Is X-ball the future?

[Sk8PadTrev]

Nick...

Indeed as you say this is all speculation untill the actual event...

However, your arguments for it being a defensive game can be used in reverse... if a coach/team recons that the other team will put a huge push into the the final quarter, then the aposing coach will push in a different quarter and 'lock it down' on different quaters...

ALSO the biggest assumption being made by you nick is that the defence will be nearly 100% succesfull... I dont dent that the final quater will be the most intence, the end game always is, in every sport... but I can't see through your current reasonings how this format would be more detrimental to aggressive play than the current format...

The current format alows two teams to slog it out and a winner be declared on a single elimination... at least this game format awards points/games to those that get the flag.... admitedly all they have to do is hang it once and lock a game down... but like i said before, you cant have a 100% guarentee on a d-fence. With just five player on the pitch you can always bust a move... always!

My main concern for the format is how do you stop a game time being run out, player faffing around and delaying a flag hang if they will be/are in the lead? This is a poser... a 'shot clock' for hanging a flag?

 

[Beaker]

Playing Devil's Advocate here.......

But wont field design/set-up/layout dictate whether a defensive team can implement the ideas you say.

In a 5 man field, there are usually only 3 "good" back bunkers from which to lock down angles. So if the other (aggressive) team can eliminate the other 3 players - 5 aggressive vs 3 defensive players I think Nick's 90% thing becomes much more like 50%.

But if the field design was much more radical and only allowed for 2 defensive bunkers - forcing teams to play with at least some fronts - then you negate the advantage of defensive play.

Personally I feel that X-ball will allow for a lot more "reserved" level of play were teams have to push the advantage, but do it in a very tight and controlled way. Hence why i think the Russians are going to be the team to beat.

 

[Beaker]

Kinda, but not quite what I meant.

I am not saying that you can't occupy a bunker (anywhere on the field) and not play defensively.

Merely that the field design, if done right, can negate that supposed advantage by not allowing teams to play like that.

For instance, in your analogy of a cone, what if the field was designed in such a way as to prevent you back guy from providing you with the necesary cover (or more importantly preventing the other team from getting the angles on you) - that way, you can play defensively if you want, however the only real chance you have is to go forward and take advantage of the fact that the other teams back guys can't stop you from getting those angles - a kind of "kill or be killed" scenario.

 

[Robbo]

Well (again...)

Originally posted by Nick Iuel-Brockdorff

One thing is making up theories about playing aggressively or defensively... but out there, in the real world, on a real paintball field, with 10-12 balls per second flying at your bunker, it is more than ordinarily difficult to push against a good team, which is not moving anywhere for the next 10 minutes, but content to just play tight and shoot paint !

Nick

One of the truest tihngs I have ever read either on P8ntballer or PGI that hasn't come outa my gob
Bloody hell Nick, you are beginning to impress me, I need to lie down
Pete

 

[Matski]

Originally posted by Nick Iuel-Brockdorff

One thing is making up theories about playing aggressively or defensively... but out there, in the real world, on a real paintball field, with 10-12 balls per second flying at your bunker, it is more than ordinarily difficult to push against a good team, which is not moving anywhere for the next 10 minutes, but content to just play tight and shoot paint !

Nick



Thats one of the reasons Jt Dynasty are ruling, they can keep several heads in WHILE ON THE MOVE, the front guys can do half the work of the back guys. Oh and you think their keeping you in from the safety of their bunker..nope their coming in. It dosnt mater to them how tight the other team can play, they create what they call the "unexpected angles" by wraping, shooting while moving + if needed they can get tight and technical too.
These are very hard skills to master, we're doing similar drills to Dynasty every week and its still not enough, I respect anyone who can keep several heads in while on the move (with apparent ease) down the field-Olly Lang for example has this down to a tee, opposition players are forced to play their tightest and when they finally get the chance to snap-shoot where they think he is....blam, ball comes from a completely different angle.
Im not sure how the US team will perform in Xball, theres different styles of play in the team but all the players are highly skilled so we'll just have to wait and see.
I reckon the co-ordinated play of the ruskies will be something to watch out for though!!

 

[Baca Loco]

I think Beaker is on the right track

but it will require a fairly radical field design. One that not only minimizes number of backfield bunkers but also shrinks them. The majority of bunkers in play are between the 30's with the biggest bunkers on the 50. Take away the backfield ability to stand up and see along with adding enough bunkers to invite or perhaps demand control of the midfield then the action becomes a lot more up close and personal.
A truly extreme but very interesting possibility exists if you begin with a more or less diamond-shaped field where the "points" of the diamond are the starts and the widest portion is the 50.
X-ball needn't be played in "the box."
Moo

PS--Pete, have you heard anything about the X-ball fields? Will they be separate from the ones used for the other events?

 

[Baca Loco]

Hey, wait a minute!

I play in the back. It's a ridiculous idea. Paintball can't possible exist without back players. Brutal, hardcore action in a giant grinder? Naw. Thank God nobody reads these things anyway.
Moo

 

[BEAT]

Does anyone know where i can look up the X-Ball rules and any usefull info?

 

[Sk8PadTrev]

Nick..

Again,

outkasts comments show the difference... at current I beleive you are try ing use curecnt game thoery as the basis for the x-ball game thoery... which is where you come un-stuck, I do appreciate that I doubt we will ever see eye-to eye, but by the same token the fact that we are hammering this out in public, getting third parties opinions (robbos or other-wise) is heping develope our, andf tohers perspective of the game.... current game thoery revolves around the "FACT" THAT YOU CAN LOCK DOWN GAMES,

yes 10-12 balls per sec are a big insentive to shoot paint and not move, but paintball isn't about shooting (contrary to popular beleif) is about moving.... this is the crux of the problem... current and indeed to a lesser extent, x-balls rules give the shooter an advantage while the actual point of paintball is 'hanging the falg' or rather moving... this is why I embrace X-ball for is goundbreaking rules... which is what we are debating here.. but also I must admit it is not the end to the age old, is a game that involves shooting does not involve shooting... what is the point of the game? Back field will always play as an important-a-role as ever supporting the bunker monkeys... but why must they be the sterio-typed 'big' of old players, why not the skinny attractive ones that can bunker a fool in 2 seconds flat? (I hope you all have irony)

BOLLOCKS... I will admit that 90% of games by current way of thinking will and can be 'locked down' but I am also sure, as eggs is eggs, that this small change of format will help tip the balance in favour of the most 'exciting play' that we all crave. Yourr argument seems to hinge on the stale-mate that curent game theory... this all is relevent to CURRENT game theory... as stated by another, the younger teaams with big backing AKA dynasty etc are turning this game theory on its head, this is making a "mess" of our current game rulings and structure but surely just goes to show one thing... sorry nick but your theory just became extinct!

Give me sponserd paint and a bunch of keen newbies and I'll prove it to you!

luv
Trev

 

[Dannefaerd]

Does anyone know where i can look up the X-Ball rules and any usefull info?

http://www.xballpaintball.com