Is it common to look for players?

[Meeshka]

Hello,

As as the title says, my question is if its common to post here (in the regional section) to try find local players that play often that would be willing to pick up an extra player whenever they go play.

I'm just getting into paintballing (played 2 times on official fields) and I pretty much LOVE it. Getting myself a marker off ebay ASAP. What interested me the most is the ability to have someone on-call whenever i have the time to go play. My co-worker/friend is a paintball fanatic, but he's leaving to EU for 5 months and the rest of my friends only went a few times with rentals and are either not as interested as much as I am, or just don't have the type of money for it.

I'm wondering if it's smart of me to post in the regional section (NE, NY) to see if anyone is willing to let me tag-along when they go to play, since theres no good local fields near me and I currently don't have my own car.
I'm also interested in joining a team in the long run if my skills prove to be as good as i feel they are.

Thanks In Advance.

[trolleyman98]

Thats great that you decided to start paintball man! You are guareenteed to have years of fun with friends and possibly family that share this same interest as you. I know people don't recommend it, but i think eBay is a great place to find paintball gear of any sort. A great starter gun is the Tippmann 98custom. The fields you went to probably had this gun as a rental and for great reasons too! The 98 custom is not only a great shooting gun out of the box, but its also reliable as heck! The only thing you should consider upgrading (but not needed) is the stock barrel. The thing in my opinion is a piece of crap. Smart parts offers great, cheap barrels as well as JJ. Check 'em out!

and to answer your question, the regional forums are a great place to look for local players in your area.

[Meeshka]

Well that didn't helm me at all... haha
What I meant was if its cool to try and meet players here on the forum that might live near me that play often and try hook up with them for games (travel together if fields are far), or would it be akward in a serial killer/stalker kind of thing?

[Evil_Wayz]

Well that didn't helm me at all... haha
What I meant was if its cool to try and meet players here on the forum that might live near me that play often and try hook up with them for games (travel together if fields are far), or would it be akward in a serial killer/stalker kind of thing?

I 'd prolly have new people meet you at the field, in public if you are that worried about it.

Frankly, I spend too much money on my paintballing hobby to pick up an expensive and time consuming one like serial killing.

[Impyrocker]

I agree ^^^^^^
talk to people at ur local field, hook up with people about ur age, and then talk to them about carpooling.

[WillyW0nka]

Try the regional forums on Pbnation.com, you're bound to find 20 times as many people as you do here. But yes, alot of people do find other ballers over the internet now.

[Ebonclaw]

1) Go to field on Saturday.
2) Find a mixed group of players, some with rental gear, etc...these players should be on your skill level or slightly above (which is a good thing)
3) Ask if they wouldn't mind an extra person joining in their games.
4) Profit.

Usually the easiest way to meet local players is to go to the local field....makes scary sense. Odds are some will be close enough that you can start carpooling after you make friends.

[Meeshka]

and when the best 'local' field is 80 miles away? and the rest are not even worth the time/money?

[Ebonclaw]

Enjoy the drive. I drive about 45 minutes to get to my favorite field. It's well worth the trip.

[WillyW0nka]

Enjoy the drive. I drive about 45 minutes to get to my favorite field. It's well worth the trip.
80 miles is about 1 1/2-2 hour drive, not 45 minutes. Theres a bit of a difference. When you have to drive that far JUST to play paintball, it'd be nice to know that when you get there you'll have someone to play with.

[Liberator19]

Haha, that's true. Not much worse than driving that far, wasting that much time AND gas, to have no one to play with.

[Ebonclaw]

They make these um.....what are they called...um.....phone thingys. Lets you call the field and ask if they're busy or not, and if you come down, will ya have people to play against?

I guess the other option is to start making more friends and see if they come wanna try paintball with you sometime.

When was 80 miles a 1 1/2 hour drive? Given I do 70 or 75 just about everywhere I go, it looks like about an hour and five minutes or so. If you're on the interstate, then 80 MPH is possible. Otherwise, for a drive that far, most of the way the speed limit should be 65.
Granted, that's if you live where I do, so this might not be the case.

[WillyW0nka]

They make these um.....what are they called...um.....phone thingys. Lets you call the field and ask if they're busy or not, and if you come down, will ya have people to play against?

I guess the other option is to start making more friends and see if they come wanna try paintball with you sometime.

When was 80 miles a 1 1/2 hour drive? Given I do 70 or 75 just about everywhere I go, it looks like about an hour and five minutes or so. If you're on the interstate, then 80 MPH is possible. Otherwise, for a drive that far, most of the way the speed limit should be 65.
Granted, that's if you live where I do, so this might not be the case.
Right, you call a field and ask if theres people to play with they're probably going to say yes. There could be anywhere from 5-50 people out there and they'd say to come on out no matter what, because they want your money. You get out there, theres 7 people, you just drove for almost 2 hours, and you're probably going to play anyway. And who said that just because a field is busy its going to be fun? It could be a walk-on party for a 9 yr. olds birthday party. Not everyone wants to just go out and play with anyone who can rent a gun. I for one don't like playing with little kids, its boring.

You're right, doing 80 mph on the interstate would make the trip only an hour long...too bad nobody can actually live on the interstate. You have to actually leave your house first, which means you're driving somewhere that has traffic lights, stop signs, traffic etc... Then when you actually get near the field, is it going to be right on the interstate? No, you're going to have to get off at an exit somewhere, which means more traffic lights and a lower speed limit. Now you take into consideration gas (unless you bought gas the night before lol?) and you've got yourself an hour and a half long trip, possibly up to 2 hours if the trip includes alot of roads that aren't highway.

[Meeshka]

You're right, doing 80 mph on the interstate would make the trip only an hour long...too bad nobody can actually live on the interstate. You have to actually leave your house first, which means you're driving somewhere that has traffic lights, stop signs, traffic etc... Then when you actually get near the field, is it going to be right on the interstate? No, you're going to have to get off at an exit somewhere, which means more traffic lights and a lower speed limit. Now you take into consideration gas (unless you bought gas the night before lol?) and you've got yourself an hour and a half long trip, possibly up to 2 hours if the trip includes alot of roads that aren't highway.

Took the words out of my mouth...
I live in NYC so consider the tunnels/bridges and the city traffic to get through. And theres A LOT more highway patrol/speed traps closer to the city so the speeds will be around 75mph max if you decide to risk it.
Last time i went to that field we drove for over 2 hours(I probably would of got there in a hour and a half).

[malcontent]

a good idea would be to put up a sign up sheet at your workplace for a group thing.

so long as your boss doesnt mind you doing it ofcourse.

[Meeshka]

Yeah, But what I meant from start was trying to find active, experienced, and friendly players that play often. Thus I would be able to play with them(either private goups or whatever it turns out to be). All my friends are from within the city and only one is good in the sport (leaving over-seas for 5 months) and others arn't as interested as I am.

Maybe I was wrong to post this here. Sorry to waste your time with this nonsense.

[kjpmkjp]

Right, you call a field and ask if theres people to play with they're probably going to say yes. There could be anywhere from 5-50 people out there and they'd say to come on out no matter what, because they want your money.

Here's a brilliant idea: Ask how MANY people are there. You know, like a number. Funny, I don't say "come on out", but I tell them how many people are playing at my field and then let them decide if they want to play.

Yeah, But what I meant from start was trying to find active, experienced, and friendly players that play often. Thus I would be able to play with them(either private goups or whatever it turns out to be). All my friends are from within the city and only one is good in the sport (leaving over-seas for 5 months) and others arn't as interested as I am.

Maybe I was wrong to post this here. Sorry to waste your time with this nonsense.

Well, if you do call ahead to your field, ask if there are some experienced players there, or even ask the owner when a group of more experienced players (or a team) often come out to play. Remember the date/day of the week, and call back to make sure they do come, and go down and play with them. After a bit of time playing, ask if they wouldn't mind you joining in with them next week (or month, etc). Exchange phone numbers if they don't mind so you can keep in contact.