|
Home
Photos (will be added as soon as we get a few games in this year) |
A Newbies First Game
|
 |
|
I have been reading a lot of websites this past year giving different perspectives from newbie to pros. So I thought why not share my thoughts from a local standpoint.
A friend of mine convinced me to try out the game. It didn’t take a lot of convincing – I used to be in Air Cadets and we played a lot of capture the flag without any firepower. I knew I was going to like the sport. (in fact I was so confident of this fact I even bought a marker from OLP before playing my first game – now you know I am nuts) We arranged a small group of friends to head to OLP Shakespeare on an Outlaw Sunday. Some of us had played before, some of us were first timers.
For those that don’t know what an outlaw night is, Outlaw nights (At OLP anyway) is essentially a walk on night were you don’t need to go with a group. You will see players of a wide variety, from the experienced guy with an autococker, to the new guy with a rental or borrowed marker. Entry fee is cheap and paint prices are reasonable.
The first thing that impressed me was in the staging area. Everyone was so friendly – from the young guns to the older guys like myself. The experienced players were very helpful in explaining things such as Safety (get that barrel bag on before screwing on your tank), giving tips on what the games were like on different fields, and explaining that a hit usually doesn’t really hurt. This really helped put me at ease. (Thanks to any of you from that first night, and those of you that make an effort to do this)
After the referee came and explained the field rules to us we headed to the chrono then the speed ball field. Again an experienced player took me under wing and quickly gave me some tips (I think it was run like mad – and get cover – speedball is intense) The ref signaled the start and I ran like mad to a brush pile. That now familiar popping noise filling the air from it seemed like everywhere. Peeking over the brush I saw a guy tucked into a brush bunker ahead of me. I proceed to start “painting his bunker” and he mine. I was just getting covered in spray. (At this point I made a mental note not to use a brush bunker again as a first choice – more like last resort) We basically had each other pinned, trading paint back and forth. I had a pile of spray cover me and my mask. (made a note to keep paper towel in pocket future games) Shortly after a shell that had split on a branch hit my hand – and not knowing the rules I called myself out.
Back in the staging area I asked about the hit and they told me a quarter sized spatter is out, split shells such as mine weren’t, direct hit that bounces off is not, direct hit that breaks is a definite out. We all proceeded to clean up and just as we were ready to head out for round 2 my o ring blew out. One of the experienced guys there quickly loaned me a tool kit and told me how to fix it and gave me an O ring before leaving. (Much appreciated) I had it all fixed in time for the next game.
My last game that night was the best. We played capture the tree house and we were attacking. I moved a little way and sat in my bunker a player behind me got my attention and told me to move up – he’d cover. As I ran he pelted out the paint keeping heads down. I waved him in after I got cover and did the same for him. We were quite close after doing that and I made my first tag – Wow – what a feeling I noted a played always poking out the same hole and a spot the other player couldn’t get me. Tucked into my sweet spot I lined up using a few test shots and waited, my opponent popped out for a shot and I went paint crazy. This was a moment I will likely not forget. But this happiness was short lived as I made another mistake – I went for another bunker without signaling for cover fire – half way to the next bunker I got tagged dead on to my upper arm. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing though – I now knew first hand a hit wasn’t all that bad pain wise – only stings for a minute.
Back in the staging area – I got compliments from some of the other players on my style and teamwork. They also pointed out where I went wrong. I left the field that night on a real high – I was hooked. But why was it so great? It was because the teams were well mixed up and the experienced player’s attitudes that made my first night out such a success. I found it amazing that so many different walks of life can walk on a field for one common interest, treat each other with respect. It felt like it I was in a little community where we all had a common goal – To have a Blast.
|
||
| Contact | [email protected] | |