Scenario as a first game?

[CoolDoctorJ]

Hi all,

I've been wanting to get into paintball for a long time, and it appears to me that scenario games would probably be the style of game I would be most interested in. The only problem is that I don't own a single piece of paintball equipment, nor have I actually ever operated a paintball marker.

You could say I'm pretty "book smart" about the sport from all my research, but I have no firsthand experience. For instance, I'm pretty sure I could load and fire a marker without hurting myself or anyone else unintentionally, but things like field stripping are (for the moment) beyond me.

Oh, and in addition to that, I don't know anyone (in person) who plays paintball on a regular basis or owns any equipment.

That said, would it be a very bad idea to try to go to a scenario game as my first experience? Do they ever rent equipment at scenario games (or are any of the players usually willing to loan equipment to an unknown newbie?) Does it usually take a higher level of experience (than absolute n00b) before people start doing scenario?

For instance, I participate in fencing in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) which basically boils down to "Scenario Fencing", but before you can really do anything, a couple of marshals (officials) need to check you out to make sure you're experienced enough not to be either useless, or dangerous to yourself and others. You also usually need to have your own equipment, though some people are nice enough to let you borrow if you let them know in advance.

Thanks, folks!

[TiPpYsGaLoRe]

Yes, yes it would.

Get some experience at walk-on games (where you go to a field and insert you into a game) and get to know your marker when you get one. I mean, look at it inside and out, practice dis/reassembling it, find the right size of paintballs(they vary in size to .680 to .691) for your barrel(it helps with range). After a period of time at your choosing, go to a small scenario, like a half day or full day scenario(they can last up to a week).

To summarize- Get some field experience, and start small.

Welcome to paintball and PBReview! :)

[rcxpaintball]

A scenario does not do the sport of paintball justice...

Try going to a local field and just talking with the owner/refs/and regulars to "soak up" a bit of knowledge about the game...
Go and play a game at a field as a walk-on, rent a marker from the field...its better than spending money on gear just to find out you do not like the game...

Scenarios are more disorganized...there are small scrimmages breaking out all over, whereas at a field there is only one field and thus one game going on at once...no frills just a simple elimination or capture the flag game...

If you like the idea of a scenario try going to a field with a "Woodsball" field....it probably will fit your likings...

I have seen players that start playing in a scenario and arent to thrilled about how it went...I let them play a game of "Speedball" and its like night and day comparing how the games went...

There are many flavors in this sport, try them all out and see what fits your taste.

If you have any Q's feel free to post them or PM me and I will be more than happy to help you out.

[apunkjunkie]

Originally posted by rcxpaintball
A scenario does not do the sport of paintball justice...



I'm going to have to disagree with that. Scenarios are a lot of fun for a lot of people and most of them are standup players.

I agree, however, that you should try a walk-on game first since scenarios are a different monster than rec-ball and tournament ball. Scenarios often have cheap paint so you have a lot of people shooting a lot of paint, full auto is aloud, there are tanks, LAWs, Grenades, Costumes, and often a couple hundrend players. It's not disorganized, but organized chaos.

[rcxpaintball]

Originally posted by apunkjunkie


I'm going to have to disagree with that. Scenarios are a lot of fun for a lot of people and most of them are standup players.

I agree, however, that you should try a walk-on game first since scenarios are a different monster than rec-ball and tournament ball. Scenarios often have cheap paint so you have a lot of people shooting a lot of paint, full auto is aloud, there are tanks, LAWs, Grenades, Costumes, and often a couple hundrend players. It's not disorganized, but organized chaos.

I dont want to start a debate but....

Scenarios are quite disorganized...you have multiple scrimages breaking out on multiple areas...it can be a bit overwhelming for a new player...

Scenarios are a blast to play and are a very good place to make friends/mingle with other ballers, but as stated scenarios and tourney ball are two different beasts and should never be compaired with each other...

Everyone has different tastes in what they like...you should sample all of that paintball has to offer and then stick with what you are most comfortable with and enjoy the most.

[DarkeWolf]

I most definitely agree. Go to a field and rent some equipment to try it out with. Get some experience under your belt first.

Ok, as a former staged combat swordsman, let me put it like this- do you go onto the field with with no experience with a blade? Do you go into a grand melee of several hundred, as a total rookie? from what I have seen of scenario ball, it is more like small armies of paintballers.

Booksmarts is great, but as we both know, yuo have to build up the reflexes, the intuition, and the instinct to go along with it.

[CoolDoctorJ]

That's what I figured. You guys are pretty much describing exactly what I expected, given my SCA melee fencing background. Well, I guess I'm off for some walk-ons (if I can ever convince any of my friends to do it...) Thanks for all the input.

[DarkeWolf]

hope that you end up loving it as much as the rest of us do! ;)

[apunkjunkie]

You know he'll get the bug after the first time he plays. He'll be back...they always come back *cackles evily*.

[DarkeWolf]

:D once was all it took for me :)

[Kurama]

Originally posted by TiPpYsGaLoRe
Yes, yes it would.

Get some experience at walk-on games (where you go to a field and insert you into a game) and get to know your marker when you get one. I mean, look at it inside and out, practice dis/reassembling it, find the right size of paintballs(they vary in size to .680 to .691) for your barrel(it helps with range). After a period of time at your choosing, go to a small scenario, like a half day or full day scenario(they can last up to a week).

To summarize- Get some field experience, and start small.

Welcome to paintball and PBReview! :)

Accuracy. Not range. Still important. In the same exact conditions at the same velocity, a paintball from any barrel or marker willfly the same distance with the same trajectory. Maybe not if there's a metal spike sticking up the end of the barrel to slice the ball in two, but you get the point.

Start walk-ons. Scenario + newbie = Owned.

[CoolDoctorJ]

Yeah, me + any sport = usually owned.

I've been playing on the same indoor soccer team every winter for like 10 years and we just won our first regular season game like 2 weeks ago (not by forfeit.)

I can just picture me trying to creep around in a scenario game and being obviously not hidden (to everyone but me) heheh...

Oh well,
I'm pretty decent at fencing and (dare I say it...) laser tag though. All I need for paintball is time and money and a place to try it and friends to try it with. Winter isn't exactly the best time and/or place.

[rcxpaintball]

Originally posted by CoolDoctorJ

I'm pretty decent at fencing and (dare I say it...) laser tag though. [/B]

Lazer tag and paintball are nothing alike...I've been there and done that, the only form of lazer tag that is REMOTLY close to paintball is MILES...but you need to be mil. personel to do that, or own a big facility that lets them train on for free...

Dont wait for friends to come with....you dont need them, for the most part most of the ballers are very helpful and will show you the ropes (no pun inteded) if you ask them nicely. 75% of my walk ons are people that come by themselves and just play and make friends....

Either way you will have a blast playing...

[apunkjunkie]

I love going by myself. I'm not restricted to playing with certain people because I came with them. I swap teams all day long and get to play against tons of different people. I agree, most paintballers will help you, but be cautious of bad advice. Listen to the refs/owners and you'll do fine.

[CoolDoctorJ]

I'm not opposed to going by myself, it's just that for the first time I go I'd like to have a group of people who I'm comfortable with (and are guaranteed not to be any more experienced than I am so I can [insert term for breaking a ball on someone] them more easily.) It doesn't help that the closest indoor place to me is in Lawrence, MA (Car Theft Capitol of the World) and a suburban yokel like me doesn't like going into the scary city.

Of course, I'll be back at UConn in a week, and the closest indoor place in Connecticut is FOREVER away.

[TiPpYsGaLoRe]

As a warning before a chance at eternal humiliation, NEVER say that you "kill" a person in paintball. EVER.

[CoolDoctorJ]

Yes, you're right... I would have a better chance of "eliminating" them, or whatever the proper term is. Sorry 'bout that. Remember I still haven't even been to a paintball field so I'm going off web research here... it's not exactly second-nature yet.

Stupid brain... it's supposed to remember stuff like that...

[apunkjunkie]

Saying "kill" isn't necessarily taboo...calling paintballs bullets is.

[paintballer42o]

A scenario game would be great. There are so many people there who can teach you the basics about paintballing, and it's a great time to have loads of fun!
I highly recommend that you do it, but you don't have to. It's just a lot better to go to a scenario game. People help you out with your gun problems, injuries, and you can make many new friends! Agreat first time expirience.

[CoolDoctorJ]

Maybe I should have made this a poll...

[wahoofan627]

Thats a great idea. Scenario games are very laid back and relaxed. Since they usually last a long time and there are a lot of people there, you can meet lots of guys to help you out and give you advice. Most scenario fields should rent equipment, and if they do, there is no reason to know how to field strip your marker. The only thing that you should do is ask a ton of questions. No offense, but I have learned 10 times more stuff from the guys at my field than from these forums. You don't really need someone to go with, but it does make the experience more fun.

[YoBoneDaddy]

Organize a group outing to play paintball. Make it a "team building experience" if you work. My friend and I both organize paintball outings and not only does everyone in my class rave about it, I get to play for free for bringing out so many people ;)

[M1A2]

The thing is that at scenarios things can get a little vicious for a newer player. I'm talking hundreds of people shooting hundreds of thousands of paintballs at each other getting caught in the middle of that could cause you to get a bad taste of the whole sport. If you are in the middle of the final battle you WILL move whether you want to our not and I dare say any fear of getting shot will be quickly removed, but on the other hand you might want to never get shot again. So I guess its a double edged sword.

It'd be better to just start playing some walkon and getting familiar with the sport and your equipment.

[DarkeWolf]

also take into account that sometimes in scenario that things can happen that might not happen on a speedball field. I'm gonna use a video that I saw of the scenario games that Will Shattner puts on.... this one guy is getting shot, and running away, while these two guys are just pelting the living hell out of him with shots to the BACK of the head.

if that was my first game, I think it MIGHT make me change my mind at least a LITTLE bit.

[gundamzaku]

i've played airsoft for a while, then my cousin invited me to go paintballing with him. first time i played was speedball....man i got lit up like a christmas tree...then i learned a little toward the end of the day. i have to say that scenario games is different than speedball. they both takes skills and strategies....but different types. i say play both and figure out which game is your type
as far as equipment, some would start off simple like a start-up kit which kingman, PMI, and WGP offer plus a full-face mask. you can also rent all the equipment needed to play paintball and see if you like paintball at all. if not, then you haven't waste too much money. if you do, then you'll sorta know what you like. that's just my $0.02.