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Big Game props in Canada

Greetings my international amigos!!
Live from Canada...
I hope that all of you are looking forward to this season of 'ball as much as I. Okay, so this is my thread for y'all...

My first Big Game experience was at Wasaga Beach (here in Canada) and it was a Wayne Dollack scenario...Ia Drang Valley, a Vietnam (US vs NVA) type of thing, and me and my best friend were assigned as Engineers, with these action cards for such things as satchel charges, and RPG's (Rocket Propelled Gernade, me thinks) which was all kool and stuff 'cause it was our first scenario experience, but at the same time I was thinking of the small scale scenarios and the props that we use at Area 51 Paintball Sportsfield (where I work and play), in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada and left the day elated from a tremendous experience of this Big Game and it's battles but still there was something missing about the whole deal. I thought this way...hey, it's a scenario (role/playing) and the promoter wants it to be as real as possible...well, wouldn't it be MORE realistic, if instead of a card that says you're carrying a RPG, to actually having to carry a prop resembling and maybe even firing a paintball like a RPG.
Do you see what I'm getting at??
Anyway, this is what I have to tell you about our field, Area 51...we are a small scale paintball field with 3.5 basic playing fields (thus far). We have (all authentically named after Area 51, USA locations) a speedball field which has a working PA system (for music for instructions). The speedball field has a "bunker complex", consisting of a main bunker with 2 "Pill-Box" mini bunkers to either side built into the one end with netting for spectators, we use this as a storm the beach type of game with a flag that must be rescued and returned to the other end of the field in a 3 minute time period. VERY intense!! We also have your usual bush field, large and bushy!!! And, our signature field...

ATTACK GENERAL HEADQUARTERS!!

This is an old streamline trailer with clear lexan windows and surrounded by a fortified perimeter made of wooden pallets and plastic barrels. The field surrounding the trailer and it's battlements is littered with bunkers and sparce wooded cover. With one team defending the trailer and the other team attacking THIS is where we shine. This is our mini-scenario where the attacking group must complete missions in order, competeing against the clock, and being wary of the defenders who more or less try to keep the attacker down and covered. We have a medic that roams the field...if a paintball breaks on your body, you call the Medic and that person takes your name and wipes the hit so you can keep playing. If you are hit in the head or goggles it's an automatic trip back to the mini staging area (which is screened and a safe zone for goggle/equipment clean up with a barrel washer and picnic tables) for a 15 min rest. You may think that 15 is a long wait, but I've seen this game take a couple of hours (hard work for the poor blokes inside of the trailer, but that's what ya get if ya wanna be "trailer trash"). Included in the missions are finding and disarming a live SideWinder missle. This is a replicated SideWinder missle with a liquid motion sensor and alarm that must be pulled carefully from it's protective casing and disarmed while the defenders hammer on you. If you set off the alarm, it's a trip back to the mini staging area along with anyone in a 5 foot radius. We also have a VX gas rocket that must be assembled from pieces hidden throughout the field in authentic army issue ammo boxes that when assembled and fired blows baking powder out it's rear, "simulating" it's launch. Also hidden around the field are wire triggered "land mines" that spray the triggeree with a coloured water solution marking them as eliminated and a "land mine" that can be trigger by hitting it's sensor with a paintball, this is filled with jello and does the trick quite nicely as well. It's a crazy game that we play!!!

We had a booth at SkyBall2002, called IPSO (Interactive Paintball Scenario Operations) and it was a great success, but I haven't seen much hoorah about it in any of the media circles, excpect paintballchannel.com which has a couple of prop pics . My boss/ Area 51 Paintball Sportsfield owner, Ken Hammond and company created a whole slew of original working props, such as drone guns that when activated spin 360 degrees throwing 600 paintballs that are feed from within by it's own vacuum; paintball landmines "Slammers" that can be used alone and lined together as a group, with paintball target triggers so they may be detonated from a distance, and LOTS of other kool stuff!!!

So, if you thought the days of carrying around and actual paintball firing "tank round", or tripping a cluster of paintball landmines was a thing a myth or of daydreams, fret not!!! We know of your plight and are getting it together for the rest of you to enjoy!!!

Sorry about the length....let me know what you think. Check out the videos at the web-page (sorry about download time on those videos) www.area-51.on.ca

Take care and thanks for taking the time to peruse this pondering.

SirReal06