Laser Storm Draft Tournament with Tag 4 A Cause

Skyway Laser Storm was the site for a draft tournament that drew players from several states (and even Canada!) to partake in some unique laser tag competition. This was simultaneously the host location for my most recent Tag 4 A Cause event in support of Action Against Hunger. Players who donated to the cause competed in a high score trophy challenge following the main team tournament competition, so there was a full day of laser tag for everyone to enjoy.

The tournament began with the draft, dividing players into five six-player teams with experienced and novice Laser Storm players balanced on each team. I was on the Creep1nx team playing alongside Emma, Professor Shaggy, Creep1nx, Ninja Master and FieroGt.

Meanwhile I was set up with a Tag 4 A Cause table in the lobby, encouraging players to donate to the cause, pledge to laser tag 5K (which at a tournament should be easy to accomplish) and earn their 5K medal. 

My thanks to the players who stepped up to help the cause and accept the challenge!

The five teams were divided like this…

When our team was called into our first game we were at a bit of a disadvantage. Some unfortunate circumstances took a couple of players out of the tournament at the last minute. 

This left us with an uneven number of players and a team of five until Shaggy arrived to join us. But by our second game we had a full roster and were able to bounce back with a win against the Reflex team. 

I really enjoyed the draft format at this event because it gave players from different laser tag backgrounds and experience levels a chance to play together and learn more about the unique style of playing Laser Storm through the process.

The games are also really interesting to watch from the observation deck where you can really see what is happening.

Throughout the round robin series of games players examined scorecards and compared performance with the more veteran Laser Storm players. There continued to be more challenge and more support for the cause.

This was an excellent learning experience coupled with some really enjoyable competition. When the tournament was complete, Rave (who had stepped in to run the event) announced the placements.

Dominator’s team took first place. The team I was on with Creep1nx came in second and there was a tie for third place between Lanari and Rave’s teams. How did that happen? It goes back to the very first game of the tournament, a nail-biter that ended like this.

So right from the start, this event had lots of interesting things going on!

As the team competition concluded, we got ready for the Tag 4 A Cause side event. Players who had supported the cause were randomly divided into one of two qualifier games.

The players with the top ten scores out of these games would move on to a bonus final round for one more chance to pull the high score. The trophy would be awarded to the highest individual score from any of the three side event games.

The top ten gathered around the fundraising goal thermometer to proudly share the news that Tag 4 A Cause raised over $500 this quarter in support of Action Against Hunger.

When all the games were over, the top score belonged to Aidan Stewart who took home the custom golden phaser trophy. Congratulations!

My thanks to everyone who helped us Tag 4 A Cause with donations to Action Against Hunger. You can learn more at https://www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com/tag4actionagainsthunger.

Thanks also to George Raptis for coordinating the tournament in advance and providing the use of his arena for everyone to enjoy this Laser Storm event.

And final thanks go to my teammates and all the tournament players for being awesome people to hang out with and making this Laser Storm draft tournament so much fun!

I love that we have been able to successfully combine laser tag and fundraising to use the game we all love as a vehicle for helping to make a difference. I can’t wait to return to Skyway Laser Storm. See you there!

Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com 

Team Time

I met up with my Armageddon teammates while we were all in Ohio the night before a different tournament (a draft where we were not likely to be on the same team), so we took the opportunity to enjoy some tag together at a couple of locations. We met up at Putt N Stuff in Orrville, which is believed to be the last location in the country (maybe the world?) still operating with LaserTrek, which makes it very interesting to all of us.

Wil, Dave, Chris and Kassidy were all waiting for me when I arrived. The whole team was looking forward to experiencing something different. This was a rare opportunity for me and for everyone else it was also a first opportunity to play using this vintage system.

We vested up under the black lights, which really make the neon colors pop!

Owner Dana gave us a system briefing, going over how you have to tag two bases in a row in order to then proceed to tagging the mega-base in the center. Bases are the key to this game.

I enjoy the “intruder alert” which harkens back to Photon. We all had different play styles. Cookie and I were all about getting those base tags. Dave went up the ramps to take sniper shots from the upper level looking down on the entire arena.

Wil tended to engage more on the offense while Kassidy adopted a spot with some cover to tag as players passed by. I think those game styles are indicative of how we play on other systems too. 

The arena got some nice compliments from the whole group and at the end we exited to the counter out front where Dana announced our placements. He built to some suspense at the end, as he could obviously tell Cookie and I are both super competitive. And the winner is…Cookie! However, I’ll still take some pride in taking second.

From here we moved on to our next location, the North Canton Skate and Entertainment Center for a game of Lazer Runner. We walked through the facility past the skaters to the laser tag arena on the opposite side of the facility. I was pleasantly surprised that we were going to get to use newer Runner packs in a really nice arena!

This was a really nice two-story arena that was much larger than I would have guessed. This is actually one of the best Lazer Runner arenas I have ever experienced with familiar system-specific walls making up the maze on the bottom floor and a bright neon “internal tech” theme on the perimeter and upper-level walls.

The view from the ramp gives some perspective of the balcony-style overlook design.

And there is something I really love about a fully grated floor that lets you tag between levels.

These floors are a little “Quest-like” and we were all hoping to play a little LQ as we were close to the only site in the country still actively using the gear. But first, a dinner break.

While we were at dinner we called (twice) to inquire about getting into games at the other center, but unfortunately were told it was a very busy night and they were sold out for the remainder or the evening. Heavy sigh.

Oh, well. With no other laser tag arenas close enough for us to visit at that hour we shifted gears and decided to do something else. These are the faces of people who didn’t get to play more laser tag and had to settle for bowling instead.

Well, we decided to enjoy the experience and we bowled a game in honor of Katt. 

I think it’s safe to say none of us will be turning pro any time soon.

However, this was a nice way to spend some team time together before the next day’s laser tag tournament and by the time we left our mood had shifted.

It was really nice to get to hang out with my teammates and enjoy a nice evening exploring the laser tag and other entertainment in this part of Northeastern Ohio. 

Comments or Questions?

Contact: Tivia@tiviachickloveslasertag.com

Websites: www.tiviachickloveslasertag.com and www.photonforever.com