Diamond Wars Season 1
The Season One Finale of Diamond Wars could not be described as anything but exciting throughout.
1000h had been and gone, and the troops of two mighty Corporate Armies began to prep their kit. It was bitterly freezing cold, and there was tension in the air, as everyone knew that it came down to this Episode. Victory or Failure hung by a thin, frozen thread for each team. Currently the Hoffmann Minex Corporation were in the lead by a mere 52 points, with an overall score of 1266.
Just over 6 months ago, in June, a similar tension was amongst the troops that attended our first Episode, the ‘Reconnaissance Episode’. Back then the troops were weary, not knowing what to expect, rumours of finding Diamonds in the Jungles seemed far fetched, but they followed orders and began the war. The Hoffmann Mercenaries and the USDE Recon Squad battled throughout the day, garrisoning POW camps, blowing up supply routes and fending off the enemy from their HQ’s
After this first episode, the Hoffmann Mercenaries completing more missions, and holding tactical territories, won very narrowly with 93 points to 88.
Four weeks later, we saw the return of these two Corporations, but with many, MANY re-enforcements! Using knowledge gained on their recon missions, both Armies, now clued up about the area they were battling over, began the campaign to overthrow their enemy and establish a firm foothold in the Democratic Republic of the Corimbe. Sounds easy? Leading the Hoffmann Minex Corporation’s forces was Major Matt Corrall, a ruthless leader that had previous experience in these Jungles. And leading the U.S. Diamond Exports was the veteran; Col H. Mayo. The battles were gruesome, with high casualties on both sides, but the HMC managed another victory however, the overall scores were as close as could be, with the USDE with 204 and the HMC at 205!
The 3rd Episode seemed to have nearly as much action BEFORE the event as it did on the day, with Facebook groups cropping up; the banter between both Armies was exhilarating. This highly anticipated Episode lived up to expectations, with a very high turnout. The HMC; now led by Major Gaz T. Appow, and the USDE again, led by Col. H. Mayo both upped their games to a more offensive style of play Kill Groups of the USDE were arriving throughout the arena leaving trails of HMC casualties in their wake, on their way to completing a large amount of missions. Perhaps the HMC were underestimating the organisation on the USDE, as this Episode gave the first victory to the USDE and brought the overall scores to 400points to the HMC and 419 to the USDE, it was still close.
Mid season at Episode 4 found the USDE leaderless, with Col. H. Mayo MIA. Determined not to let this be a moral cruncher, Commander R. (bright Sword) Sinclair filled the spot of leading the USDE troops into battle. He lived up to his name, cutting through the HMC’s defences, and strategically inputting his forces behind enemy lines. Mr B. Evil, brought in for the HMC’s leadership, seemed to buckle under pressure and every one of his forces moves was met with squads of USDE troops. Completing fewer missions than the USDE was unforgivable and the USDE secured their second victory, making the gap between their overall scores larger, standing at 791 to the HMC and 946 to the USDE.
The penultimate Episode of Season 1 of Diamond Wars introduced one of the C.E.O.’s of the HMC entering the battlefield to seize control of the now disorganised troops. This move was in itself a victory, as Drask Hoffmann could not have been a better Commander. To start with, Col. Mayo, with his anticipated return, secured early completions of missions, however, towards the end of the day, the Hoffman troops had the USDE’s forces strategically surrounded, and prevented them from completing their missions, with was a brutal blow to the USDE as they could not even hold their own territories. As the sun set on this exciting Episode, the days scores were 268 points to the USDE, but a record breaking 475 points to the HMC, which, yet again, closed the gap between the overall scores to 1266 to the HMC, and left the USDE trailing a mere 52 points behind, standing at 1214 points.
This brings us back to the present; The Finale.
Shortly after the initial briefing, both Armies began the move to their Head Quarters; familiar locations for a large amount of the troops in attendance. With the absents of both Bright Sword and Col. H. Mayo, Captain Patrick Scott was issued the Field Commission of Commander to the United States Diamond Exports, a position that he took extremely seriously, and was well prepared. Both Drask Hoffmann and Mr B. Evil were leading the forces of the Hoffmann Minex Corporation. As previously said both Armies knew what was at stake. At the 1100h ‘go-ahead’ call they both set out into the battlefield; the newly enlarged arena now including the Wild Mining Town of Westumbo, alongside the 25 plus Structured Obmar Village, the Awesomeness that is Operation Diamond, and the very unique and realistic Jungle Sector and everything in between! The Arena now spanned well over 40 acres, filled with buildings, trails and roads, as well as unique features like missile silos, communications towers and watch towers. With their mission briefings fresh in their minds, the mighty armies set out to attempt their first missions. Their objectives were to retrieve Surface to Air Missiles and to demolish strategic areas to disrupt their opposition; each team completed a mission each. This looked like it was going to be a close day, yet again. Throughout the morning, both corporations completed a large number of missions, including Intel recon Missions, Demolition, retrieval, and the all important Hold and Control of Strategic Locations. At the Lunch time Stand down, the banter in the Staging area became quiet as the morning and current overall scores were announced. The HMC had 1420 points and the USDE had 1444 points. With 24 points between the overall scores no-one seemed to be able to do much more than plan their afternoon’s missions. After the re-start of play, determination was thriving from every player on the field. The completion of every possible point scoring mission was imperative to each corporation. Commander Scott’s Direction and leadership seemed fool proof; his Kill Squads were set up across the centre of the arena. The only glitch in this, however was a lone HMC troop slipping through their defences, arriving at the Diamond base and raising the HMC’s flag right in front of the USDE stronghold. Mr B. Evil living up to his name then began to throw havoc left right and centre, actually succeeded in getting two USDE sections to start a battle between each other! Unfortunately, B. Evil’s efforts were too late and the USDE secured their 3rd series victory, and became the first Diamond Wars Overall Winner, with the Series 1 overall scores at 2097 to the HMC and 2186 to the USDE.
Congratulations both to the U.S. Diamond Exports Armies, throughout the Series, and to the Command of the USDE. For winning Season 1 of Diamond wars, getting them a nice trophy to perhaps start their collection?
Further congratulations to;
The Sneaky Snorkels: Supporting the Hoffmann Minex Corporation throughout the year and winning the Diamond Wars Season 1 Most Valuable Team Award. Winning an MVT trophy an array of prizes, donated by Tippmann, National Paintball Fields, Angel Paintball Sports, BT and Enola Gaye
Mr B.Evil: For winning the Most Valuable Player Award. With his extreme tactics and the amazing ability to start fire fights between the opposition team and the opposition team. Winning himself the MTP Trophy and a selection of prizes donated by Tippmann.
Thomas Shepard: For winning the Head Hunter challenge and collecting and keeping hold of the most Shrunken Heads and winning himself the prize of a Tiberius 8 pistol, kindly donated by Tiberius Arms.
A special thank you to all the series sponsors for donating prizes throughout. And a personal thank you to London International Paintball Supplies for supplying the trophies.
Next years episodes are not to be missed. The detail, the missions, and the special effects at Diamond Wars are second to none, add this to the superb movie set scenarios at National Paintball Fields Europe’s Premier Paintball Venue, and you have a great series of events which are professionally staffed with a competitive yet very friendly atmosphere. The series represents value for money, with £50 getting you entrance, all air/co2 fills, a burger lunch and a case of 2000 paintballs. (Which lasts most people all day) additional paint is £35 a case.
Diamond Wars Series 2 kicks off on Sunday 25th of January 2009 and runs on the last Sunday of each month throughout 2009, with the exception of August and December, when there are no Diamond Wars Events.
Give it a go and join the growing Armies across the UK and Europe who have discovered the 24 carat Series that is the Diamond Wars.
Marc ‘The Gurkha’ Lavelle
National Paintball Fields
Tel: 0121 327 3961
Also find us on Facebook Search: Diamond Wars
