Kleptochase

Kleptochase is one of the four national sports of the United Socialist States of Az-cz. Of the four national sports Kleptochase is the only one that is an individual sport.

Overview of Kleptochase

Kleptochase is a sporting event that could be described as akin to maze- running. Each match features two individuals. They each start at points in a constructed grid. Somewhere else in the grid, equidistant from both chasers there is some object, usually an action figure sized stuffed toy in the shape of a gnome. Each chaser has a goal point somewhere else in the grid, again equidistant from the target object. The object of the match is to gather the object and return it to your target area. After one team has gathered the object they become the "thief" and the other chaser becomes the "law". If the law is able to touch the thief with both hands before the thief returns to his goal area the replay the match. If the law catches the thief in three consecutive matches they play a fourth match that ends when the first player reaches the object. Every course has a certain number, no fewer than 2, of locked doors, traps and other obstacles. These obstacles are defeated using theif-like skills, especially lock-picking.

Deeper Rules Explanation

Course Construction

Before each match the course is rebuilt slightly. Walls are moved, locks and traps are moved and locks or traps can be added or removed. This course renewal includes replay matches after a match where a law has caught a thief. However each course in each tournament has a similar structure. There are four types of courses that comprise the different kinds of tournament. These are: Sprint, Strength, Technique, and Maze.

Sprint Courses

Sprint courses are the first type of courses that players learn to play Kleptochase on. They are courses designed to test running speed more than anything else. They have a small number of locks and traps, usually the minimum of 2. They don't have complex wall layouts and they don't have non- technique obstacles, nor is one provided much benefit from having a complex tool set. The traps and locks in sprint courses are usually designed to be relatively easy to open with basic tools. Sprint courses are also usually longer than normal courses as they test stamina as well as speed.