How to Avoid Detection in a Game of Spotlight

Use some strategy in your approach. Hiding places can be effective or ineffective dependent on lots of different factors! It isn't always about whether or not it's hard for you to be seen.

Hide somewhere that is hard to get to. If there is tall grass, rocky terrain, a stream, spiderwebs, mud or any other obstacle between the seeker's position and your hiding spot, they might not even bother to examine your location and move on (especially if they think you are lazy and couldn't be bothered either!). Take care that you don't go outside the boundaries.

Hide somewhere with firm ground that you can move quietly on. This is especially important if you intend to change spots or circle around a large object, such as a stout tree trunk.

• Grass, sand and dirt are ideal.
• Asphalt/concrete/tarmac, stone and metallic surfaces are great. (Just make sure you haven't got gravel or wet sand stuck to your shoes, as it will crunch)
• Watch out for thick snow and gravel, which will squeak and crunch respectively.
• Walking in a stream will cause splashing and will probably cause you to trip and fall.

Hide somewhere unexpected. Right next to water, in your or your friend's car, even inside a bin! The more surprising and ridiculous your hiding place is, the less your 'seeker' may consider searching it.

Hide somewhere where there isn't room for someone else to hide with you. Two people make twice as much noise and movement, and they may get you both out.

Hide somewhere where it is hard to be seen. Pick a spot in which you can stand behind a branch, or a wide tree trunk. If the ground undulates or has hills, use them to your advantage. Also, use levels - People usually forget to look upwards, so trees and climbable structures make excellent hiding spots. Also, it is possible to hide below the 'seeker' under benches, cars, branches and in depressions in the ground. Just take care that you can see so that people don't tread on you!

Scout your spots out ahead of time. If you are really committed, you can arrive in the daytime before playing to stake out the area. Search for spots that would be difficult to find without light. If you plan on climbing trees, it is best that you practice first in daylight so that you can find handholds and routes up. Also, it is best that if you fall at all it is during the day. At night, if you fall and are rendered unable to move or even call out by your injury, it may be difficult for your friends to find you. Additionally, it is frighteningly difficult to safely land from a fall when you can't see what you are landing on.

Consider whether you really need to move. It can be amazing what people will fail to see if they are not expecting to see it there, and often remaining stationary can keep you hidden even under a full beam from ten or fifteen meters away. But don't take too long to decide. Count to five and go with what your instinct tells you.

Try to decide on your destination before you begin moving. You should minimise the time spent out in the open, especially if you don't know where the 'seeker' is.

If the 'seeker' is far from your position and it is safe, run as quickly as you can. The noise usually carries far less than you might expect, especially if it is a windy night, so you might as well cross the distance as quickly as you like.

If the 'seeker' is close enough to hear loud noises, move quietly. It helps if you have warmed up and stretched. Some people's knees can crack or creak if they haven't bent them in a while, so you can crouch until they crack before the game to prevent the sound from being made while sneaking.

• Crouch a little and lower your posture.
• Take care where you place your feet. With each step, touch the ground with your heel first, and roll your foot forward. This will make your steps quieter.
• Don't be afraid to crawl on your hands and feet if the ground is soft, because if you fear you will be seen you can flatten yourself against the ground to reduce your visibility from a distance.
• You can toss a stone or stick into a branch or hard object distant from you to create a small diversion before moving, but you have to be careful that the 'seeker' doesn't notice that it was thrown.

Try to trick the seeker. A clever trick that works best when there are many players tagged out and multiple 'seekers' is to confidently stride out of cover and walk past a seeker. If you are a good liar, you might even ask them "Have you found James yet?" or say "This round is going on forever." You can also walk out of cover and blend with a group of people already tagged out to avoid detection. This is occasionally successful and even if you are called out, you will usually be praised for your stunningly bold and creative play.

Play fair and friendly. Being friendly to other players can be very important to winning in Spotlight. If you are unfriendly, protest when it is your turn to be the 'seeker' or snitch on other players by telling the seeker where they are hiding, you will be disadvantaged in that:

• Other players may tell the 'seeker' where you are hiding out of spite.
• Other players won't team up with you to perform misdirecting or cooperative techniques.
• You will be distracted by your feelings about other players and will make mistakes.
• You will not have fun playing Spotlight.

Cooperate with others. Cooperative tricks can be performed if groups hide in the same place.

• If one of you is tagged you can jump out, feign irritation and move along, prompting the 'seeker' to leave without catching your friend. In this way having multiple people in the same spot can prolong the time they are hidden. This can be very effective if you can hide lots of people in a place like a tree, because the 'seeker' will not expect four or five people to be hiding in the same location)
• If you are a rough-and-tumble, adventurous group of roguish scamps and not above a little foul play, you can all jump out from behind the tree, rock, trench or bush you are hiding behind and simultaneously throw sand into the 'seeker's' eyes. This will make it hard for them to identify more than one or two of you as you all run away and find new cover.