Can a boardgame work in real life?

The softer option to airsoft is laser-tag. Most laser-tag arenas are indoors, but I remember training exercises in the Army where we had (presumably more expensive) laser-tag gear that worked outdoors in broad daylight.

If resource management is part of the game, the guns can have a physical cartridge that allows it a certain number of shots. Additional cartridges can thus become quite valuable in-game.

TAG (the assassination game) was big when I was in college. Everyone was an assassin and a target. There are scavenger hunt games with various levels of puzzles behind the objectives. Geocaching is an interesting thing (which I only know about because one of my name dopplegangers does it.) And obviously Pokemon is a crossover. Competitive reality shows encapsulate the same thing; I imagine some people organize their own rl version of thse.

Into the real world would be about scale and timing; a turn could last a day and have fifty people playing.

For your example, substitute any short competitive game like rock paper scissors for conflict resolution, or cornhole, or any skill test. You could also use dice as in the Fallout board game and upgrades change your dice or alter your targeting. Combat and stat resolution could also be offloaded to an app. A phone app could replace gun targeting... Maybe an app with an overlay and you have to lineup a crosshair accurately when you snap.

Lots of possibilities.

As far as combat is concerned... it could be two (2) simple decks, one for the Caravan and one for the Raiders. Each player draws a card from the opponent's Deck, the rules could vary.

Like say the "caravan" chooses to "sneak by the raiders": they would need to draw a card of lesser or equal value to the one drawn by the "raiders".

If there is a battle, three (3) cards must be drawn and played in whatever order each player wants. The winner of 2 out of 3 "waves" is the victor of the battle.

Anyways you don't need real or "air" weapons. All you might need is a couple decks of cards and some simple rules.

Again just an idea... Cheers!

You could START by using a "standard" deck of cards with Face Cards removed. And one side uses 10 hearts (Caravan) and one side uses 10 spades (Raiders). And then invent some simple rules (as per my previous post).

BUT the *INTERESTING* part is as you develop your idea further... It's 10 cards per side... You can use custom decks with special bonuses and abilities. For example one card gives you the option to "Draw again and keep the higher card" and that card could have a value of "6"... Or other such abilities ...

You could go FULLY "custom" decks (kinda micro decks) and have one for "Raiders", another for "Thieves", one for "Caravans", and one for "Merchants".

And you can ADD "bonus" cards to "raise the stakes" too. So by default each deck is 10 cards (1-10) and then you could add up to three (3) cards to tilt the favor in your hands... Using the extra cards make your battle easier. But they can be only used ONCE (for example)... And you must "give them" to your opponent as "extra points". So even "Raiders" could WIN points they can use to score themselves too...

Could be really FUN!!! And the idea is to keep it simple. Ten (10) cards micro decks ... could eventually become custom decks with abilities too. And lastly add BONUS cards that a "caravan" may PURCHASE (real $$$) to be used as protection (or improving odds for a caravan trip). "Raiders" could collect those cards as points (real $$$ too) ...

And you could have a "market" to buy "protection" for like $5 bucks. And when the raiders collect those points, they earn like $1 bucks per extra card (so up to $3). You as the owner would make $2 bucks profit. And you really don't do much but OFFER the experience. The cards are "recycled" multiple times too... So it's GREEN too (environmentally-friendly too).

Just some other ideas... Cheers!

Note: Supplies could be "bought" from your home merchant for a real monetary value (like $20 bucks for 10 resource cards). Each card is then worth $1 buck for the "Raiders" and "Thieves". Whatever is stolen or pillaged during battles. So "Raiders" could potentially make $10 bucks from each "caravan"...

My only issue/problem is that "Caravans" would earn Victory Points (VPs) that go towards the Merchant's Guild Top Scoring "Caravans"... And not real money. But it's because "Caravans" are there for the "experience" and to PLAY the game. Obviously an entry fee is required -- but you could eventually have extras like "insurance cards", etc.

"Raiders" and "Thieves" are there to both PLAY and some earn real money during the game. So it would be their incentive to do a "good job" (reason to play and be tough is because they can make some small money doing it...)

So instead of having TO PAY for "staff" ("Raiders" and "Thieves"), players actually pay for them given that they can steal "resources" from "Caravans"...

Something cool like that!

Update: Deck-Construction would be possible by BUYING "Singles" from your home. So instead of just having a "2 Hearts", you can purchase a "2 Hearts with the ABILITY of 'Draw another card and add the two cards together'". And so you could specialize your deck with cards of more power.

That could cost like $5 bucks for that card. And it would "replace" the usual "2 Hearts" which has NO ABILITY... Instead of PAYING $5 bucks... maybe it's a REWARD for completing a certain numbers of VPs!!! Keeps players engaged in playing the game longer, playing harder too (to win) ... because you get BONUSES!!! Definitely cool!

I would definitely go for something like this: Open World, Micro Decks, Deck-Construction, Deck-Customization, Resource Cards, etc.

Update #2: Resource Card Quality. When you pay your $20 bucks for your "resource deck" (10 cards). Why I LIKE "Physical cards" is this: Card Quality. So when you SELL the cards for points, if a card is DAMAGED, it is worth LESS. Now if all cards are in MINT condition then players score the maximum points. But if a card is bent or such, then you only earn a certain amount of points for it... Something along those lines.

If you go the route of "physical" cards, it is something that the players can take home as a memory of their visit. Moreover, it's something they can re-use and pickup from where "they" left-off.

So if it costs like $10 bucks for each player to get his/her own "deck" and you can improve upon your deck as you play the game further... You can also as a group decide how much cargo you are going to transport. Could be more than $20 bucks worth of "cargo".

Maybe as a four (4) player group, they decide to transport $40 bucks worth of supplies... To score even more Victory Points (VPs) than a lesser amount.

Just some more things to think about!

That "wasteland" game you were talking about, Sweatt, sounds EPIC. I am wondering though. What do you mean "Health Packs"? Is there some sort of Health system?
There are some things I am wondering:
-What sets the value of Caps? And does the system allow for bartering?

-Do you have to buy (with Caps) your own food, or is food and hygiene and stuff provided?

-Are there shops you buy stuff from, or is it all just finding people around and trading? Actual established shops could lead to interesting "robberies".

That's the thing. You NEED to create a kind of "Grind" that pays off. Each Caravaner has got to be worth like $20 bucks. Insurance for Caravans via "extra" Heroic-cards need to be purchased for something inexpensive like $5 bucks. Playing with four (4) players means two (2) Caravaners and two (2) Heroes. So it's $40 bucks for the initial decks and $10 bucks for insurance of two (2) Heroes. (Again this is just to illustrate a point...)

If you make $4 on insurance and "Raiders" get $6 ... you have a "payment" system ... albeit taking away some of your income -- but having third party involvement without requiring "payment" for their services. Next you could have $1 buck per resource card obtained. Ten (10) resource card per Caravaner means you stand to make $10 bucks. The other $10 goes to the other Merchant or Raiders or split... The point is, you're not having to explicitly PAY third party people to PLAY. It has to be part of the GRIND.

Now about the GRIND. You need to have sufficient reason to play over and over... And that is usually a REWARD system. Once a Caravaner gets a certain amount of Victory Points (VPs) for successfully picking-up and delivering merchandise, the party needs to EARN a "tangible reward". And in my "vision" that would be an "upgrade card" to your card of ten (10) cards. Like a Hero earns a "2 Hearts + Ability = Draw again and add both cards"...

(Again just an example)

I don't think you need to BUILD all kinds of "stuff". What you need is a system that will make players come back! (LOL) What I mean is that there are "tangible rewards" to playing the game. And players get to keep their "decks" with whatever extra cards they earn along the way.

A "live Deck-Construction" mechanic could be something interesting.

Other ideas: make certain areas "inaccessible" EACH DAY. So off-limits to various areas such that players need to visit at least a couple weekends to get a complete feel for the game and the land.

With a kind of MODULARITY you could divide the space into different areas that are/aren't accessible at all times.

Q: Where are you located btw?

Hmm... That's a very good question. But here's a small "nugget" of advice.

If you allow players to "grind" their way up and earn "extra/bonus" cards for their decks... You can impose a LIMIT to the number of upgrade cards that may be played in each situation (mini duel).

I keep going to my "2 Hearts + Ability = Pick another card and add the two together". This could be one (1) card and you would be allow up to two more (for a total of 3 cards)... Veterans may have ALL TEN (10) upgrade cards ... but again by using a limitation, you force only about 30% to have an ability/bonus. Which ones are the choice of the players...

This to me this sounds "reasonable".

Ten (10) cards and maximum three (3) with Abilities.

Like say you are trying to "sneak" past raiders, you draw a "10 Hearts" ... BAD (because you would want the lower score for sneaking...) But then you realize it too has an "ability" = Pick another card and subtract that one from this one". 10 - ? = Your score. The lower, the better for sneaking.

Abilities can be "situational" too. Like if you were trying to get the HIGHEST score, you wouldn't add that "Ability 10 Hearts", because you would rather score a 10 point value... But when sneaking it's the opposite, lowest score wins.

Expanding of culture: naturally the game may evolve. Like the wasteland game... I'm sure it started with fewer groups than currently. BUT if you make your game about "mini-games" then give the players the chance to "grind" and improve their decks... You have something players can do.

Your game could have "Guilds" and maybe a forum section (phpBB is very simple to use on a website...), that can evolve... And then "Quests" for various ITEMS (printed on a card): "Sir Regal has had his cape stolen, please recover it, speak to the raiders - you might find the thief..." And you as a Hero "keep" the Quest card until you solve it. Each player could be on the maximum of one (1) Quest.

It can all evolve... over time. Add things in "layers". Start with a "core" game that has a "grind" and offer players the opportunity to "level up". You can use a 30% rule to limit how powerful players are... They may have all 10 Bonus Ability cards for their "class" but are limited to using only three (3) of them at any given time.

Something along those lines... Cheers!

Note: It could be stipulated that it is "dangerous" to travel "alone" ... unless you are a "thief" (Diamond suit). People wandering alone are a sign of trouble and "Caravaners" and "Heroes" should be on the lookout for these criminal people.

Like you said, if a "thief" robs you, you try to go about to figure out his "name" and then you place a "Bounty" on him... To try to bring him to justice. There you go another layer (Bounties)... You can add that at a later time to make the game more subtle!