Use these 5 tips to help keep games safe:
1. Don't make "cherries" look authentic
While GANGSTERS started out with ziploc bags filled with grass and flour (and while we'll fully admit to feeling nostalgic for those wild and woolly days), we still would use one word to describe making equipment like that today: DUMB.
Don't be dumb. Use spray paint and innocuous objects like checkers, dominoes, mahjong tiles, wooden balls, or anything similar to keep bystanders from misinterpreting gameplay for something criminal.
2. Don't use realistic-looking guns
We're not saying space-lasers are the answer, but bright colors and odd shapes are definitely an asset when it comes to staying safe. Steer clear of black or metallic finishes — airsoft models should be a non-starter, even with orange-tips. Fluorescent colors are ideal. Use spray paint again if necessary.
3. Consider replacing "shooting" with a light tap
Even if your weapons are bright-pink bananas, merely extending your arm and aiming can be a triggering motion to bystanders who don't know what's going on.
Consider adopting a light tap to eliminate "the stance" and reduce the odds that a passerby might misunderstand your intentions.
4. Consider eliminating guns altogether
We're willing to bet you're creative. So here's a challenge: when it comes to weapons, try thinking outside the box.
While guns offer an obvious solution, 3D printing offers almost unlimited alternatives. Consider options like brass knuckles, tasers, or (unrealistic-looking) knives. Or think even further outside the box with offbeat options like bowling pins, rubber snakes, or bottles of "poison."
5. Use COMMON SENSE!
Never play GANGSTERS anywhere dangerous or illegal.
Be sure to hash out times or places gameplay may not be allowed in your games (for example: in classrooms or while driving).
Always be aware of your surroundings, and remain sensitive to non-players who may be sharing the same space.
As we say in the rulebook: "if you are someone who lacks COMMON SENSE, GANGSTERS is not for you."
Be Smart. Stay Safe. Have Fun.
