews on BGG.

Actually, I just read an Up Front thread, and would think the UF card mechanics would do a more interactive job of being lost in the wilderness.

Would it be any fun? Uh... maybe with the Blair Witch expansion set...

aka. Washu! ^O^

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

Brund the Decrepit — 2007-06-11T18:56:33+00:00

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

misteralan — 2007-06-11T16:19:07+00:00

Its original purpose in the 1970s was for everything to be discarded bar the board, in order to be used as a campaign map for the original Dungeons & Dragons role player.

Thread: Re: Tell this game to GET LOST!

Drew1365 — 2007-06-11T13:54:48+00:00

You have to think of Outdoor Survival as a bit of performance art on nihilism.

Thread: Tell this game to GET LOST!

rantinronrevue — 2007-06-11T11:50:56+00:00

I purchased Outdoor Survival in the early 80’s. I was trying to get my wife into gaming, and I was a big Avalon Hill fan. This seemed to be one of the few AH offerings that she showed any interest in, so I bought it. She actually liked the game to some degree – but I couldn’t tell you why.
I thought it may have just been me, but I found this game to be pretty dismal. The game features a beautiful mapboard that is wasted on six lame, uninteresting scenarios. Whether trying to make it across the map or searching for lost persons, you might die of boredom around the same time as your character dies from lack of food and/or water.
Luck/Strategy – The ‘strategy’ here consists of deciding how long to stay on a food or water hex to revive your character’s strength. The dice is used to determine what direction you must start moving in, and whether or not you can make any turns. Pretty heady stuff, huh?
Components – The large mapboard is colorful and utilitarian – it is the singular shining star in this otherwise morbid game. The cardboard counters representing the characters in various stages of diminished capacity are about as exciting as adding tofu to oatmeal Each player gets a card to track their demise, er, health status. The card is about the same quality of stock as a manila folder – a bit shoddy in my estimation.
Mechanics - Here’s where the game transforms from mediocre to horrendous. Depending on which scenario that you’re playing, it becomes possible to be forced by a die roll, off of a mountain trail (or swamp trail) into the mountain or swamp itself, with not enough movement allowance points to get back, and without food or water, die a slow and painful death.
This is basically a slightly modified roll-and-move game mechanic, period. Throw in a decision to be made: ‘Stay or Go’ on Food and Water hexes. If you stay too long, you’ll probably lose the game. If you don’t stay long enough, you’ll probably die in the wilderness.
Interaction – This game lacks any real device for player interaction. It’s basically a very slow race to the completion of the goal in the scenario card. You can play this game alone – really – with absolutely no difference of play (other than the fact that you wouldn’t have to worry about someone beating you to the finish.
Theme – This theme is pretty original, and certainly has the potential to be unique. Why not have more chances for food by adding a hunting element to the game? Maybe allow weather variations that would slow movement, but provide additional opportunity for water? Unfortunately, in this game the theme is nothing more than a backdrop that is pasted on to a roll-and-move game that could have been fit to any theme the manufacturer wanted.
Overall – To say that this is basically Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land for adults may be a bit of a stretch, but the lack of complexity in the game is very disheartening. I cannot imagine that this game was adequately playtested prior to release. But there IS one realistic similarity between this game and being lost in the wilderness. They’re both ordeals that seem excruciatingly long and are not a lot of fun to go through.

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fractaloon — 2007-04-27T01:12:44+00:00

The back of the box- close up.

Thread: Re: Discovered at the elementary school library . . .

Raid1280 — 2007-03-22T14:40:26+00:00

Sorry Timmy, its not your turn anymore.....you starved to death 3 turns ago...

Thread: Re: Discovered at the elementary school library . . .

Great Dane — 2007-03-09T08:39:14+00:00

Heh - I can imagine the expression on the face of a teacher/librarian trying to explain the rules to said 8-year olds.

Thread: Discovered at the elementary school library . . .

theaney — 2007-03-09T05:29:17+00:00

Went to my 1st-grader son's open house at his K-3 elementary school and wandering the library I spot a copy o Outdoor Survival in a stack of beaten up puzzle boxes. The OS box is held together by some aged masking tape and is leaking pieces.

I can only imagine how tremendously popular this game is with 8 year olds.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival Scenario 5

JavaJack — 2007-02-08T01:51:46+00:00

ti-cul wrote:
i was misiing the Scenario 5 Pursue.

I sent you a couple links for some quick & dirty shots of card 5.

Thread: Outdoor Survival Scenario 5

ti-cul — 2007-02-08T00:10:34+00:00

Hi, i just bought an Outdoor Survival Game from Avalon Hill; everythong looked good and unpunched, but in the scenario booklet, i was misiing the Scenario 5 Pursue.

I would be thankfull if someone who got this game could send me a scan of the two sided cardboard. or maybe just write to me all that is written there on the two side. so i can play all the scenarios.

Thanks,
Philippe Baillargeon

philbaillargeon@hotmail.com

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

Drew1365 — 2006-10-07T00:04:23+00:00

I have created a new avatar in honor of Outdoor Survival.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

ced1106 — 2006-10-06T22:54:44+00:00

Crossing OS with DQ. That would be cool.

Pity this was done before the CCG craze. A card game version might work -- having a map board destroys the first-person perspective of actually being lost.

aka. Washu! ^O^

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

Sphere — 2006-09-20T03:02:51+00:00

ACK ACK wrote:
I anticipate this game will come out from time to time when everyone is in the right mood. "Hey, let's play that game where everybody dies!"

That works for Dungeonquest.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

ACK ACK — 2006-09-20T02:25:37+00:00

I played this last night for the first time and had a blast.

It was introduced to our gaming group with the warning that we would all die. Going in with that mindset, we all had a good time seeing how and when our characters would die. (This was scenario #1, "Lost.")

Rolling a die to randomly move and switching out chits as your character became tired, then exhausted, then prostrate, and then finally dead tickled my funnybone. Three of the four characters made it close to the edge of the board before dying, so that made it even funnier. I was lucky enough to get down to zero movement points on a river space so I lingered on the longest, although I didn't manage to die closest to the edge of the board.

I anticipate this game will come out from time to time when everyone is in the right mood. "Hey, let's play that game where everybody dies!"

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

ilikeribs — 2006-09-09T01:48:11+00:00

Outdoor Survival is usually considered a bad game because most people would not know how to stay alive in the woods. This game rewards simply common sense practices; it punishes players who don't model rational behaviors.

For example, it is a bad idea for anyone to stray away from a water source. Three days without water and you are dead, just like in real life. Food is secondary but ranks in importance after a few days. Like in reality, you have to stick to your basics when you are lost in the outdoors - water, food, and shelter.

Next time, try not to amble around the woods or a desert for 5 days without a water source. Use rational behavior and you will find the game more enjoyable.

Thread: Re: The Creation of Outdoor Survival

Sagrilarus — 2006-09-07T23:40:12+00:00

    Years ago L Ron Hubbard told the editor of Astounding magazine that he would write a complete novel on the express train from New York to Los Angeles . . . and he did!

    Typewriter in the Sky is a good read, and gives you an idea of how prolific a writer Hubbard was. A few days after leaving the editor received the first half of the book, postmarked Chicago. The second half came the next day from Los Angeles.

    This story told to me by Phillip Klass (aka William Tenn) who was there at the time.

             Sag.

Thread: Re: The Creation of Outdoor Survival

steveoliverc — 2006-08-21T14:17:07+00:00

Without bothering to do any research or post a link to the interview, I recall reading an article where the designer (James Dunnigan) made a bet with the head honcho at Avalon Hill that he could design a game over a weekend. I don't think the bet was offered to everyone on the staff.

For such a bad game, it sure has stuck around for a long time. And it's got a great map.

Thread: The Creation of Outdoor Survival

Storm King Zero — 2006-08-21T04:06:39+00:00

To Whom It May Concern;

This story was related to the audience of the GenCon auction this year before three copies were going up for bid. I have no idea if it is true or not, but the old-timers that were present didn't argue and I assume it is at least a familiar myth if nothing else.

According to the story, a bet was offered that no one could design a game that had a completely new theme and was completely playable within 24 hours. The winner: you guessed it. So, at least the horrible reputation this game has forged over the decades was for good reason. Not like anyone was developing it for years and this was the final product.

Sincerely,
Little Known Fact Dept.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

rri1 — 2006-08-16T13:13:11+00:00

I think I heard that Dunnigan designed it on a dare, or something like that.

The story I heard is that James Dunnigan was going around AH offices saying he could design a wargame on literally any topic. AH VP Tom Shay told him, "Get Lost!" And Outdoor Survival is the result.

Not quite like that.

Apparently they agreed to a bet--if Dunnigan won, Shaw wood publish the game. (I am not sure Shaw would have gotten had Dunnigan lost.) And Shaw suggested getting lost in the woods as the theme. It was in one the Generals I own with an interview with Tom Shaw.

Of course the game is one AH's all-time top sellers, purportedly for two reasons:
- It was sold in unique places (like National Park gift shops) and sold to unsuspecting tourists.
- Early D&D players used the map for their adventures.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

jbetz45453 — 2006-08-16T12:51:00+00:00

I still have my game from when i was a teenager.I used to play this quite often back in the day and had fun with it.Our favorite scenarios were the one where you had to start on the east side of the board and make it all the way across the board and exit off the west edge of the board.We also played the lost scenario quite a bit and yes the direction you got to move was random but that is why it was the lost scenario.If you were not lost you would go the direction you wanted!I remember playing the lost scenario once and someone had the chance to make it but they needed to roll a certain number because depending on the dice roll you either had to move your full amount in a random direction or you could make one or two direction changes with a certain roll.So the person said come on anything but a 6!(or whatever the number was that would force you to move the full amount in one random direction)Sure enough they rolled a six which was the only number to stop them from escaping.Also the scenario where some one is an escaped person and the other two players are trying to capture him is pretty fun too.I think this game just doesn't stand the test of time too well as there are so many other better games out there now.Back when this was made i had only started getting into the avalon hill games and some of those that we played back them are not to highley rated here on the geek either like circus maximus is not highly regarded by many either but we had a blast with that and also titan we played alot which is still enjoyed by many.Outdoor survival is a game that i have not played in a while though but will hang onto it for the sentimental reasons for now and maybe even get a chance to break it out again.

Thread: Re: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

Dweeb — 2006-08-16T11:49:38+00:00

>I expected it to be a bad game and I was not disappointed.

So you enjoyed it, then?

>What I'm really left wondering is what possessed Avalon Hill to produce such a game?

I think I heard that Dunnigan designed it on a dare, or something like that.

I still have my copy I got in a thrift shop 30 years ago, and I keep it for "sentimental" reasons. I used to play the solo scenarios sometimes when I was extremely bored, and I also would always die.

Thread: Outdoor Survival: It really is that bad

Gnomekin — 2006-08-16T02:49:44+00:00

Having read so much about Outdoor Survival, when I saw a cheap copy, I knew I had to pick it up. While having a reputation as the worst game Avalon Hill ever put out isn't the same as being called the worst game Parker Brothers ever put out, it still made me curious.

Inside the box, I found some quick start rules, some standard rules, a small sheet of counters, a scenario booklet, a booklet of life indexes, a map and a survival guide. Yes, a survival guide, just like I would read back in Boy Scouts, complete with ink drawings of how you build a fish trap or set a back sprain. That alone made me blink. I'm not likely to take much more than a deck of cards if I was going to go off hiking in the wilderness. I seriously doubt I'd be dragging a copy of Outdoor Survival with me.

The map is probably the most famous part of the game, since so many people bought the game just to use the map for D&D. It's actually a pretty good map with an astonishing array of terrains. I'm not sure if there's any place in the real world where a desert and a swamp would be so close together but it's still nice. It's well mounted, even if it does have the infamous American fold in a major way.

The theme of the game is simple. You are a someone, usually a hiker, who is trying to get through a vast wilderness without dying. There are five different scenarios of differing complexity but that's the game in a nutshell. It uses a simple hex and counter mechanism, just like many wargames, only with a whole lot less counters.

While different scenarios have slightly different goals, all of them have the same basic mechanic. You begin your turn by rolling a six sided die (My copy didn't have one but that was easily solved) to see how much control you'll have over your movement. This can vary from going off in a random direction to choosing what direction you're going with one turn.

After you move, you roll again to see what kind of random wilderness encounter has happened to you. Two thirds of the time, they'll be bad, bordering on fatal.

Meanwhile, you have a separate sheet of paper to keep track of how you're doing in regards to food, water and life in general. If you are not able to make it to a food hex, you drop a step in the food column. That's bad. If you don't make it to water, you drop in the water column. That's infinitely worse. Thirst will kill you in no time.

As you drop down in food and water, you start to drop in life as well. Some of the random events can also take a hit on your life column as well. The worse off you are, the slower you go and the more unlikely you are to make it off the board. In the end, you will be crawling , if you're able to move at all.

I played out the first two scenarios solitaire. They did not take ninety minutes. They didn't even take a half an hour each. I died due to starvation or thirst well before then each time.

The lost scenario was easily the most horrible because almost all of the movement was random. I basically rolled dice in order to wander around until I died. The survival scenario gave me a lot more control over my movement. I still died, of course, but I felt like I had more choices in where I dropped dead.

Well, Outdoor Survival is not the worst game I've ever played. (It is the worst game I've ever played by Avalon Hill, though) I'll probably even pull it out again when I'm in the right mood. It's still pretty terrible, though. I expected it to be a bad game and I was not disappointed.

What I'm really left wondering is what possessed Avalon Hill to produce such a game? Was it only so they could have a game to market to national parks? That's the best explanation I can come up with.

In general, Outdoor Survival really is as bad as its reputation. Yes, I had fun with it, the same way I have had fun watching bad movies. However, if you choose to buy it, don't say I didn't tell you it was awful.

Thread: Re: Session Report

Sergeant Mike? — 2006-02-03T02:50:28+00:00

It's always good to hear that someone enjoys this game, the all time top seller (I think until Squad Leader came along) that Avalon Hill ever produced.

I just never had the imagination to enjoy it that much.

And then I bought Squad Leader...

Never had time for anything else after that.

Thread: Re: A charitable review. Well, as charitable as possible....

Earl_8Minus0 — 2006-01-24T19:26:53+00:00

Mike

This game I think came out when D&D, AD&D came out at least for me that is when it got played.

I forget now all the fun we had designing stuff to use the map for in our adventures.

I don't think we ever played the game per say just used the map and the basic pricinpal of getting from point to point or doing something to make our AD&D adventures more fun.

For the record I don't have my copy any more even though I have most of the "OLD" AD&D stuff for the joy of having them.

Later, Earl, SFC Schultz, FOB Salerno, Afghanistan

Thread: Re: User Review

blockhead — 2006-01-20T21:10:46+00:00

Pretty much completely disagree with everything positive you had to say about this game. Nothing personal, just hate the game.

I can contribute slightly to your description of the scenarios. Played #3 Search once. Put out the lost marker and several dummies (that is markers, not the players, but good catch!) face down. Multi-player game. First player to one of the possible "Lost Party" markers found the party.

Merciful quick end. Turned all counters right side up and all players face down.

There is not enough beer in the world to make this a decent game.

Thread: A charitable review. Well, as charitable as possible....

blockhead — 2006-01-20T20:45:18+00:00

Was hoping this game might involve a bit of decision making and/or impart some wilderness survival skills. Or at least be fun.

Nope.

You, as a player, are either lost in the woods, or searching for somebody who is lost, or some other variation on that. I see people have written capture the flag, or find DB Cooper variants, I doubt they add much to the non-existent game value.

The problem is that the little marker representing "you" moves randomly. You roll a die, and march off. Sometimes you are allowed to make a turn, but mostly you have to just go in a straight line. See the Session report for just how ridiculous this is. You will walk right past the food or water you need to survive.

It's more like roll the dice, watch your little idiot zombie stumble down a straight line, reduce your health, repeat. A slight change comes when you are too weak to move, then you get to just reduce health further until death.

The ONLY tiny bit of thinking you as a player ever get (and then not necessarily on every turn) is picking one of six initial directions for your zombie. Not enough strategy to challenge my cat.

Boring. Ill-Conceived. Zero fun. Zero Educational. Utterly worthless.

I could go on. But if you are the kind of person who would like to read more about how horrible this game is then you just might be the kind of person who conceivably could find some benefit in it. If so, I'll sell you my copy!

Thread: Re: Dungeons and Dragons

Robrob — 2005-08-26T03:42:33+00:00

The original D&D was very primitive and as well as liberally stealing art and ideas from other genres (anyone else remember that "halflings" were originally called "Hobbits" and the outdoor encounters could involve "Red Martians" and "Tharks" from Barsoom?) it actually recommended using other games as raw materials to run a D&D campaign. The authors suggested using the map from Avalon Hill's Outdoor Survival game to run the wilderness adventures.

Thread: Dungeons and Dragons

watcher_b — 2005-08-25T21:55:16+00:00

I had once heard that this game was required (or stongly encouraged to have) in order to play an early version of Dungeons and Dragons. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thread: Survival of the Fittest?

puck4604 — 2005-05-13T13:43:03+00:00

My wife and I sat down to play Scenario #2, "Survival," in a session which reminded me of the song by hair-band Ratt titled "Round and Round." I say this because of the inherent randomness the game uses to determine player position from turn to turn; in effect, your "character" can go in circles, eventually running out of food and water to die a horrible death. I watched this happen to my wife's character, and to a certain degree, my own.

The situation calls for the players to move from east to west, the player who crosses off of the board on the west side the winner--or, the player closest to the west edge of the board, should everyone become incapacitated.

While the "Survival" scenario does allow for more freedom in movement (all dependent on the die roll, of course), for someone having a night of bad rolls (ie-my wife), the game becomes an exercise in futility. You know you're going to die, and the question becomes "when?"

My wife and I started off fit and healthy, though, and we each went in almost opposite directions. After two turns, and both of us neither crossing water or food sources, it was apparent that ill tidings were to follow. We were each down one life level, on the verge of losing another, and the next two turns did not help.

Down to the C level of life, both of us took a "Random Encounter" of the "Personal" variety from the back of the scenario card, hoping to alleviate our dire circumstances. Each of us rolled the dreaded six! Lose two life levels! No!

It was at this point where we decided to use the optional rule where each base can be used as a water and food source, losing a few turns to gain a level of each index. This would be the turning point of our game for the next few rounds, and we both thought that we had the chance to survive.

However, such was ill-conceived. Quite suddenly my wife had a succession of rolls that basically caused her to wander "round and round" as her life began dwindling. For the remainder of the game this happened to her, leading eventually to her death with less than one-fourth of the board left for her to traverse for the win.

At this point we called the game over.

I understand the die roll determining the direction you'll travel and why it is done this way: to simulate what happens when someone becomes lost, weakened by their lack of water and food, causing them to lose sight of what direction they should be (or have been) traveling. However, even in a weakened state of mind, there are certain truths which nature has been providing since the dawn of time, such as the Sun rising in the east and setting in the west. The game does not allow for such knowledge.

Because of this, my personal rating for this game has dropped. While my wife and I always have fun playing our games, I cannot say that this particular session was as exciting as the other one we've played with "Outdoor Survival."

Thread: Land of the Lost

puck4604 — 2005-05-11T12:28:48+00:00

What I expected to be a game which lasted at least 45 minutes to an hour was actually over and done in less than 30 minutes. After setting up the board and our life meter cards, followed by a quick explanation of play, my wife and I started our game. Since I had read the rules, and she learns game rules better by example, I went first.

Leaving the base camp, I started off in a southeastern direction, passing through a forest and stopping at a patch of wild blackberries. With my hunger satiated, though lacking in water, I still felt pretty good.

My wife headed due north from the base camp with no sign of water or sustenance thereabouts. However, as luck would have it, after searching around her encampment she found a small spring at the end of a gully. Her belly full of water, it was if she had a canteen at her disposal.

The next morning, the lack of water leaving me lightheaded, I turned away from the forest just beyond my camp, striking out for the mountains to the north. Traveling north-northwest, I crossed a murky stream that smelled slightly of sulfur, daring not to drink. Stoping on the plains for the night, I had not thought of bringing any of the blackberries, and I had no water. Yet, noting the dampness of the tall grasses, realizing it must have rained sometime before my arrival, I began looking around in hopes of finding water somewhere nearby. Luckily, the fallen leaves of a small tree had acted like tiny collection bowls, and I was able to drink enough water to quench my thirst and reinvigorating me as much as I had been when I left the base camp.

My wife continued on towards the mountains, having to stop once she reached the sheer wall of rock of the southern face of a very tall cliff. Tired, hungry, and a little thirsty, she stopped for the night, a little more worse for the wear than she had been so far.

Without realizing that her and I were only a few miles apart, I had found a way into the mountains by the next morning, headed northeast and towards what looked to be a valley. As I climbed along a short drop-off the rock beneath my feet gave way and I fell about twenty feet, wrenching my right arm out socket as I tumbled down the little ravine. Tired, hurting, and weary, I felt--for the first time--as if my life were slowly ebbing away. I may not make it out of here alive.

My wife skirted the southern edge of the mountains, headed towards a forest to the east. Just as she was about to call it quits for the night the forest opens up in a clearing, a small pond of cool, crisp water bekoning her. As the full moon shone down upon her, she sat at the edge of the water and took in long, cool drinks from her cupped hands.

The next morning, my arm throbbing, and having had no food or water for over a day, I slowly made my way northeast towards the valley in the mountains. That evening, with still nothing to eat or drink, I really believed I was dying.

My wife, however, awoke refreshed the next morning. Turning again towards the mountains, in a general northwest direction, she was again at the very edge of them when she discovered a trail leading through the mountains. She decided to follow it, though by nightfall she was in need of water and food.

On my fifth day of trying to find my way out of this wilderness hell, I climbed the one last mountain which was keeping me from the valley. As I stood on the mountaintop I saw that the valley was actually a trail! I made for it, though I was in dire need of something, anything, to drink. My stomach was grumbling, but the ache in my right arm was screaming louder. I slept fitfully at best.

My wife's fifth morning found her following the trail. Though she was unable to find any water or anything to eat as she went, her travels through the mountains was progressing far better than my own. The trail opened to the north and the level grassy plains, and she made camp that night beneath a clear, star-filled heaven.

My sixth day found me in serious need of medical attention, the dislocation in my shoulder, along with the lack of water and food, was making me sick. I was running a fever. I continued following the trail, hoping that its end would find me in civilization. I only slept that night due to my exhaustion.

Awaking from a deep sleep, the sun just beginning to rise over the horizon, my wife headed due north across the plains. Towards the middle of the afternoon, as she was continuing along, in the distance running perpendicular to her location, was a highway! As she started running towards it a car apeared to the east, headed west. Waving her arms frantically, she gained the attention of the driver who slowed to a stop. The good citizen drove her to the closest town, still a thirty minute drive northwest. She would gather up a search party in hopes of finding me!

Five years later, a Boy Scout troop working on their Wilderness Survival merit badge got a lesson they'll not soon forget, as they stumbled across my bleached bones resting at the mouth of the mountainous trail, my left arm outstrectched towards the plains beyond. My wife thanked them when they returned with my body, presenting her with the wedding ring she had given me all those years ago.

All in all, the game lasted not even 30 minutes. This was the first time I had played, and while I enjoyed how easy the game was to learn and operate, I'll need another few sessions before I will be able to determine my real enjoyment. Sure, we had a good time, but I was left feeling empty when the game ended so quickly.

Thread: Re:Session Report

fractaloon — 2005-03-12T01:49:36+00:00

lol! That's a great session report. Well done!

Thread: Session Report

fractaloon — 2005-03-12T01:40:50+00:00

I played a few games of Outdoor Survival tonight. I used the D.B. Cooper variant here on the Geek.

I tried three games. The first game the search plane started by heading due north. I took off in a bee line towards my cache. The plane kept going up and down searching in a vertical line. I get the feeling the pilot figured he would find me as long as he kept covering the same area. Anyway, I had some lucky rolls and made it straight to the exit without any trouble whatsoever. It was a bit off a dissapointment.

The second game was more difficult. The plane took off east as I headed west so I felt pretty safe. I went a little bit but then got stuck in a jungle and got lost wandering around in random directions. I died pretty quick after that with all my millions.

The third game, the plane went of due south-east and I took my usual route. I found I was running low on water real fast and stopped at a watering hole to rest and fill my canteen over the next few turns while the search plane looked for me far on the eastern edges of the map. I took off again once I felt refreshed but didn't get very far. The plane ended up coming close to me and spotting me as I crossed a mountain pass no more than three days from my chache and safety.

All three games went pretty quick. The last was the longest which finished in about 8 minutes. The only real trouble was some cat interference.

The scenario felt a bit to easy and may need some tweeking. One idea is to start at the eastern ege of the map at hut #9.

Thread: Re:Session Report

Robert Osvalds — 2005-02-11T22:12:19+00:00

edosan (#83728),

Good report! I actually play this game. You let them off easy (via death) with nobody in pursuit of them! I'm sure that they broke some law, somewhere.....
LOL@ Dorito tree.

Thread: Re:Session Report

wtrollkin2000 — 2005-02-11T17:44:14+00:00

Check out the google adds at the top of the page. They match the story.

Thread: Re:Session Report

ValJor — 2005-02-11T14:48:17+00:00

Hi Ed!

Even though I never played this game, your session report is hilarious. I chose it for my Excelence in Session Report Writing Award for this week, I have given you one . Great work!

Thread: Re:Session Report

bop517 — 2005-02-09T19:18:21+00:00

edosan (#83728),

Reading the session report was way more fun that actually playing the game years ago.

LMAO

Thread: Re:Session Report

Sky Knight X — 2005-02-08T20:59:24+00:00

edosan (#83728),

I still can't stop giggling.

Thread: Session Report

edosan — 2005-02-08T00:33:54+00:00

OPENING: A forest. A crashed airplane in a clearing.

(TITLE: "Cold, Wet, and Doomed: the Boardgame")

(SUBTITLE: "Lost")

SHANE and ED are sitting on a rock, close to the downed airplane. Both loo a little banged up , but have no serious injuries.

SHANE: Boy, that was close.

ED: Yup.

SHANE: Maybe we should use the radio on the plane and call for help.

ED: (Astounded) No way! We should pick a random direction, and walk into the woods, hoping to find help.

SHANE: But the radio works, we could sit in that cabin over there (points) and wait until we're rescued. The optional rules -- I mean, my gut instinct -- tells me there's ample food and water in the cabin.

ED: (Snorts derisively) Sure, if you want to take the cowardly way out.

SHANE: So what do you want to do?

ED: Pick a direction and start walking.

SHANE: Fine.

ED: Fine.

(ED and SHANE both get up and start in different directions)

ED: Why are you going that way?

SHANE: (Shrugs) No reason. Why are you going that way?

ED: Dunno. Seemed like a good idea.

SHANE: Should we get some of that food in the cabin?

ED: Nah. I'll find a Dorito tree along the way or something.

SHANE: Well, good luck.

ED: Likewise.

(SCENE: Later, by a stream. The water is cool and refreshing, with a stack of disposable paper cups nearby)

SHANE: Mmmmm. This water sure is good. I wish I could have found some food though.

(SCENE: Deeper in the woods.)

ED: Boy, am I hungry. And thirsty, too. Well, time to pick another random direction and walk, deviating to neither the left nor to the right. (Keeps walking)

(SCENE: Much later. By a mountain. SHANE is obviously close to starvation but is still pretty mellow about his impending death.)

SHANE: Man, I'm getting tired. This lack of food is getting to me. Well, easier to go over than around, I always say. (Starts climbing the mountain)

(SCENE: The middle of a desert. ED isn't looking that hot either, but is nowhere as mellow about HIS impending death.)

ED: (Wearliy) There's gotta be a Starbucks around here...maybe a Subway sandwich shop...I think I have a frequent buyer's card for Subway filled up...mmmm...teriyaki chicken...(dies)

(SCENE: Woods. Back with SHANE.)

SHANE: I sure hope Ed did better than I did. I think I passed that same clump of trees five times now. Well, I'll go east. No, wait, west, oh, heck, I can't move anyway, so what's the use. (dies)