Paintball
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
Paintball, sometimes called the national survival game is a sport that is a high tech version of the kids game capture the flag. It grew out of games similar to capture the flag. Invented by Bob Gurnsey, Hayes Noel, and Charles Gaines, the first game of paintball was played in 1981 in New Hampshire as a type of capture the flag. By 1983 the first tournament with a cash prize was held.
| Contents |
The game of paintball
The term paintball can refer to any one of several game variations where two or more players attempt to mark each other by firing paintballs at each other from a paintball marker (paintgun). A player is marked if a paintball contacts, bursts and sheds its colored fill on him or any equipment carried by the player. A typical rule of thumb is that the splatter should be contiguous over an area the size of a US quarter (25 mm), but not all fields use this. Bouncers don't count as hits in a game. Bouncers are hits that do not burst on the player. In other instances, people also play by being hit more than once in a game and keep playing. Referees are also in the sport like any other to enforce the rules and ensure safety for players of all ages. They are also there to make sure that no one is violating the rules and to check players on the field for hits. Violators are usually thrown from the game.
In addition to paintballs and markers, players also need a hopper to hold their paintballs (this also includes the use of an agitating hopper that feeds the marker faster for a steady rate of fire) and an air source (like a small tank of carbon dioxide) to propel the paintball from the marker. Nitrogen or High Pressure Air can also be used to propel the ball. These are also held in a bottle-like container. Because CO2 becomes a liquid when compressed, it needs to expand to a gas to be used by the paintball gun. This expansion is not adiabatic and requires energy, causing the tank to cool as heat is used to expand the liquid CO2 into gas. Eventually, under sustained fire, and especially in cold weather, the tank can become so cold that the liquid CO2 will not evaporate into gas and liquid CO2 enters the gun. The liquid CO2 then evaporates in the gun instead of the tank, causing the gun to freeze. This can cause damage to internal seals and also puts the gun out of commission for a good 15 minutes while it warms back up. When nitrogen is compressed, it remains a gas. When it expands, it also cools the tank, but at an unnoticeable rate because it does not have to transition the N2 from liquid to gas. Therefore it is viewed as a superior source of propulsion. However, because High Pressure Air is stored at up to 4500 lb/in² (31 MPa) while liquid CO2 is stored at 1200 lb/in² (8 MPa), tanks for HPA are more expensive. Nitrogen tanks can ether be filled with pure N2 or compressed air, which is 79% N2. These air sources are primarily used by people who play often and have tournament-grade markers.
Players must wear a paintball mask and goggles (preferably goggles with thermal lenses to avoid fogging) to avoid serious injury to the face, ears, and eyes. Regulated fields require masks, goggles and marker plugs or barrel covers to play on the field. The plugs and covers are used to prevent accidental firing of a paintball while not engaged in a game. Most fields take these safety precautions extremely seriously and will eject players for violating safety rules. Paintballs travel at about 300 ft/s (91 m/s) and getting hit with a paintball usually stings and leaves a welt or bruise on the skin. In general, getting hit by a paintball from far away hurts less than getting hit at close range, because of Wind resistance on the paintball. Also, getting hit can hurt more if the ball does not break, and instead bounces. A paintball can break exposed skin, which is why it is recommended to all skin covered with some kind of cloth.
Types of markers
Electro-pneumatic - Meaning that the firing system is all controlled electronically. This allows for firing of the marker with less effort than it requires to click a button on your mouse. It also enables markers to have several different firing modes such as 3 shot bursts, 6 shot bursts or even fully automatic. However, virtually all tournaments and paintball fields only allow semiautomatic mode (1 trigger pull, one shot). Because of this, some high end markers ship with a control board only allowing semiautomatic, and for fully auto modes the board will need to be replaced. Others rely on LCD screens to indicate that a non-semiautomatic mode has been selected. Many newer electropneumatic markers incorporate an ACE system, or anti-chop eyes with use lasers to detect whether or not a paintball is in the breech when the trigger is pulled in order to prevent ball chopping. This system is usually made in two systems, either reflective (in which the laser bounces off the ball), or break-beam, in which the laser penetrates the ball and hits a receiver at the other end. Examples include the Bob Long Intimidator Series, the Dye Matrix and DM5, various WDP Angels, the AKALMP Excaliburs and Vikings, and the Smart Parts Shockers and Impulses.
Mechanical - the action is controlled solely through mechanical means. Many mechanical markers have a hammer which when cocked is held back by a catch connected to the trigger. It will also have a spring trying to push the hammer forward. When the trigger is pulled, the catch is released and the hammer is allowed to slam in to the valve. This diverts the flow of air from the tank, through the bolt and into the paintball, propelling it out the barrel. Excess air not used to propel the ball is then used to recock the hammer. This type of marker is called a blow-back design and is the most common approach used. Common examples of blow back markers are the Kingman Spyder line of markers.
Electro mechanical - A hybrid approach, where the mechanical firing of the marker is actuated via an electric coil. This allows for the short light trigger associated with electronic markers on an otherwise mechanical marker. Common examples of this are Kingman markers using their ESP trigger as well as the E-Mag by Airgun Designs.
There are many markers brands including Air Gun Designs, Tippmann, Kingman Group, Worr Games Products, Indian Creek Designs, Sheridan, WDP, etc
Types of player
Players usually fall into two categories: recreational and tournament players. Tournament players take the game seriously, investing in excess of US$2,000 in paintball gear. They also attend tournaments in teams consisting of 3-10 people. A common tournament team game is "Speedball", where players play on an enclosed field with a single central flag and hide behind small scattered walls and barrels. A top of the line paintball marker can cost US$700 - US$2,000. A recreational marker can however be purchased for US$80 to US$300.
There are many types of recreational players, ("rec ballers"). Many if not most play games in commercially licensed and insured paintball fields. Paintball is often played by casual or first-time players who play with an organized group, for example, office and birthday parties and team building exercises. Sometimes, if there are not enough players, "walk on" players who are not part of the group may join in to even the teams. "Renegade" players use unregulated fields often in wooded areas, many times without the owner's knowledge. It shouldn't be thought that these "Renegade" players are unsafe or breaking any laws. There are many people who don't play on regulated fields, however they do abide by all the safety rules the fields enforce. Finally, "scenario" players are ones that gather at paintball fields for "Scenario games". These can range from a simple game of "cops and robbers", to elaborate full scale military style conflicts which may last for days.
Common Rules of Play
Depending on the field you are playing in make sure to find out their own “field rules” and follow them. The following are usually assumed to be common knowledge, while at a paintball field.
Barrel plugs: These are to be in while you are not playing. They prevent an accidentially discharged paintball from leaving the barrel to ensure that no injury is caused by an un-intentional discharge.
Barrel covers: Like a condom for the barrel. Same purpose as a barrel plug, except this is a bag which goes over the barrel, rather than an internal blocker.
Picking targets: Do not shoot people who have their guns above their heads, referees, or people who have foolishly removed their paintball masks. Also in team games make sure to identify who is on your team, and do not fire at them.
How to know if you are marked (hit): Generally if you are marked (hit) anywhere on your body (including hands, feet, marker and, hopper) and the paintball broke upon impact with your body you have been marked. If you believe the paintball broke before impacting on you then you may call for a Paint check (by saying “paint check”). A referee will come over and make a judgment call.
Announcing that you have been marked (hit): If you have been marked (hit) you announce it (by saying “Hit”) and slowly raise your marker (gun) above your head. You then proceed to a specified location, for the marked (hit) players, with your gun still above your head.
The X foot (meter) surrender rule: Each field enforces this rule at its own distance X. If you are within X feet (meters) of an opponent, you are required to demand their surrender (by saying “surrender”) before you may open fire. If your opponent chooses to ignore your demand (by turning to fire at you, or any other hostile action), then you may open fire.
Surrendering: If you are at a disadvantage (or even if you’re not), you may surrender (by saying “I surrender”). After you surrender proceed as if you were just marked (hit).
Note: Safety while playing paintball is strictly enforced. This means wear only paintball-specific goggles and facemask at all times while playing, remember, you only get one set of eyes! Keep them safe!
Paintball variants
- Airsoft is a sport similar to Paintball, but uses a different type of projectile and gun.
- Scenario paintball is type of role playing paintball game played over one to three days.
External links
- Much more information can be found at warpig (World and Regional Paintball Information Guide), an old and fairly unbiased site for paintballers.
- Paintball Headlines - Paintball related news
- Online Paintball Museum
- History of Paintball
- Multilingual Paintball Wiki
- NPPL US National Tournament League
- PSP US National Tournament League
- NCPA - National College and High School Association and League
- Centurio Circuit - Eastern European paintball league
- Paintball reviews written by players
- UK Paintball Sports Federation
fr:paintball de:paintball sv:Paintball
