Leaving Your Mark
Some friends and I got together on Saturday for some paintball. Aside from various bachelor implementations, I had no experience with the sport. Luckily, my compatriots were also new to it and we explored it together.
The place we went to was an indoor arena near the university. Basically, they had set up a bunch of bunkers in the basement of a warehouse type building. They also had an outdoor arena, but we had signed up for the indoor spot for our initiation. There were nine of us in the end and after watching the entertaining safety film, we went down to get ourselves kitted up.
The goggles were smaller than I expected but looked to provide good protection for the front... everything except the top of head, the back and the neck. All things considered, they didn't seem noticeably heavy or restrictive of vision. We all also opted to get rent some denim coveralls because it would cut down on the amount of paint we'd get on our own clothes as well as give us another layer to reduce the sting of a shot.
With that, we randomly set teams and stepped into the arena. The cover was basically inflated bunkers set throughout the floor. There were a few orange bubbles which we were allowed to use as moveable cover. Pretty nifty. The other thing was that the floor was wet. Since we came in just after another group, they hosed the place down. It made for a bit of a slick floor but the guys there said that the paint was much more slippery in comparison.
The ref gave us the lowdown on how the matches would start and, in short order, the paint was flying. It was pretty exhilarating maneuvering for cover while trying to paint opponents. That first match was over much too fast, though I did get the winning shot on the Boogiemonster's butt cheek.
We then reset on the other side of the arena and though it was a little more even, our team came out on top again. Of course, being on the team with the extra man helps.
The group then took a break to catch our breath and decide if we wanted to mix up the teams some. I swapped over to the other team to give them the man advantage and then did another couple of rounds. In that first one, I made a rookie mistake and tried to move in front of one of my own guys. However, she started firing and I had to make a quick stop and in doing so lost my balance and fell backward to the concrete. I ended up spraining my left wrist a little.
I had made one other major mistake, but it was more a tactical error. I found myself the last guy on the team with three opponents left. I knew I was taking fire from my left and I decided to move quickly up the right side to get a line of fire on them. As it so happens, there was someone under cover on the right side and when she popped up, she immediately shot me.
Part of the video included instructions that due to the muzzle speed of the paintballs that you shouldn't fire on opponents closer than twenty feet. In those instances, the rule is declared and you and your opponent are both considered out. Well, I surprised her enough that it was a snap shot. Luckily it hit me in the forearm and though it stung, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She was mortified, but I just told her that my fencing habits make me no stranger to bruises and stinging shots to the forearm. It did leave the coolest trophy bruise that I could show around the office today.
Anyway, we went through the cycle of having a couple of rounds and then shifting up teams and taking breaks. After six or eight engagements, we checked the time and found out that we were only half way through a two hour set. Wow. It was at this point that we decided to buy another case of paint. I know that I had been pretty conservative with my rounds and figured that if we were going to continue, it would be better to do it without worrying about ammo so much.
We reloaded and then set new teams. By this time everyone had shook off their misgivings about being shot or shooting people and things really got interesting. I discovered that I like the front, laying suppressing fire and then probing the flank. When it works, it can be very effective in pinning down opponents. When it doesn't work, you go out very early. Perhaps better coordinated fire would improve tactics.
Probably the culminating moment was when the ladies decided to take a bring and captain_squid and I took on the other three men. Though we didn't fare too well in the first engagement, we took the last two. If you ask Squid though he'll say that I took the last two. I developed a bit of a dead-eye and capped off six in a row as Squid was moving up the other flank.
The end of our time limit was nigh upon us and surprisingly enough we measured the paint right because we finished the box and were close to empty. Afterwards, we turned in our gear and went our separate ways to shower and change and then meet again for some grilled meatstuffs. It was a fine time and even the most worried of our group was having fun by the end of it. I bet most of them would be interested in doing it again and even semi-regularly.
I know I am. It is tough though because that is yet another hobby piling on an ever expanding number. It hasn't stopped me from pricing equipment though. You know, just in case.
The place we went to was an indoor arena near the university. Basically, they had set up a bunch of bunkers in the basement of a warehouse type building. They also had an outdoor arena, but we had signed up for the indoor spot for our initiation. There were nine of us in the end and after watching the entertaining safety film, we went down to get ourselves kitted up.
The goggles were smaller than I expected but looked to provide good protection for the front... everything except the top of head, the back and the neck. All things considered, they didn't seem noticeably heavy or restrictive of vision. We all also opted to get rent some denim coveralls because it would cut down on the amount of paint we'd get on our own clothes as well as give us another layer to reduce the sting of a shot.
With that, we randomly set teams and stepped into the arena. The cover was basically inflated bunkers set throughout the floor. There were a few orange bubbles which we were allowed to use as moveable cover. Pretty nifty. The other thing was that the floor was wet. Since we came in just after another group, they hosed the place down. It made for a bit of a slick floor but the guys there said that the paint was much more slippery in comparison.
The ref gave us the lowdown on how the matches would start and, in short order, the paint was flying. It was pretty exhilarating maneuvering for cover while trying to paint opponents. That first match was over much too fast, though I did get the winning shot on the Boogiemonster's butt cheek.
We then reset on the other side of the arena and though it was a little more even, our team came out on top again. Of course, being on the team with the extra man helps.
The group then took a break to catch our breath and decide if we wanted to mix up the teams some. I swapped over to the other team to give them the man advantage and then did another couple of rounds. In that first one, I made a rookie mistake and tried to move in front of one of my own guys. However, she started firing and I had to make a quick stop and in doing so lost my balance and fell backward to the concrete. I ended up spraining my left wrist a little.
I had made one other major mistake, but it was more a tactical error. I found myself the last guy on the team with three opponents left. I knew I was taking fire from my left and I decided to move quickly up the right side to get a line of fire on them. As it so happens, there was someone under cover on the right side and when she popped up, she immediately shot me.
Part of the video included instructions that due to the muzzle speed of the paintballs that you shouldn't fire on opponents closer than twenty feet. In those instances, the rule is declared and you and your opponent are both considered out. Well, I surprised her enough that it was a snap shot. Luckily it hit me in the forearm and though it stung, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She was mortified, but I just told her that my fencing habits make me no stranger to bruises and stinging shots to the forearm. It did leave the coolest trophy bruise that I could show around the office today.
Anyway, we went through the cycle of having a couple of rounds and then shifting up teams and taking breaks. After six or eight engagements, we checked the time and found out that we were only half way through a two hour set. Wow. It was at this point that we decided to buy another case of paint. I know that I had been pretty conservative with my rounds and figured that if we were going to continue, it would be better to do it without worrying about ammo so much.
We reloaded and then set new teams. By this time everyone had shook off their misgivings about being shot or shooting people and things really got interesting. I discovered that I like the front, laying suppressing fire and then probing the flank. When it works, it can be very effective in pinning down opponents. When it doesn't work, you go out very early. Perhaps better coordinated fire would improve tactics.
Probably the culminating moment was when the ladies decided to take a bring and captain_squid and I took on the other three men. Though we didn't fare too well in the first engagement, we took the last two. If you ask Squid though he'll say that I took the last two. I developed a bit of a dead-eye and capped off six in a row as Squid was moving up the other flank.
The end of our time limit was nigh upon us and surprisingly enough we measured the paint right because we finished the box and were close to empty. Afterwards, we turned in our gear and went our separate ways to shower and change and then meet again for some grilled meatstuffs. It was a fine time and even the most worried of our group was having fun by the end of it. I bet most of them would be interested in doing it again and even semi-regularly.
I know I am. It is tough though because that is yet another hobby piling on an ever expanding number. It hasn't stopped me from pricing equipment though. You know, just in case.