# What would your strategy be in a real-life Hunger Game? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 23, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701 "2012-04-23T16:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/41 "2012-04-25T13:04:26Z")
I haven’t read the books or seen the movie, but from what I gather in this thread, attempting to kill the organizers sounds like something that will be successful only if the author is on your side. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/42 "2012-04-25T13:28:26Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I still wonder, though, why didn’t Peeta wait for the careers to fall asleep on the first night and kill them all at once? You don’t think they kept a multi-person watch all night? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/43 "2012-04-25T13:41:31Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I haven’t read the books or seen the movie, but from what I gather in this thread, attempting to kill the organizers sounds like something that will be successful only if the author is on your side. Indeed. I agree with **RickJay** : There is no winning strategy here. The game is being manipulated behind the scenes by all-powerful, all-knowing characters who may as well be gods for the intents and purposes of the game. The way I see it, your only two options are a quick and early suicide-by-contestant, or using tactics to try to last as long as possible, while knowing that the odds are stacked against you. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/44 "2012-04-25T14:29:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You’re stuck in a prisoner’s dillemma, though; in fact they ARE your enemy, at all times, and like the two prisoners, it is invariably to your immediate benefit to be the first one to betray the other if you can’t guarantee the other one won’t betray you. And you can’t guarantee that, so it’s always to your benefit to kill them, and to theirs to kill you. If not now, then sooner or later it will be, as the number of opponents dwindles and the calculus changes. Worse than a prisoner’s dilemma, really; in the classic dilemma, if both prisoners stay firm, they both go free. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/45 "2012-04-25T14:30:18Z")
[QUOTE=Omi no Kami] I forget- does District 4 have an academy like 1 and 2? [/QUOTE] Katniss defines “the Careers” as district 1,2 and 4 early on, and doesn’t clarify. But - and this is me reading between the lines here - District 4 four doesn’t seem to do the academy thing. This leads me to believe they are more Careers-by-association, and that they ally with the careers as part of a tradition, or because their mentors have some deal going behind the scenes. I think district 4 and district 7 ( The lumber district) just tend to produce capable contestants, because they start physically demanding work early. But 7 isn’t part of any permanent alliance. Which is why an alliance consisting of district 7, one more district, and someone who knows about food and isn’t a drag could conceivably tempt district four away from the Careers. Meaning that, instead of the usual 6-person team of capable fighters facing four-to-one odds, you now have a four-person team facing six-to-one odds, seven of which are working together. They’ll still be one hell of a threat mind you - a trained fighter can usually take out six untrained ones. But it looks a lot better than what we had before. Once there are only the seven of you left, you still have the same problem, but this was never going to be a sure thing, was it? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/46 "2012-04-25T17:02:32Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s great that you’re thinking so nobly, but it’ll get you killed, and I’m trying to answer the OP. > > The kid who doesn’t think like you will kill you. So you won’t win, so it’s not an answer to the OP. Thinking inside the box will give me approximately a 96% chance of getting killed. Given odds like that, I think any sane person would be willing to consider fighting the hypothetical. Especially since, if everyone takes the sane option, the organizers _can’t_ win. Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/47 "2012-04-25T17:04:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thinking inside the box will give me approximately a 96% chance of getting killed. Given odds like that, I think any sane person would be willing to consider fighting the hypothetical. Especially since, if everyone takes the sane option, the organizers _can’t_ win. Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. Great, but the OP asks how you’d win the Hunger Games, not how you’d die nobly. What you’re proposing is to die nobly. Bully for you, but you haven’t won the Hunger Games. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/48 "2012-04-25T17:10:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Great, but the OP asks how you’d win the Hunger Games, not how you’d die nobly. > > What you’re proposing is to die nobly. Bully for you, but you haven’t won the Hunger Games. Actually, the OP asks what your strategy would be. Not how you would win. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/49 "2012-04-25T17:21:31Z")
Nuke 'em from orbit - it’s the only way to be sure. Though I am guessing that both nuclear weapons and the ability to get to LEO are difficult to come by for contestants Brian ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/50 "2012-04-25T18:07:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thinking inside the box will give me approximately a 96% chance of getting killed. Given odds like that, I think any sane person would be willing to consider fighting the hypothetical. Especially since, if everyone takes the sane option, the organizers _can’t_ win. Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. I’m not sure if you’ve read the books or seen the movie, but there is no way out of the arena they’ve put you in. There’s a force field around area that will keep you there. Since I"m stuck there I think Katniss had a pretty good idea. Grab something, anything, close to you and run the hell away. Then stay low for awhile. Just based upon my interests as a kid I might have been able to make some very rudimentary weapons out of stone. Might not have been good but would be better then nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/51 "2012-04-25T18:19:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. Depends on how they kill you, doesn’t it? My guess is that a viewing audience would be just as entertained by seeing all the erstwhile contestants hunted down and killed by death squads dispatched for the purpose by the organizers. If you manage to kill a few squad members before your destruction, well, That’s Entertainment!..and you’ll have done nothing that harms the organizers in the least. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/52 "2012-04-25T18:58:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thinking inside the box will give me approximately a 96% chance of getting killed. Given odds like that, I think any sane person would be willing to consider fighting the hypothetical. Especially since, if everyone takes the sane option, the organizers _can’t_ win. Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. You do understand that if you do this, they’ll kill your family, right? Mom, dad, wife and kids if you have 'em? Really piss them off and they’ll bomb your whole Town into powder. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/53 "2012-04-25T18:58:52Z")
I think as an 18 year old, I would have done pretty well. I had done significant hunting and was in very good shape- I would have been definitely in the top two for strength, in particular, and also sprinting. I think my other advantages are not being easily rattled (or losing my calm) and being very very patient (as I have lots of things to ponder already in my head). I think I’d be able to ignore many of the mindgames done by the game makers. I’d be a District 11 or maybe 10. So my strategy would be: 1. Run for the cornucopia 2. Grab a few things- backpacks seem to be a solid prospect, ax as stated above- but no stopping as the careers seem to try and hoard everything 3. Head for the boundary. There is no advantage in hanging out while the first offings occur- except you could get some favoritism from the audience for getting some early kills 4. Wait for several days- making weapons (defecating and introducing bacteria to spear tips, etc.) and learning the terrain. Meanwhile try to drop from the minds of the other competitors. 5. Also from the kills that are made figure out: a. who is remaining b. what their strengths are c. and where they will be trying to hide/control 6. Then do a guerilla style- hit and run- attacks. I don’t think these have to be lethal. So looking to damage people, shelters, and weapons. Whatever is exposed that would be least exposing of myself. 7. Injured people can be plucked off later by myself or by other competitors. All of my strategy goes to hell if the arena is desert like or super hot in which case, I am probably toast with my 100% defensive game. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/54 "2012-04-25T19:30:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not sure if you’ve read the books or seen the movie, but there is no way out of the arena they’ve put you in. There’s a force field around area that will keep you there. Ah, so much the better, then. I was presuming geographical isolation, which is a lot harder (or at least slower) to overcome. A forcefield, though, implies high tech materiel lying around, which I could attempt to hijack. Even if I can’t Macgyver something useful out of it (I don’t know how much education I should assume concerning the principles of forcefields), I’m sure I could find some way to break it. At the very least, I figure out where they’re going to introduce the death squads that’ll hunt us down-- They’ll have to lower the field to let them in. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/55 "2012-04-25T21:09:10Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Ah, so much the better, then. I was presuming geographical isolation, which is a lot harder (or at least slower) to overcome. A forcefield, though, implies high tech materiel lying around, which I could attempt to hijack. Even if I can’t Macgyver something useful out of it (I don’t know how much education I should assume concerning the principles of forcefields), I’m sure I could find some way to break it. At the very least, I figure out where they’re going to introduce the death squads that’ll hunt us down-- They’ll have to lower the field to let them in. [/QUOTE] It’s probably both - arenas are build fresh for each game, and probably way the hell out of harms way - more or less the entire american continent is wasteland, so the have a lot of space to play with. Death Squads (“Peacekeepers”) should they choose to use them, would be flown in by hovercraft, or fed in through tunnels (which are sealed at the other end, and I think, rigger to explode if messed with). More likely is that you’ll be flushed out by a controlled forest fire, hunted down by wild animals, or poisoned - all of which happened in the book. Heck, they control the ground you walk on, they could just collapse you into a sinkhole and be done with you. There is, however, a 1-in-12 chance that you will have some, or a lot, of technical training, and the force-fields have been tampered with on at least two known occasions, so knock yourself out. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/56 "2012-04-25T22:39:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thinking inside the box will give me approximately a 96% chance of getting killed. Given odds like that, I think any sane person would be willing to consider fighting the hypothetical. Especially since, if everyone takes the sane option, the organizers _can’t_ win. Sure, they can try to kill us all, and probably (greater than 96%? I don’t know) succeed, but where does that leave them? They want entertainment, and that’s _boring_. I would say you had a 100% chance of not escaping, but I am reminded of an amusing and relevent annecdote. About a year ago, my SO and I acquired a small hermit crab one of our neighbors was tossing away (sadly it has since passed on:(). One day, I’m working from home and she is on the phone telling me she’s worried that our crab looks like he is trying to escape from his crabitat. I’m like “That’s stupid. He’s in a giant fishbowl. There is no way for him to climb out of it or break the sides. It is a physical…uh…impossi…um…shit…hold on a sec…” I had forgotten that I had taken him out to play and had been walking around in and out of the appartment doing laundry and whatnot and the crab had, in fact, escaped (fortunately only temporarily). But in reality, I don’t think you’d be able to escape from a Hunger Game arena. I can’t imagine that a real HGA would have a force field that could be fucked with by the tributes nor would the start tubes be vulnurable to the mines. There doesn’t “have” to be a way out. I could lock you in a bank vault and you would litterally have no way out if I didn’t want you out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/57 "2012-04-25T23:47:05Z")
> [@](#): > > More likely is that you’ll be flushed out by a controlled forest fire, hunted down by wild animals, or poisoned - all of which happened in the book. Heck, they control the ground you walk on, they could just collapse you into a sinkhole and be done with you. In any of which scenarios, I’d still have a better chance of survival than if I agree to play by their insane rules. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/58 "2012-04-26T00:13:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In any of which scenarios, I’d still have a better chance of survival than if I agree to play by their insane rules. How is 0/24 a higher number than 1/24? ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/59 "2012-04-26T00:23:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > How is 0/24 a higher number than 1/24? And usually closer to 1/12 if you run from the cornucopia, since roughly half of the tributes typically die in the initial assault. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701/60 "2012-04-26T13:28:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In any of which scenarios, I’d still have a better chance of survival than if I agree to play by their insane rules. Deh will just wait until dah camarahs are off, send in dah army and hunt you down like dogs! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-your-strategy-be-in-a-real-life-hunger-game/619701.md?page=4)