Paintball - What is it? - The breakdown ( Maybe a sticky sparks)

ditpaintball

So What is Paintball?

Paintball is simple game in explanation, but difficult in mastering. Paintball is like a game of chess. Rather than speed and strength, paintball requires strategy and imagination, to achieve the objective of the particular game, be it capture the flag, take the hill, collecting the ammo boxes etc.

Although there are many formats, the typical woodsball games consist of two teams and runs for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the playing area and number of players. Secondary objectives, (the fun part), include trying to eliminate opposing players by marking (shooting) them with a paintball expelled from your gun, at aound 280 feet per second. Hence, safety is vital on any Paintball course. Safety and game rules are enforced by referees. Win or Loose, everyone has a good time and there is always the next game waiting for you.


So is it safe with all these high speed balls?

Yes. It's as safe as any active sport can be as long as you observe the basic safety rules and regulations of which there aren't to many. Safety is highly stressed at all Paintball venues and by the IPPA. The one major safety rule is to ALWAYS wear your protective paintball mask at all times, unless in a designated safe zone (where the guns are no allowed). Keeping your mask on during play is very important as paintballs travel at speeds between 200 and 300 fps (feet per second). Getting hit with a paintball will not damage your eye, it will take it out! So Masks on people.


I'm a bit of a wuss bag, so does it HURT?

Not really.........not much. Most paintballs break on impact and this causes very little pain. Getting hit is usually accompanied by a slight stinging sensation which goes away after a few seconds. Of course the pain factor also depends on where you get shot (the back of the hand, ear and crotch areas are more sensitive than your leg so it would hurt more).

You are supplied with overalls in most places and gloves in a few, which takes a little from the sting, also you can wear extra clothing, or even a cup for the men, but remember these can hinder your movement. You are also supplied with a special paintball mask and bringing a scarf with you to cover the back of your neck would be advisable. In general the most pain will come from scratches and scrapes from various obstcales on the course, nettles and stones etc.


Who can play?

Anybody can play as long as your over 18 generally but some places allow people as young as 16 to play. It is all an insurance issue really and that the fact that markers are firearms.



Do You have to be fit?

It certainly helps. You don't have to run around much if you don't want to. However you may have to if paintballs are flying towards you from dozens of different angles. Most people play to their own individual fitness level, but once the adrenaline gets pumping, there is usually no stopping you, unless your out of ammo. Just remember that your paintball gun fires far, far, faster than anyone can run and the game of paintball is seldom won on fitness alone. Being able to think quickly and decisively is what makes the real differences in paintball. Intelligence and determination, not merely speed or agility, are the keys to success in the sport.



Do I have to be on a team?

You don't have to on an team to go on an organized IPPA outing, execpt for Torunament games. It is common for people to play with several teams at once. This is due to several teams playing at different levels and in different tournaments.



Will the Paint stain my clothes?

No, paintballs are gelatine capsules filled with a water-soluable, non-toxic and bio-degradable paint. So it washes easily out of clothes and is safe to the evironment. Just make sure and use any over-alls provided or bring spare cloths, do don't want to be getting funny looks on the bus on the way home.

Paintball Game Types - Woods & Speedball

Capture the Flag
You may have played capture the flag when you were a kid. You broke up into two even teams and tried to capture your enemy’s flag without being tagged by an opponent. In paintball the difference is that you don't tag people. You mark (shoot) them with a paintball. If you are hit with a paintball and it breaks open and marks you with paint, you are out of the game. The goal of the game is to move across the playing field to the enemy flag, retrieve it and safely return it to your base (flag station) inside a set time limit. The General time limits for games are from 15 to 10 minutes.

Once hit by a paintball you should inspect your body for paint. If you are hit in a location such as your back and cannot see if you are marked, then call out to a referee, "Paint check!"

In a similar circumstance if you shoot someone on the playing field and feel they are not aware they have been marked or believe they are unwilling to acknowledge being hit, you can call "check him!" to the nearest referee. You may also add for example "on that near bunker in the blue sweatshirt" or another example, "at that big tree in the brown jacket" so the ref knows who you want checked.

Once you’re eliminated. Place your barrel plug in your paintball gun (marker) if you have one (safety first). Then raise at least one arm high in the air and walk off the playing field. You cannot rejoin the game like in Urban Paintball. Keep your arm raised to show your marker with barrel plug in for the best means of not being accidentally shot with paint again.


Center Flag
This is a variation of capture the flag. Instead of crossing the entire playing field, retrieving an enemy flag and returning it to your flag station, both teams attempt to retrieve one (1) flag in the center of the paintball playing field. Once you gain control of the flag, the goal is to advance the flag to your enemy’s flag station.



Some questions and answers in regards to Center Flag:
Q: What if I'm eliminated while I have the flag?
A: Drop it where you are eliminated leave the field.

Q: Do we have to advance the flag immediately?
A: No. You can retreat then advance.

Q: Do we have to go for the flag immediately?
A: No, you can play your own strategy.

Q: What if no one captures the flag?
A: Games end in a draw after the set time.

Q: Can we win by eliminating all their players?
A: Only if you advance the flag before time expires.

Q: Can we hide the flag as part of our strategy?
A: No.

Speedball

Speedball paintball is a wide open fast paced elimination game. Teams are divided into two and each team attempts to eliminate all players from the opposing team. The last player remaining claims the win for his/her team.

You do not have to advance. However when the ref calls "game on" or blows the horn, each team will "break out" of a huddle and take positions that each person feels offers them both good cover and position to take aim on the opponents.


What to bring on a DIT Paintball Trip - (assuming you don't have your own marker)

1. Spare Cloths. These are to ware under the overalls that are provided. Some times the paint will get through and mess your cloths (it washes out), but you will look like a rite tit on the bus home with yellow hair and cloths. Spare runners / boots are essential, as it’s messy out there and you mite land gracefully in a puddle while getting riddled out of it from all angles.

2. A good pair of strong hiking boots is advisable, these will help protect your feet and ankles, as the ground can be rough in places.

3. A pair of gloves to cover the hands. Urban supply you with gloves, luminous yellow ones, which work fine. Bring black or brown it you like stealth.

4. A dark scarf is handy to wrap around your neck, great for the sneaky people trying to shoot you in the back.

5. Knee pads are just an option, but if you have a bit of Rambo in you, sliding around the place then they are handy

6. Most Importantly, MONEY! Not only is to pay for your game you haven't already, but for extra ammo. There is nothing as bad as having the perfect shot lined up but you’re empty because you didn't fork out to bomb up on paintballs.

For more info, check out:
http://www.boltonstreetpaintball.com
or
http://www.irish-paintball.net

Dave!

Cool, good post