Check out the event thread here.

When: Sunday, March 7th, 2010.
Arrival Time: 9am
Where: OKC Mtn.

As usual, this event is BYOP, BYOA, please visit your local shops! 18 years of age and older.

Story line:

Scenario: The Untold War

There is no war more brutal, than one’s unheard of. Forgotten in the flashes of night, across a vast territory so immense, a thousand men could walk for a thousand nights and still not see the end of their journey. There is no cold greater than that of the Siberian peninsula.

The year is 2007. It is late winter/early spring in the eastern province of the Sakha Republic, Russia. Frost bears down heavily during the night, while torrential downpours saturate the topsoil during the warmth of the day, turning it into a muck so slippery, it has been rumored to swallow military vehicles whole. To the east lay the Gydan Mountains, to which the last vestige of opposition lay within the hearts and minds of the Lena people’s and their determination to hold off the invading Verkhoyansk people. But mark you, that this is no ordinary land dispute by any means, but a continuing saga that pressed frigidly into the hearts of all that have fought this forgotten war.

Word has reached the Lena people that within the days an elite force of Verkhoyansk mercenaries will make one last push towards Lolyma, located between Sakha Republic and the people of Lena. Unbeknownst to the Verkhoyansk mercenaries, the people of Lena have been expecting this battle. Marking an exchange in the ability to mine in the Lena people’s land, Roskorenekoff Zhukov, the great grandson of the former Chief of the Soviet Ground Forces in March 1946, Marshal Georgi Zhukov, has now found himself as the commander of the Eastern Russian special purpose regiments or Spetsnaz. Wishing to conceal his mining operation not only from the Verkhoyansk mercenaries, but from the world, Roskorenekoff Zhukov will do anything to keep his operation quiet. For it is not simple metals his after, but the rare uranium 238. Any leak of this mining operation could result in the next great world war.

Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Verkhoyansk mercenaries is on a path to reclaim the Lena people’s land. This land, taken when he was only a child, sits along the ridge of the Gydan Mountains. Nikita Khrushchev leads an elite squad of mercenaries through the Siberian terrain. If the Verkhoyansk mercenaries can reach the Zurori temple, then the border land is theirs.

Mission 1: On holy Ground

1 hour 30 mins Unlimited respawns. 175 points

Nikita Khrushchev must lead Verkhoyansk mercenaries in however he see fit to break up his troops, through the Siberian wilderness, into the town of lena, the rat maze, up the Gydan Mountains to the Zurori Temple in Lolyma. The Lena people are expecting this and can set up in groups of 5-6 at any point in the whole field, they cannot engage battle until fired upon or they come into close proximity (25 meters). It is far better to remain hidden and try to trap the Verkhoyansk mercenaries than it is to go after them right away (respawns are precious and hard to come upon). The objective is to set up mini battles across the entire field, forcing the Verkhoyansk mercenaries to choose the best path along the route. In order to claim the Zurori Temple the Verkhoyansk mercenaries must collect the smoke signals from the artillery station (smoke bombs) along the route, as well as the counter intelligence of the secret mining organization (unknown to them). Once the smoke bombs are collected, the Verkhoyansk mercenaries has the opportunity to prevent another great war, and set a time delayed explosive for a bonus 75 points (directions to mine are in artillery station). Respawns are set up across the entire fireld, but only the Verkhoyansk mercenaries can take them once they reach them. The Lena people’s respawns are the Upper HQ and the tree stump. If hit or surrendered, the Lena people must use these two areas. If the Verkhoyansk mercenaries make it to the Zurori temple, the game is automatically over and 175 points is awarded to the Verkhoyansk mercenaries. If the Lena people can hold it until the end of 1 hour and 30 minutes, then 175 points are awarded to the Lena people.

Mission 2: The Mine.

30 minutes, 150 points Unlimited respawns

If the time delay explosive device has not been placed in the mine, the Verkhoyansk mercenaries must place it in the mine and defend it for the remainder of the game. If the Verkhoyansk mercenaries have placed the explosives in the mine, then they must defend it from the Lena people and the Spetsnaz. This will take place in the lower field. At the end of 30 minutes, a siren will be blown and all people within 30 meters of the explosive will be instantly killed. The explosive must be in the mine to destroy it. The Spetsnaz and lena people must prevent the mine from being blown up without killing their own.

Mission 3: word spreads like fire

30 minutes 300 points. Unlimited respawns

Hearing of the news of the mine, and the potential for it to be leaked to the news organizations, the Russian airforce has called in an air raid. For the Spetsnaz and the Lena people, the air raid threatens to destroy their homeland and future mining operations. The Spetsnaz and Lena people must reach the communications tower and radio for help in order to stop the incoming air raid(starting from the Zurori Temple and make it to the lower part of the town. If they fail 200 points are awarded to the Verkhoyansk mercenaries. If they succeed, 200 points are awarded to the Spetsnaz and the Lena people.

Mission 4: The story lives on (battle royale). Single elimination. 30 minutes

A keg of beer to the victor! Provided by green.

The call for help falls upon deaf ears, there is no help that is coming. Hearing this news panic blows across the Siberia like another harsh winter. Desperation claws at every individual. There is only one vehicle out and only room for 4 people. It is brother against brother. Who do you trust? How will it end? How will the story be told? Every person spreads across the entire field. (pappy’s d-day boat is placed in the center of the town). Once the boat is full (four people) they must defend it until the end of the game. Do you team up or go solo on this mission?

To the victors, goes the chance to tell the story to the world, plus a keg of beer (provided by green so we can have a party at the winner’s place of residence, or wherever).

Corrections

So in addition to Mission 2, I forgot to mention that for every person not killed in the 30 meter explosion, that team is awarded 2 points.

And for mission 4, the game can be ended if the 4 people pick it up and move it 30-40 meters toward the edge of the town. A get-away!

“EPIC amounts of fun was had today…I’m in pump heaven!!!”     ← Kenny, General of Outlaw Team

“Such a fun day. I had a blast and really hope we do it again sometime soon. I mean, when was the last time you could run with just a pistol and still rock!” ← Captain A

“Awesome day guys. I had so much fun. Glad everybody else enjoyed pump as much as I always do. Big thanks to the Varts for a sweet scenario and for dressing up. lol” <— Trinket

“An outstanding day for paintball with outstanding people. It was a very well put together set of games you guys.” <— Shady Monkey

“I really enjoyed sneaking around like a ninja with my 8rds and it was nice to not get completely exhausted.i thought the games were a lot of fun and I’d gladly do it again. it was pretty cool to see so many people come out. ” ← Frog

“Awesome game guys. Running with a pump was unbelievable. Kenny, how you were able to shoot my jaw under my mask was rather painful, but certainly awesome! Good job to you and trinket.
Awesome time today fellas, wouldn’t trade it for the world! ” ← Green

“Thanks all, great day… except for the fact the my wife got to surrender me.” <— Reverend

Anyone who has taken a brief glimpse into an Economics text book should remember the name Adam Smith. For those that can’t remember, Adam Smith is perhaps one of the most influential economists of all time. Adam Smith coined ‘The Invisible Hand’, a term for the self-regulating nature of the marketplace. Essentially it means that the psychology behind free market competition leads to a society which produces a socially optimal level of output. In other words, business is good!

“By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. It is an affectation, indeed, not very common among merchants, and very few words need be employed in dissuading them from it.” – Adam Smith

This is a big reason why I do not feel emotional attachment to any business what so ever. I don’t support shops to simply support shops. Instead I support businesses that support me with superior product at reasonable prices, whether that’s a local shop or some dude in Russia or China, or Brazil. Charity aside, I couldn’t care less who my dollar is supporting because I’m a capitalist and an outlaw ballah to boot. I care about my own self interest just like everyone everyone else, there’s no free lunch here.

So we can hide behind these notions of fairness but at the end of the day, life is unfair and some businesses will die. Sometimes a business needs to change to accommodate new market conditions. One could say that propping up a business in the name of localism only reinforces the company’s resistance to change. So in effect, ’supporting local shops’ is actually doing quite the opposite.

Let me be clear,  unlike other paintball posts this author will not  bleet the tired old ‘our sport is dieing’ adage.   Market demand for paintball products hasn’t subsided anymore than it has for other recreational products, it’s a tough market for anyone.  However by adopting a more open minded long term strategy I think local shops can gracefully enter the future.

Outlaws and Lawdogs!

“In those beady eyes of bearded men lies what’s at stake in this forgotten land. Nothing is black and white, just dead or alive.“

Date: January 10th
Location: OKC Mountain
Age Limit: 18 and over please (insurance purposes)
Cost: Bring a can of non-expired can food to donate to those in need.
Time: Show up at 9am, game starts at 10am sharp!
Air and Paint:This is a BYOP and BYOA game!
Interested Parties: Please go to out enlistment section of the forums – http://okcompanypaintball.com/forums…isplay.php?f=5 – and sign up and introduce yourself, then head over to the game thread and let us know you’d like to come. Game location and details will be sent to you shortly. (Our “Enlistment” thread is just a way to introduce yourselves to us. We play on private property and just like to know whom is coming to our field)

Gun Limitations: Pump, Pistols, Havocs, and low round hoppers only. The concept here is a wild west game that will greatly change how you have played paintball. Pumpers can have 50rd hoppers but those with electros that can’t get ahold of a pump or pistol will be asked to use 10 rounds in their hoppers at a time. Chances are, you have a pistol or pump you rarely get to use, or know someone you can borrow from or this is the perfect chance to experience a new type of play! Don’t knock it until you try it! The good news is that the games will be shorter so there will be some great chances to do regular pick up games afterwards.

Game Details

OUTLAWS AND LAWDAWGS
a pump and pistol game

In those beady eyes of bearded men lies what’s at stake in this forgotten land. Nothing is black and white, just dead or alive.

Mission I: Womenfolk.

The Outlaws got themselves a little treat after sacking a local army post in native country. Susie Mayberry-Williams a nice girl from Kansas is now captive amongst the piercing eyes of men who haven’t seen a woman in months. Susie isn’t the shy naive little girl she appears to be though. She’s hiding a pistol under them knickers.

Outlaws win condition: Transport Susie up the mountain pass (road 1) to the safe house. Under no condition can Susie be shot. Besides, shootin womenfolk just ain’t right.

Lawdawgs win condition: Stop dem Outlaws and rescue Susie.

Wildcard: Before the start of the game the Outlaws have to nominate a leader. If the the leader is shot during the course of the gunfight, Susie can produce her pistol and start shooting her captors.

Outlaws spawn at flag 4. Lawdawgs spawn on road 3. Multiple respawns.

Mission II: Dem Fightin Words

The townsfolk have long suspected fixed games at the local McCorbins saloon. Everyone knows the local sheriff is rigging the games and lining his pockets with the peoples hard earned gold. The outlaws have had enough of it and plan to have a good ol’ fashioned night on the town.

Game starts in the middle of the town with each team spawning on both sides. In the middle is a table with a deck of cards. With each general on either side of the table, they take turns flipping cards. As soon as someone pulls an ace all hell breaks loose.

Outlaws win condition: Elimination of opposing team.

Lawdawgs win condition: Elimination of opposing team.

Single elimination.

Mission III: Hell on Wheels

The Lawdawgs are guarding a wagon train carrying gold to the towns local bank. The Outlaws are fixin for an ambush.

Lawdawgs start at the picnic table and have to deliver 4 gold bags diagonally to the mazes farthest HQ location.

Outlaws win condition: Elimination of opposing team.

Lawdawgs win condition: Successful delivery of gold to the towns bank. Elimination of opposing team.

Wildcard: Before the start of the game one player is randomly and confidentially selected as a “double crossing son-of-a-*****” . If the leader is shot during the course of the gunfight, the double crossing son-of-a-***** can produce his/her pistol and start shooting members of the caravan. Unlike Susie, this person can be shot.

Multiple respawns. Round goes for 30 minutes.

Mission IIII: Fools Gold

Despite each sides efforts, the previous battle is interrupted near its end by a large band of Native Americans. They regard the gold as worthless, only taking supplies and horses as they leave the wagons in a trail of dust.

Who ever wins the previous round starts at the creek bed. The gold bags are then placed in the hay bail bunker half-way down the hill. The losers start at the top of the town. Which ever team has the most players in the bunker with the gold wins.

Outlaws win condition: Hold/Defend the gold until reinforcements arrive.

Lawdawgs win condition: Hold/Defend the gold until reinforcements arrive.

Wildcard: Pappy is a lone Native American that stays behind to exact his peoples revenge. Pappy can shoot both teams and it takes a headshot to take him out. If pappy scalps you with his knife you’re out permanently.

Multiple respawns. Round lasts 30 minutes.

I’ve always been a big guy. “Big boned” my mamma would say or “husky” as my grandma put it. Truth be told, it was always one of the things that kept me away from sports. I couldn’t run as fast or play as long as others and when it came to skins VS shirts? Put me on shirts or I am bye bye.

Paintball came along later in my life. I was in college when I was introduced to the sport, and to be honest, I didn’t even think of it as a workout. I was having a ball, running around pretending to be Rambo, sweat poured from my brow and I was exhausted afterwards, but it was worth every ache as the memories of getting that sweet shot or leading that charge lives with me even to this day.

For the horizontally challenged, playing any sport can be daunting, but with paintball, it really doesn’t have to be. If you follow these simple steps, you can be ballin in no time and can even be taking charge of the field.

1. Find a good group – This is key in paintball. Although “pwning newbs” is fun, one of the most rewarding things for me about paintball is the friendships and camaraderie that I have formed with my group. Try to see if your friends would be interested in playing, or look for a local group through places like PBNation or TechPB to see if there are any friendly groups that play at local fields or on private land. Having a fun group to play with will surely make you want to continue and improve.

2. Go slow – You can take this literally, move slow, but I would use this philosophy in every part of the sport. Take the time to look at gear and find what would work for you. Don’t
rush out and blow loads of money on gear, only to find out later that it isn’t up to par or you would like something different. Pace yourself on the field and if you need to walk instead of run, do it. You might find that by going slow you can see things that the sprinters miss.

3. Invest in quality – Don’t skimp on the important equipment: mask, hpa tank, and clothing. If you have these basics, you can take them to any field and use any gun, rental or loaner, no matter where you go.

4. Work in your strengths – At first, find things you can be good at in the sport of paintball. You might have a powerful voice and can command troops from the back line, or you might be a great shot and pick people off at good distances with your first shot. You might be patient where others are impulsive or have the ability to make quick decisions under pressure on the field. Don’t worry about outperforming those around you in terms of athleticism, find the things you can contribute and do your best at them. Others will take notice of that.

5. Seek to improve – I know for me, I want to improve my physical ability and have done things to change my life to do this. But there are other areas in the paintball world that will aide you just as much. Snap shooting, tactical thinking, knowing your marker, etc…these are all things that will make you a better player whether or not you can run as fast as the track star on the team.

If you follow these steps, I feel that you will be in a mindset to be playing paintball for quite some time and avoid a lot of the frustration and pitfalls that others might feel when starting this sport. I know there are a lot of people that blew a lot of money, and when they didn’t get tons of kills the very next game, were looking to sell their stuff. I’ve also seen the guys and girls that pushed too hard and either hurt themselves or didn’t want to come back because they thought they couldn’t do it.

Now you might be thinking that these steps are sort of general and could apply to anybody and you know what? You’d be right. The point of this article isn’t just for “fat guys”, but for everyone. And that is one of the greatest truths about this sport – that anyone can play paintball. Kids can play paintball, girls can play paintball, old people can play paintball, your spouse, mom, dad, and co-worker can all play paintball and do well. If you find a good group, go slow, invest in quality, go slow, and seek to improve, you will find joy in paintball and will probably be playing for decades to come. I hope to see you on the field sometime soon.

Is the Oregon scene drowning in this cesspool of degenerates? Nah, they are more of an irritable rash or a non-life long venereal disease. While I wouldn’t trust them with my sister, these types are nothing more than penicillin shot away from leaving the scene.

When the witch reads the bones and the magic 8 ball say’s “ask again later” I know we are talking about the fate of our scene. We are in an undecided stagnant situation where ego’s of a few rule the destiny of many.

Our state does not lack the bodies to get this sport organized, it lacks the brains. Too many of us have buried our heads under the desks of manufacturers, promoters and operators. Slaves to the game, we have become. Now, don’t read the above statement wrong. The place for Manufacturers, Promoters and Operators is intrical to the development of the sport.

But where is the real power of this scene? It’s right there in the chair you’re sitting in. Us the players have the power to make the changes we deem fit. Too long many of us have settled for mediocre paintball in the Northwest. We have been doing some great things in pockets of the state, but have yet to organize a united effort for growth. Statewide, Region wide, there are some remarkable games for the masses. These games have so much talent, but yet are never birthed at full potential due to the lack of organization and autocratic style demeanor between other promoters and players.

How many times just in 09’ were multiple games scheduled for the same date? Instead of everyone supporting one game, the scene is now pulled multiple directions. This may be news to you, but our scene isn’t large enough to support both, nor do the masses have the money to play two $80 monthly events. So where is the middle ground? There must be a solution.

We need more players, more teams and more overall communication between the two. The suits can continue to fight for our business until they realize that we won’t support mediocrity. We need to be asked what “we” want. We hold the dollars, we are the market and if we want better, we can get better, guaranteed.

Luckily for us, we do have some awesome promoters and business owners who have recently taken the steps to bring us more of what we want to see. With that said, they can only take us so far. We the players need to unite, figure out what it is we truly want, then approach the suits. Without an overall voice, all these suits hear is a 1000 different suggestions. What are they supposed to do then? They take a little of each and spoon feed it to us. Like I said before, we can’t blame them, the finger needs to be pointed at yourself.

So, how do we do this? How do we unite all the players of Oregon and the NW? Is it even possible? Anything is possible, we just need the motivation. We can start with a simple conversation of “how?”.

Cheers

This article is the first in a series about helping out those new players that you’ve just introduced to the sport, or if you’re new to the sport and reading this, how to make it more enjoyable for yourself.

One of the first things that happens when someone catches the bug is the desire for their own gear. Sure, you may have a great setup that you’re willing to loan out, but a player, for some reason develops a type of bond with their gear. Don’t ask me why. It just happens. So eventually, they’ll want their own, and to make sure their experience is as good as possible, you might need to guide them in the right direction.

The first piece of gear that anyone should get is a good mask. They’ll probably be looking at guns, and probably want to skimp on the mask to get the gun, but don’t let them. Their mask is the number one most important piece of gear they’ll ever bring onto the field. A good mask can make all the difference in how good of a day they have. It can mean the difference between beating the competition or a trip to the hospital. A bad mask is going to be a distraction, a handicap, and possibly even a danger. If it doesn’t fit right, it will constantly need adjustment. It might even be prone to falling off. That’s never good. A well designed mask will also fog up less, which means they won’t end up wandering around the field blind. We’ve probably all done that at one point or another, and it’s not a good way to get someone new excited about the game.

So, what should they look for in a mask?

1. Comfort/Fit – Think about how much time your mask spends on your face during a given day. If it pinches, digs in, or is otherwise uncomfortable they’re going to have to put up with that every moment of every game. Find one with good padding that fits the shape of their face comfortably. It might not be simple to go around trying masks on. I’m not sure why this is so much of a pain in stores considering how important masks are, but it is. Reading reviews on the internet can help. If they wear glasses that is a big thing to take into consideration, and can drastically limit the types of masks that will work. Also important is coverage. Some people just have bigger heads than others, so some mask might not cover their full face. I think you get where I’m going with that. It’s bad.
2. Quality – I put this as #2, for one simple reason. A cheaply made mask isn’t going to be comfortable. It’s as simple as that. The mask is a safety item. Don’t skimp on safety. Buying the right mask might set them back a couple weeks on saving up for the gun, but in the end it will be worth it, and it’s not worth the risk otherwise. Don’t just think about the eye protection, get a mask that protects the ears as well. A paintball can do a lot of damage, and most masks these days offer something in the range of ear protection. Find one that offers both.
3. Field of View – These days a lot of companies are going out of their way to make masks as unobstructive to vision as possible, offering wide field of view. Take all that you can get. The more you can see, the better off you are.
4. Ventilation – This one is pretty important, but it can be fixed. Good ventilation means you’ll breathe easier, and not fog up as easily. No matter what, if they play year round, they’ll probably run into conditions where the mask fogs up. Anti-fog spray or wax will do the trick. But, with a little ingenuity and some small computer fans from radio shack, that can be fixed permanently so that it NEVER fogs. I mod my masks with these right off the bat, as it really keeps me a lot cooler and brings in tons of fresh air. It’s truly amazing. Some masks offer fan kits, but they’re extremely loud. What can be built DIY will be far cheaper and far quieter.
5. Style – Yea, it’s important. By now they’ve probably narrowed it down to a couple choices, and they’re probably all within the same price range. If they’re playing woodsball, they don’t want to be wearing a bright white mask. Trust me, I’ve done that. It’s impossible to hide. You want something that reflects your personality yet serves the situation. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look cool on the field. Anyone who says they don’t care is a liar.

My nightly routine has always been to surf PBNation to giggle at the latest ‘who has the bigger barrel’ arguments. Further,I wanted to congratulate the Forest Demons on a job well done placing First place in the top 2 divisions.

Then I saw a poll/topic that very much caught my eye. ‘.50 Cal – Do you really want this?’

This has been a huge dilemma for me, mostly because I like to tinker with toys. So breaking into a whole new caliber of paintball I raised my nose to. It wasn’t until recently when I sat down with my good friend Michael, who competition shoots for a living; that we started to discuss the avenues of .50 caliber paintball.  Michael has always disliked paintball. He is ex military trained, police trained, etc. etc. He hates the size of the markers, hates the hoppers, his hate list could go on and on. About 8 weeks ago, he did go out and buy a paintball pistol though, which shocked me. I then laughed when he told me it was the Kingman pistol. I simply said good luck trying to use that at any place you pay to play (he hasn’t been able to use it either). His argument was it fit in his hand like his normal side arm, hence he bought it.

After discussing the topic for about 2 solid hours with him, my outlook on the .50 caliber paintball changed drastically. No longer did I want to shun the idea, instead, I now embrace it.

Here is my reasoning:

The sport of Paintball realistically has plateaued and needs a fresh idea. I’m not saying a change, but new avenues. That being stated, introducing (or reintroducing, whatever) the .50 cal isnt a bad thing. It offers more options to people, and to companies. I’ve always stated to friends and teammates that when the caliber of paintballs get smaller, we will see closer adaptations to more milsim markers. Now sure, you have the BT Delta thats a very good replica MP5, minus the huge hopper that is attached to it. If people want more realistic replica of real fire arms, then the caliber has to come down in size.

Now, people are really worried about these companies saying ‘ok, we are going .50 cal’ and dropping everything to do with .68 calibers, & screwing over all their current customer/players. I don’t think any company is planning to do this…unless they really want out of the business, since they would be bankrupting themselves in 72 hours. You do not bite the hand that feeds you. So if anything, you will see companies experiment, and push a new caliber product (e.g. Kingmann with their pistol, and Smart Parts working with gi milsim), but will never just say good bye to .68 caliber (as long as their is old school autocockers and Automags out there, .68 caliber will be around).

Also, please keep in consideration that real fire arms come in all calibers. That being stated, think of how many more people this might attract to the sport. A different caliber paintball means, new markers, new designs, new concepts, new beginnings. All that said, means new players, new groups, new games. If anything this could revitalize the sport, more then hurt it.

Now keeping the positive in perspective, there is also negatives that have to be weighed in as well. Here are some points that I really do see as an issue.

Tom Kaye of AGD points out, switching to this caliber size might pose a safety issue. The smaller caliber will have a much better chance of slipping through some of the field rental type of masks that have larger vent holes.

The standard case of paint is 2K rounds. Now going to a smaller paint, is it factual that the consumers will be getting more paint for that same price of the 2k of .68 caliber?

If conversion kits are offered, will they also include barrels to go with them? Or will it be yet more money that we need to spend?

This is going to be 1 of 2 of the biggest question I believe for all the current players. Will the new .50 cal markers be something new and completely different, or will it be simply the markers we know and love offered in 2 different calibers? I ask because if the .50 caliber and .68 2010 ego (just using as an example) are both priced at 1250, why would I buy the .50 cal when my hoppers, barrels, and everything else I own is geared for .68 caliber?

2 of 2, will the design and concepts for the .68 caliber markers be neglected and/or just regurgitated (with what is already out there) while companies focus on .50 caliber?

Lastly, what of the pay to play fields? Do we know if their current insurance policies will cover the .50 caliber (being if its a safety issue with the smaller caliber having a better chance to get through vent holes on rental masks, this is something that needs to be addressed)?

Again, these are just my thoughts, and I’m expressing as everyone else is here. My hope is that people see the .50 caliber as an expansion to the sport, which I believe its trying to do. Not replacing what has already been done, and what is currently the norm.

Paintball. It’s such a widely varied sport, with equipment, game types, rules, and types of players, that it is almost impossible to master. Maybe you can become an expert at one or two aspects of the game, but when the game type switches you can find yourself lost in an instant. So, in a sport with so many variations, how do you become better? How do you excel and dominate at every game you play? The answer to that is fundamentals, and in this post I’m going to try to break down a few things into 3 simple rules that I think are the most important to take your game to the top. Keep in mind, these aren’t necessary to play. Anyone can go out there and have a blast, but if you really want to excel, in my opinion, these are the most important aspects to practice.

Rule #1 – Cardio.

Now when you look around the field, the first thing you’ll notice is that paintball players come in all shapes and sizes. Lets be honest, you don’t have to be in great shape to play, but it certainly does help. The one common trait you’ll find about all of the top players you meet, though, is endurance. These guys are able to run circles around the field and still pull up energy to fight when they need to. All of this comes from a workout that is heavy in cardiovascular activity. If you really want to put yourself to the test watch this video of some professionals running snaps hooting drills, and then try it yourself. It’s not as easy as it looks, is it? And snap shooting is one of the most important skills to be able to do if you want to excel. What are some good ways to build this? Well, snap shooting drills are one. This builds up the muscles needed, trains muscle memory, and gives you a good cardio workout at the same time. Running and biking are some obvious exercises. Recently, my favorite has been hitting the Stairmaster hard at the local gym. It gives you a cardio workout, and builds up the leg muscles that make the foundation for the rest of your body. You’ll also need an extremely strong core, so get at those crunches and leg lifts. The quick, controlled movements that you see them doing in the video are far more demanding than they look.

Rule #2 – Trigger Time

No soldier just picks up a gun and becomes a sniper. Likewise, no paintball player will pick up a gun and become a pro. Especially important in paintball, where you don’t really have sights to speak of, is muscle memory. This is the repetition of an action until it’s a reflex. A lot of athletes refer to using muscle memory as “being in the zone”. It’s where you don’t think about the action, your body just reacts to what you want to do. You need your gun to be an extension of your body if you expect to be able to hit a mask or a hopper at 50 feet with only a split second to react. The only way to achieve this is by constant practice with your gun. A good investment is some Reballs. You can shoot them hundreds of times, instead of having to buy all that paint. If you don’t feel like that, you can just use my method. Visualize a target somewhere in the house, and practice snapping in and out of doorways and popping off a couple of (imaginary) shots in it’s direction. That way you’re taking care of your snap shooting drills and trigger time in one exercise. Of course there is a down side to this, you get no immediate feedback on your accuracy. I’d only suggest doing this with a gun you’re already extremely familiar with. The main reason I’m doing this at the moment is to get proficient with my left hand. Did I forget to mention that? If you really want to be unstoppable, you’re going to need to learn to play with both hands so you can pop out of cover and keep the parts of yourself that you expose to a minimum.

So, now that I’ve sprung that one on you, you’re probably holding your gun in your off hand now, thinking just how “wrong” it feels. Oh man, does it ever feel wrong those first few times. Just pay careful attention to how you hold the gun with your regular hand and try to imitate that with your off hand. How are your arms positioned? Is the barrel directly in front of your nose? The best way to get this down is to start practicing in front of a mirror. It will help you get the barrel straight, and pretty soon you’ll be able to “feel” where the shot will go, just like you do when you’re using your normal hand. Once you have that down, practice switching back and forth between hands, firing off a couple shots as fast as you can with each. Fire-Switch-Fire-Switch for a few minutes at a time. Within a matter of weeks it will be feeling natural shooting with either.

Just remember that quote from Full Metal Jacket. “This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.”

Now that your gun is an extension of your body, and you’ve been gotten the hang of snapping in and out of cover, you’ll not only be a hard target to hit, but you’ll be a target that shoots back just as accurately, if not more accurately than that poor sucker laying prone in the grass.

Rule #3 – Confidence

There’s only one way to go about this one. Experience. You’ve got to get out there and play. Get in situations that really suck. Get shot up. You have to be calm and thinking clearly at all times on the field. This means never being afraid. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? Get shot in the neck from close range? Well, if you’ve been out there enough and got enough games under your belt you’ve probably already survived that, so there’s no reason to worry anymore.

This reminds me of my return to paintball after a 6 or so year hiatus. I was terrified out there on the field. Not to mention I wasn’t in too good of shape either. I was breathing heavily and fogging my mask up to where I couldn’t see a thing, flinching all over the place, team killing like no other. For the life of me I couldn’t remember why I had played so much before. But, after a few times out, building my confidence and overcoming all the worries I started getting back into the swing of things.

That’s why I listed this as #3. If you’re in good shape, and you’re good with your gun, then you’re already light years ahead of a lot of the competition out there on an open play field. Once you start putting all the fundamentals to use, your game will start to flow smoothly, and you’ll have time to think tactics, communicate, watch how people are moving, and generally have a lot of fun. There you go. That’s confidence right there. You know you can handle whatever gets thrown at you.

The last game I played made me realize just how far I’d come in this aspect. I saw a video with some clips of myself pinned down by two people behind a bunker of some palettes. I remember the moment clearly, which was edited down in time for video length. I wasn’t scared and shaking. I was frustrated trying to get a shot, and waiting for them to reload so I could do something. Checking the bounces grazing my arm, calling for a paint check on my pods, thinking about openings. Damn Pinokio hoppers. I popped out too soon and took one in the hand when I thought he was reloading. But all I could think was how far I’d come in confidence. That’s one of the best feelings in paintball, in my opinion. When I do something that I’m impressed by, or see signs that I’m maturing in my game. Even though there’s a long road ahead to be a master, I can see that I’m at least traveling in the right direction. That’s what it’s all about for me.

Longshanks and McClintocks, power houses of the dark society. A battle that had been fought for years has now come to an end. The Longshanks have paralyzed all avenues of McClintock illegal rackets and run freely in the streets of Chicago.

Sunday came with a morning rain and high spirits. One would of thought some precipitation would keep most in bed on a cold weekend morning, but that was proven wrong by 9am.

OKC Mtn. had just over 40 souls visit her for a much anticipated “Whiskey Gap” scenario paintball game. Generals Jbern of OKC - www.thewoodsballer.com and Ryan “$lutmunky” of OKC went head to head in this 1920’s prohibition game.

This scenario started out with a bang. Five members from each family stood in front of the other, their guns on the ground and at the sound of go, they drew and fired upon their enemy. Members of the Longshanks stood standing winning them a gutsy 25 points.

By the start of game two the rain had drizzled away and the sky begin to brighten. Both sides rushed for control of the field. After an hour and twenty minutes the game had ended almost in a tie. Both teams managed to battle enough on the road to secure 5 payments a piece to Canadian Mounties and then have guts enough to accomplish missions that took them deep into enemy territory to demolish rival gangs whiskey warehouses.

Game two required both families to deliver whiskey to a pick up point. Like a game of center flag capture, players flooded towards the main objective to shoot it out for control. I personally saw some serious firefights and insanely ballsy moves committed by quite a few people, which makes paintball so incredibly awesome. The McClintocks started out crushing the Longshanks with an early delivery of three crates. An impressive starting strategy wasn’t enough though, with a determined Longshank crew, they hung in and dug in, gaining ground inch by inch, ultimately winning the round.
Game three was chaotic. Both teams started parallel and had objectives opposite corners from them, forcing both teams to cross at center field to reach their objective all while trying to defend their mob boss’ home. By the end of 25 minutes, so many people had been annihilated and so much paint had been thrown that neither team was able to secure their objective.

The days last game was much like it’s first, an old school gangster shootout. Eight members from each side braved the bullets this time and once again the Longshanks stood standing. I don’t know I’ve felt more tension in the air than in those few seconds before the round started.
I must say, though the Longshanks won in points, the day was insanely even. Every player on the field, regardless of mob association, played their guts out. The theme of this game was “no guts no glory” and it truly was played out in this scenario.

A big thanks to all who came out. OKC, you all are amazing, MGB Bros once again you have shown us why we love you all so much. SFDELTA T, you guys were great and we look forward to playing with you sometime soon. TRIAD, I can’t say enough about McBride, great shooter, but more importantly a great individual.
Big thanks to both generals, Slutmunky and Jbern, for making this one of OKC’s most memorable scenarios ever.

Thanks to everyone for making this game something we will remember. We look forward to the next time we all meet at OKC MTN.