Formulal 5s 13th June

[Gassy]

I cannot wait for the July one,we are making a weekend of it,staying over saturday night at The White Hart Inn,WestBergholt.

 

[Hawks]

Hi all,

This was my first time at a F5 event.

Outrage were generous enough to let me jump in with them and I was happy to pick up the 2nd place trophy for them at the end of the day.

So what are my impressions of the event :

This is a far more spectator friendly format, you have a very clear central focus that a non paintball knowledgeable person could follow.

The choice of ROF was novel for me, did you opt for high ROF ramping or semi, suddenly ROF becomes tactical as you have to weigh up volume of paint in the air to the rate at which your air and paint will last and hence your effectiveness on the field.
Also the reduce FPS meant you had a slightly reduced range so you needed to get up close but also you are not going to do as much damage to your opponent if you get the business end of your marker inside their comfort zone !

I found myself hurrying the eliminated players off the field so that I got out to continue our push or shore up the defence. I think the pits were busier and you had less of rest than in X-ball, though we had 8 players and a coach with no pit crew so maybe that would of helped. You had to be more organised or you would not have a full five team members on the field and as such you would struggle further.

This format is also more marshal friendly. In that I mean that you can not state that a refs call lost you the game. A poor marshals call will just facilitate in rotating a fresh player onto the field and not mean you losing the whole point and possibly the match.

The score board is getting a revamp currently, so expect John to have a few soldering iron burns next time you see him. If you could add a kill counter to the score board live as well that would be the icing on the cake.

The event was held as I'm sure we are all aware is in Sosta's back garden, the surface was for better than that provided at some Millenium events and I only paid a total of £65 for the day.
There needed to be some netting at the car park end of the field to stop the cars picking up the long shots, whom ever owned that Yellow motor must have had a fun clean up at the end of the day . Also John you may need to get the strimmer out and cut us some new car parking spaces as the event is getting more popular you were running out of places for players cars !

I think the field needs a slight shuffle, we, Outrage, managed to trap Demolition Squad and Hawkes in their spawn ending with Demolition Squad throwing the game as they could not physically enter the field without being eliminated. Maybe some large pieces should be left around the spawn to protect emerging players and give even a team on this most severe of back feet a chance to battle their way back into the game. Also making the spawn exits solid so the other team can not tell which side they were entering on would help.

To sum up I am thankful that Sosta and co did not just sit back and watch the tournament scene die. Instead they have created a fun 'new' format and have backed it with there own time and money. He has tremendous drive and I wish him all the success in future events, I for one will be attending.

There were a couple of memorable moments. Firstly Olly in the midfield snake tower giving the opposition's snake player a carefully aimed single shot to the head got a round of applause from the spectators.

Secondly for myself in the Hawkes game getting into their witches hat and getting pinched from both sides. I'm sure that was funny to watch, I have never got that friendly with a bunker before!

I look forward to seeing you all at the next event.

Regards

Ed

Likeswise i was so close to that dumbell trying to make sure we did not get completley pinned in but u can never give in, always have a chance if u keep at it, that game agaist u guys was the best we had all day, did not matter that we lost we had such a good game, after a few more training sessions and a few more tourneys we give u a harder game.


Thanks to all SE2 for teaming up with us and we will see u guys on 25th july.


Thanks again to all teams/marshals and everyone else that made this day worth playing.

Well played gunsmoke, we watched u guys play and u just keep comming for the snake even though half the time getting shot out, now thats detemenation(sorry about spelling) see u at next one.

Last of all Well done all Hawks and SE2, u all played very well and good team sprit all day long.

 

[Potter Loki]

Il chip in as well, thanks to all the Sostas and Cains who put the event on, all the teams that we played and everyone else for providing some great entertainment! This was the best days ball ive had in a while and even better than the first event, though the field layout i didnt quite like as much, proud of the loki army for coming to try this, not many people know about us and i think we gave a vey good account of ourselves, im sure we will be back to defend the 1st place, was extra sweet as i was nominated captain!!

As i said in my brief review of the last event, this is a cracking days paintball, makes me remeber why i love the game so much! And now the ball has started rolling and more and more teams are getting involved could be the start of something big!

Best part of the day is seeing all the friendly faces, both old and new, all smiling....

10.5/10

 

[John Sosta]

Guys,
Thanks to everyone for coming and playing F5 and for the positive comments you’re making, its much appreciated and spurs me on all the more.

I will check the forum a lot more (if Robbo lets me

I would like you guys that have played this to comment not only the good but also on any bad points, so I can try to address any issues.
I’m already thinking of ways to prevent a team from penning another team in, so they can’t come out, and this will be implemented in the next event. I’ll post on here and on the F5 website what’s going to be done. This has only happened 1 time in 6 tournaments, and two years of testing, but it does need addressing .

Next event I’ll have more safety netting and a bigger parking area and also a better area for teams to pitch their ez-ups.

Can I also ask you guys if you think of any suggestions, to post them so we can discuss them, and if they’re good, we can implement. By next year I’d like to have a fully polished product and if your suggestions are good then you will be helping me to improve the format.

I also want to thank everyone that’s been working with me in making this possible Ray Cain , John Bonich, Danielle Sosta , Alfonse (AL France), and my missus Jackie, oh and I forgot Peter Robinson for using his precious time and coming to interview me and others on the format (serious sucking up). ooh one last thanks to all the teams that have supported F5 from the initial tests to the very latest event.

John Sosta

 

[Leah]

Just a little note from me.....

This was the first Formula 5 I have actually managed to get a game in and got to admit was amazing fun who knows, might even contemplate playing the next one in July.

For those who havent seen it yet, get yourselves down to Colchester next month and just experience it.

 

[Lump]

Some great points being brought up in this thread and so good to see the word spreading

John, 2 Pits at each end, to allow the exit team to be able to pack up, and the next team to move in. With netted section leading up to it. this will cut down on change over time.

 

[NSKlad]

John,

What Lump said regarding the pits would be quite useful.

Regarding getting penned in, your thoughts for a V are excellent, although I would still move the tip of the V back a little to prevent two or more guys grouping behind the foremost bunkers and really bashing people. Speaking as one of the guys on the receiving end, it kinda sucked, and I was amazed the refs seemed to think we shouldn't be allowed to throw in the towel considering the thrashing we were getting.

Also, have a chat with the refs. They were a great bunch, well capable, but I think one or two small extra things could really improve the game:

• Use the standard "Out!" gesture with a clear call, I got a touch confused once or twice regarding what the ref wanted me to do
• Be weary of where you are standing, one particular ref was obliviously stood in people's lanes at least two or three times during the day
• Listen out for the other refs
• Keep your head in the game, ignore people chatting at you behind the netting
• Lastly, and of UTMOST importance, stick by your calls, and if another ref tells you to call them out, do it right away, no hanging about, don't stop to check the guy, just pull him. It benefits everyone and makes the game that much smoother

Decisiveness for the win!

 

[john251282]

Points for improvement:
The plastic flooring near the pitting area can get quite slippery perhaps change this to something else. I have seen stuff that some places use to help in grass car parks, here is a link to a place that seems to have something similar to what I have seen http://www.grass-reinforcement.com/index.php/products/description/grass-reinforcement-protection-mesh
Higher netting would be good, I had a few hit me while watching.
Like the idea of scoreboard with kill count/player swaps on
Clearer signage to show entrance, I only spotted it as there was someone on the gate waiting for his team mates

 

[Lemon]

Wow, loving the great feedback from new visitors! You just can't help but love this

Loki you were awesome! And if you can ever spare Matt can we borrow him please? lol

I agree with most of the points made, the plastic is slippery, the 'safe area' to let players out of the pit and at least on to the field, the 2 pits each end to speed up change overs, I also thought the field played better last time than this time but there will always be a field layout that that you prefer and it can't be the same each time! And it's so great that we all seem to be on the same page...how refreshing!!

Thanks so much for having us Storm, it was superb! And NWA it was our pleasure! Thanks for the extra game, you can never have too much paintball, especially Formula 5!!

And was great to see Leah finally getting stuck in! Bout time to hunny, hope it becomes regular xx

This is just fantastic, a stroke of genius! Thanks so much for all the effort put in to running this, you are all wonderful

Much love to all, see you at the next one!! xxxxx

 

[Potter Loki]

Loki you were awesome! And if you can ever spare Matt can we borrow him please? lol

Now we are going to have to enter 2 teams just so his ego will fit on field