Chronicles of War

[Baca Loco]

14 different "war games" scenarios at locations around the country tied together under the banners of some serious industry and media support. The Big Idea that ties them all together is the notion these are educational studies on the futility of conflict and how such might be avoided in the future. Pretty clever but does that change anything and does it really matter? How big a deal are wargame scenarios anyway?
(And yes, I know, some discussions have touched on this subject before but look at what seems like an explosion of scenario games and new products like Tippmann's A-5. Seems like a lot is suddenly being actively invested in the Rambo side of pball.)

 

[JoseDominguez]

Just about the last thing we need. And as for the "war re-enactment " or military training stuff, what's the point, a marker doesn't function anything like a firearm, you might as well throw potatoes for realism, I mean, a marker has one 100th the range of a rifle and ten times the ammo capacity. Two weeks ago I played at a rec site against players from a local army base, ten tournament players took out 47 soldiers and we only lost six
It's this replica stuff that will get our sport banned. Particularly in the UK where the authorities frown on anything even remotely gun shaped, we don't have the luxury of being able to be venom tipped explosive round anti aircraft guns at wal-mart. In fact, it's only a matter of time before hairdryers and power drills are banned 'cos of their shape.
We need to distance ourselves from realism and replica weapons.
We use markers not guns.

 

[skullicious]

i cant help calling my marker a gun.

if it looks like a duck and acts like a duck.

 

[Jones the Paint Magnet]

Was this the MXS one? I took issue when they first posted. The majority of games were based on computer war games - Lord of the Rings, etc, but one was based on Medal of Honour, which in turn is based on the Allied landings at Normandy.

I don't have a problem with fictional or sci-fi games (or humourous ones like South Park). More the merrier - but when we start trying to get into "re-enactment" then it's a very ugly slippery slope. I used to know a veteran who landed at Sword, and from what he could bear to tell me it didn't sound like any game I'd want to play. You can't wipe down your hits and toddle off for tea in the safe area when your landing craft gets hit by an 88mm shell.

Although I enjoy rec games, I feel it would be disrespectful to those who particpated or who are currently in the forces to think I'm doing anything other than running around after a flag firing paint at people. Certainly the people I've played with in the Forces don't think of paintball as anything other than light relief. I would think that's the opinion of the majority of rec ballers who have played for any length of time. The "Rambo" factor usually comes from those who are (a) on their first game and still have the "wargame" perception of Joe Public (b) the very young (c) the very stupid.

In the case of (c) then if it wasn't paintball it would be something else, in all probability.

In the case of (a) and (b) then it usually just takes a few more games and exposure to the other aspects of paintball (including tourney ball, X-ball etc) before a little maturity is reached and they can appreciate the game for what it is. Sadly the majority of rec-bashers (including those who have gone through a similar phase themselves and should know better) start labelling them as Rambos at this point, which has to be the biggest disincentive to continue playing, or worse, even reinforces the sterotype they'd otherwise realise is completely inappropriate.

 

[JoseDominguez]

I wholeheartedly agree mate.
I marshalled at southpark, just a bit of fun, it was great.
But Omaha beach? not appropriate is it.

 

[MrPink]

It's always going to be hard for Paintball to be taken seriously because of the 'Wargames' image - but is it right that we distance ourselves so dramatically from it? After all, I started playing because of the appeal of 'playing War' and I'm sure that a lot of others also did (If you're honest with yourself). To me it was just a chance to behave like a kid again, to let myself go. Now, I don't like playing Rec so much and am dedicated to the 'Future Sport' image that is being cultivated within the Tourney scene, but I periodically take groups of first-timers to sites where they are out-fitted in Camo overalls and play games like 'Storm the Village' and 'Kill the General' becuase I love this sport/past-time/leisure activity/call it what you will passionately, and will do what it takes to get new people interested (and see if there are any potentials for my Team ) to promote the sport in general.

I personally don't think that specific re-inactments are a good thing (My Grandad went over on D-Day and lost a lot of friends that day, He still won't talk about it) but to try to blanket ban the more 'Realistic' scenarios can only hurt the sport far more than the 'Realists' could.

 

[Jones the Paint Magnet]

Well, I'm all for cammies and rushing around for objectives and "tag the general" type games, I just think it would be good to lose the inappropriate connection with actual conflict. Yes it's "play war" but with the emphasis more on play than the latter - if I wanted realism I'd join up and get a drill instructor yelling at me and making me run till I puke. I'm a wuss, so I decided on the free tea and burgers in the safe area option!

The rec scene will remain a huge puller of punters, but once they're in, some education is needed about what paintball's all about. (FUN!) I'm not saying you can't have woodland games with smoke grenades and villages - those are the type of games I enjoy playing - but we can do without people thinking that four rec games make them a commando in real life - these are the people who do silly things during games 'cause they take it too seriously and risk pejorating the public perception - that's why I object to being associated with them.

In previous posts along this subject we've seen a good area of co-operation with both rec and tourney ballers all taking their time to explain to newbies what's what and the type of things they can do in the game. Just the sort of thing we need instead of one type sneering at the other or more experienced players not wanting to get their hands dirty with the future players of the game. Nice to see Pink is doing his bit.

 

[JoseDominguez]

The problem is the difference between war-games, rec-ball and tournament. In the press, there is no difference, so we all get tarred with the same brush. For god's sake, they manage to tell the difference between rugby and american football don't they?
I don't see much similarity between rec and tourney (aside from the kit), one is a fun day out, the other is a fast team sport, all about position and angles.
As for re-enactment, fine if it's fiction or something funny, but I'm sorry, re-enacting real conflict just isn't appropriate. Stick with south park and star wars.
I don't want to be pretending to kill anyone, I'm just playing the game and I don't see it any differently to a catch in baseball or bowling someone out in cricket.
I am not a pacifist, ask around. I just love paintball and don't want it to go the way of every other sport involving a "gun". The English government don't need much of an excuse.

Please note, I'm not dissing rec-games like hit the general, take the bunker etc.... nothing wrong with that, it's the war re-enactment I'm against, number of kills, casualties etc...

 

[JoseDominguez]

I don't mind wearing cammo, taking out the opposition, crawling in the mud and bringing back the flag.
I just don't want to pretend to kill Germans.

 

[p8ntslinger]

Over here in America, at least whare I am, the people who are in the (c) group, tend to blame "troubled youth" for a lot of things. As for the cause of troubled youth, here it is still hip-hop, satain music and " those horrible video games". Most of group C have not started pointing the finger at paintball.......YET. The talk show hosts (of wich we have far too many) who have a family member they won't let play paintball because it is too "violent", and then dedicate a whole show on how violent it is. Then the parents of the younger players, who are about as smart as a box of rocks anyway, see this and will not let their kids play. If you just want to look at the basics, paintball is like tag. You can't use most real world "combat" tactics on the paintball field. I want to see this sport grow.