Phew. So much to say, but in general, I'm probably just going to agree with every one else.
Thanks to John Sosta for putting this on, and pestering me so much that I had no choice but to play. Thanks to the players that let me borrow kit, especially Olly Bell for lending me an old school Viking that shot beautifully, and Donk (Simon) for letting me steal his hopper when ever he wasn't playing.
Thanks to the guys from Outrage than let me join them, along with Chris, Lump and Lemon. Boy did we have fun. It was nice to win too.
Going into that last game, we thought the points made it impossible for us to win, but after working out how long we needed to hold the buzzer, and how many kills we needed, we knew we had a chance. To win it by just 7 eliminations (when we were averaging around 50+ a game) shows how close it was.
Everyone on the team had a massive smile after every game, which leads nicely to the point its such good value for money; so much trigger time and its such a rush playing constantly, fighting to get the buzzer and then defending it from the baddies!! It takes the focus away from the refs and let the players decide the game, lose a guy and it doesnt matter, he can be replaced in a matter of seconds, and for anyone who thinks uncamped ramping is a bad idea, there way off, it doesnt make much difference at all.
That's probably one of the best points. The value for money. You really get so much field time. You get to go back out again and learn from your mistakes, you get to try different bunkers and plays on the field, you get real value for money.
I can't think of the last time I played so much field time and shot so many people that wasn't at a Big Game.
More paintball than you can shake a stick at - being able to shoot 50 plus people in one game! Awesome!! And it doesn't feel like 15 minutes, it goes by in a flash!
I think what I loved most was being able to play every bunker - because you basically try to fill the bunker that the last player out was playing, it's pot luck as to where you end up playing, love it!! Means you never get bored playing the same side!
Absolutely. It's cool that you end up playing so many different places on the field as needed. You never quite knew where you would be going until one of your team mates was out, then you hoping he'd run back as fast as possible so you could go and plug the gap.
Why do they use uncapped ramp?
The gun rules are simple so they are easy to enforce. In all honesty, it seems to work well.
Most people were capping themselves at around 12bps, some were at around 15 (me), and I really only saw one very fast gun (20 ish) all weekend. It simply wasn't an issue.
Glad the newbies enjoyed it !!!!!. This was the second time that I personally have played and it was awesome yet tiring.
I think this is probably one of the best things to happen for newbies in tournament paintball.
Yes, I know some of the new teams and players end up having a lot of kills against them, but you get to keep playing and trying things. It's also unlikely you will get shot off the break so players have chance to make their bunkers and play paintball. Yiou are also pretty much forced to play multiple positions around the field.
The amount of field time and opportunities to play is more like X-Ball, but the type of play is more like 7 Man. I like that combination.
Thanks to John Sosta, Ray Cain, The Marshalls, Lips for the Paint and the other teams for making Paintball an enjoyable day out.
Absolutely. Great job by the Marshalls!
Think gun rules are, use what you want! No-one minds, and people put their guns around 13-15 anyways, with the odd guy blazing away on 20 bps. With relaxed gun rules, and the realization that the guy shooting 20bps will run out of paint or air quick, it works out pretty sweet.
Ive missed 15 bps!
Me too! I loved playing at 15bps again. I think there really weren't many fast guns out there (and I don't think it would have helped either). I don't think I saw anyone go on field with much more than 5 pods.
wishing i had gone to this any idea when the next one is
Don't miss the next one. I'm sad I won't be in the country for it.
And I forgot to say, it didn't cost any more than a normal tourney!! Bonus!!
I think it was better value too. More play time, more fun, more paintball!
To play left, right, up front was a change from playing the same old bunker every same old break out. With the Break out being removed as well was a great addition. making it from start gate to the 50 in one move was loads of fun.
Indeed it was, and considering a 6'6" 250lb player like myself was able to make the buzzer with support from my team, it goes to show that anyone can play and enjoy this format. That I think is important. Some of the other formats that have been tried have alienated players for being too big, or too slow (I simply don't fit behind many x-ball bunkers any more, and can't make the corners due to messed up knees and being slow). I don't think that was good for the sport. I love the fact that anyone could play and enjoy this, and be effective.
Absolutely. I had pretty much stopped playing tournaments. Now I am wondering how I can persuade a local USA field to try this format...
But honestly speaking it was a fantastic day of paintball i just dont want to play normal tourney ball anymore after this playing for 60 seconds win or loose is now boring when i play.
For this reason i am giving up xball and only going to play F5 from now on and i heard a few more people that felt like that too.
Roll on the next F5 event.
I do confess there were times, I actually wanted players on my team to get shot so that I could get back on the field.
The amount of play time for this format is awesome.
It was good to see some old friends and many familiar faces.
Can't wait for the next one I can be at.
Simon
