Do you believe your marker will make you King of the Game? Many players believe just that. Or do you think it's the player, not the marker itself, that makes you King? Being king of your game is a combination of the two, I believe.

Many will argue over whether the marker or the player is more important to winning the game. Think about it. Truthfully, without a decent marker, or good skills, you don't stand a chance. Winning, in my opinion, is a combination of both, and that's true whatever your game--stock, speedball, or woodsball. If you have the right skills and right equipment then you should do well.

You can be a truly great player, but if you go up against a truly great player of equal skill with vastly superior equipment to yours, then the advantage is truly his, or hers. One must never forget this argument between the Tactical and the Technical. And more importantly, the most important rule: The fun you get out of the game is way more important than who the king of the game even will be.


Bruce Richardson, a player since 1986, works for the St. Croix International Waterway Commission, looking after the St. Croix river between Canada and the US.


Spring Pump Event 2006

The SPE 2006 is set for April 22-23 at Sudden Impact, Bloomington, Illinois. Sudden Impact, locally owned and operated since 1992, says "Safety First!" is the field's motto. This American Paintball League field, with a trained reffing staff, offers wooded and concept fields on 100 acres. At SPE 2005, 107 pump players came in from 15 states and two countries (the US and Canada). Rental pumps will be available.

Stock Tip of the Month

Keep your marker up! Always come out of a bunker with the muzzle up, ready to shoot. Practice your snapshooting; be good at ducking back behind cover after you shoot. Avoid the temptation of staying out to watch your ball to the target, because you will become somebody else's target.