Triangle-wide water battle starts Friday

If you see people running around the Triangle with water guns this weekend don't be alarmed.

Posted 8:29 p.m. Jul 23, 2012 — Updated 8:29 p.m. Jul 23, 2012

Kathy Hanrahan

If you see people running around the Triangle with water guns this weekend don't be alarmed. It is Triangle Wars time again – an epic water battle taking place in the Raleigh, Durham and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro areas.

Each city has its own battle going from 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 27 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17.

Players are assigned targets to "assassinate" with their water weapon. Those who succeed inherit whomever they were hunting. The game continues until there is only one assassin left.

Registration is open for all wars. There is a $15 fee to play the game with the money going to help pay for the annual Assassins Ball (more on that below), Subrosa game engine (which helps keep track of "kills" and who is still active in the game) and prizes for the winners.

The rules for each city are the same. Here are a few of my favorites:

You must live in the game area for each city and cannot leave the game area for more than five consecutive days. You have to be in the game area for 70 percent of the game's duration.
Weapons must be liquid water and have a self-contained water supply. This means you can't use things like snowballs, hoses, pressure washers, fire extinguishers, icicles or sprinklers.
Rain jackets do not count as bullet-proof vests, but you can use things like an umbrella as a shield.
You can shoot your target or your attacker if he blows his cover. But you can't just shoot another assassin or you will be eliminated.
You can't shoot your target at a location that "requires their presence," like church, school, work, doctor's appointments, jury duty or league sporting events.
You also can't shoot your target when they are in their bedroom or the bathroom and the door is closed.

The winner will receive the coveted "Golden Gun" and other prizes. Past prizes have included dinner at The Pit, Raleigh Times or Tuscan Blu, main stage Hopscotch tickets or cash.

Scott Heath, of Subrosa Games, said there will be mid-game challenges to win additional rewards.

As with previous years, there will be a formal Assassins Ball in Raleigh, where prizes including Most Creative and Most Ruthless assassin will be awarded. The ball is planned Aug. 17 at Spy in Raleigh.

Last year, about 150 signed up to compete.

So, anyone planning to battle it out?

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