Everything you need to know about paintball

Paintball is an extreme sports game, in which two teams take part, which conduct simulated hostilities using special weapons that shoot special paintballs. If you shoot and hit the enemy, the shell of the ball splits, and the player leaves a trace of paint. The game is played in fields or abandoned buildings. Paintball has gained a huge popularity over the past few decades. Why does this game attract so many people? Let us take a closer look at this game.

General information

Paintball is an interesting, but quite dangerous and extreme game. It is divided into many small rounds. Within them, participants “shoot” each other and try to neutralize each other with paint balls. Whoever gets hit by such a “bullet”, withdraws, i.e. leaves the field.

As a rule, paintball is played on an equipped area, most often it is a paintball club. Its perimeter is usually covered with nets up to 3-5 meters high. The grounds themselves can be of different types: in the open air and under the roof of different objects (buildings, hangars).

If all participants follow the rules and do not shoot at each other at close range, the game will be safe. No one will get hurt. Participants in the battle shoot balls with a special gun. The balls themselves are filled with a special paint. They have a special shell made of gelatin. The paint is water-soluble.

When the ball released from the paintball marker hits the player, it bursts. Circles of paint appear on the person. After being “wounded” by the balloon, the player is considered “neutralized”. They must leave the field to join the game only in the next round.

The start of the game depends on the scenario. There are many scenarios for the game of paintball. The simplest variant is a carousel. In such a scenario, the team must exterminate the players of the other team to defeat. Another option is also possible when the teams are unequal. One team is defending itself, and the other is trying to maintain strength.

Types of paintball

There are different types of paintball. Depending on them, the rules for quitting the game also vary.

In sports paintball, a person leaves the field if the paint hits his body, regardless of the specific part of it. There can be several teams. There must be five people in each of them. Sports paintball competitions are held both domestically and internationally. The area where the game is organized must have specific dimensions. Also, there are restrictions on the parameters of the game weapon.

In the tactical form of paintball, a person is considered a loser only if the opponent managed to hit him in the head or in the torso. When hitting other parts of the body, the person is not considered neutralized and thus, remains on the field and continues to play. In tactical paintball, bigger teams can participate in the game. Using additional “weapons”, such as grenades filled with paint, is also allowed.

There are several genres of the game. Each of them has its own characteristics.

1. Free-to-play paintball is an individual type of game, most suitable for beginners. Each player has another player as a target, but does not know for whom he or she is the target. After hitting the target, the player gets the next similar task. The game goes on until there is only one player left on the field. For those who play for the first time, it seems logical to first sit in the shelter until everyone has shot each other, and come out closer to the end of the game, increasing the chances of winning. However, this tactic is completely wrong. Points are awarded for each participant hit. The one who gets to the end is not necessarily the one who wins, but the one who gets more points. So move more, but be careful.
2. Artifact Capture is a team-based, and most common type of paintball. There are at least two variations of this game, different in purpose. Capturing the opposing team’s artifact or a neutral artifact are two most popular goals of this game.

The artifact is usually a flag. A neutral artifact can be anything, such as an explosive pack, a bottle with a hidden map, etc. The artifact’s location is known and it is not allowed to be hidden or carried around. In this genre, the player has multiple lives: after each defeat, they must return to his original position.

Depending on the number of participants, teams can be divided into squads, each of which is assigned a commander of the most experienced players. Since the game is a team game, it requires knowledge of the basics of capture the flag tactics and the ability to implement them in specific field conditions. The success of the mission depends on the experience of the commander and the ability to properly execute his commands by the rest of the participants.

3. Assault/guarding a facility is a team game as well. One team guards the object, the second team tries to assault it. The objective is to eliminate all members of the opposing team. Beginners find it easier to guard than to assault. Meanwhile, both teams require the ability to think strategically more than make tactical decisions. This distinguishes storming a facility from artifact capture scenarios and other team missions.
4. Team combat, also referred to as the “deathmatch” is the battle of the two sides to complete victory. This genre is very popular and is suitable for those who are just starting to play paintball.
5. Predators and Victims is a less common semi-team type of paintball. Predators play as a team or individually as desired. Their goal is to find and neutralize all members of the opposing team. The goal of the “victims” is to make sure they are not caught. Various natural and artificial hiding places are used for this purpose. The “victims” can move around the field if necessary. If a member of the hiding team is hit from a marker, he or she joins the predator team and begins the hunt. For this reason, members of the “victims” team act in isolation from each other and do not inform their teammates of their hiding place tactics.

Ammunition and equipment

The most important element of the ammunition is the paintball mask, which is put on the head and protects the player’s face and neck. According to the rules, it is strictly forbidden to remove the mask on the field, as it can cause serious injuries from a stray shot.

The mask is made of durable plastic that can withstand up to 15 shots per second. There are ordinary masks and masks with double athermal glass, which does not fog up during the game from the player’s breath.

Professional players use special paint paintball suits to protect themselves from the paint and the balls that hit the player. At paintball clubs, amateur players get a lightweight rental camouflage suit. It allows you to play both in hot weather and in cold weather and is worn over the customer’s own clothing (including outerwear).

It is important to pay attention to the fact that you have to run and jump a lot when you play actively, and this inevitably leads to excessive sweating. It is desirable that the clothes have good air and moisture regulation.

Paintball footwear is also very important. Footwear should correspond to the weather conditions. If the game is held in the woods or on a dirt field, above all, it should be waterproof. At the same time, it should be comfortable to run and jump.

It is a good idea to have a spare set of clothes and shoes that you can change into after the game, as your clothes are likely to get as wet during the game as after a good training session at the gym.

The paintball club also provides players with gloves, bandana headscarves, and protective vests for women and children.

To play paintball, you need special equipment. The so-called paintball marker has four main parts in its structure:

• The first is the marker itself.
• The second is the barrel through which the ball comes out.
• The third is the so-called feeder. A specialized container in which the paint balls are poured.
• The fourth is a special cylinder with air. It is thanks to him that the shot is made.

Before you start playing, an expert paintball club should fill the cylinder marker with air. Then, he should open the feeder. You need to load there a certain number of balls with paint.

The paint is made of special gelatin. It is water-soluble. Consequently, there is no need to fear that it will get under the protective clothing and stain the clothes.

Tips and safety precautions

Paintball is a game of traumatic nature. Therefore the safety rules should be observed. What are they?

• No one should be on the playground without special paintball equipment;
• All game weapons should be on safeties outside the game area.
• Shooting at point-blank range is also not allowed, because it will cause serious injury to the opponent. The allowed distance is about twenty meters and at this distance the shot will be felt;
• There can be no bystanders on the site;
• Playing the game under the influence of alcohol or after taking drugs is strictly prohibited.

Playing paintball is very simple. There are several pieces of advice for beginners.

• Play with a cool head. Before you act, look around, assess the disposition and think through the sequence of actions two steps ahead.
• Be vigilant and always prepared for the fact that the enemy may be in any unexpected place. If you are pursuing a target, do not forget that you can always be a target for another.
• Learn to be stealthy. Direct attack is the basis for some scenarios, such as those built in the deathmatch genre. But much more often the participant needs to merge with the surrounding texture, become invisible to be able to attack in the most convenient way for themselves.
• The more active you are, the harder it is for your enemies to hit you. Paintball is a game of movement.
• Use the “shoot first” tactic. Before you make a maneuver, shoot to get the enemy to hide in cover. This way you buy time, and you will have a better chance of staying in the game.
• Be in touch with the other members of the team. Coordinated action of the players is a guarantee of personal success.
• Practice memory and orienteering skills. You should be clear about the topography of the place, your location on the playing field, the direction of the outgoing threat, where which side of the world, etc.
• Use non-standard approaches. Attack from a side from which no one expects. Act in pairs to be able to divert the attention of your opponent and turn the situation in your favor.

In general, paintball is an incredibly fun pastime for families, friends, companies, and even with your co-workers in the form of a corporate party. Paintball is pretty versatile. It can be played by all people who do not have physical and psychological illnesses.