ChoicePaintballGuns

If you’re sick of speedball and you’re looking for the ultimate in tactical scenario play - I mean a real tactical scenario event.  The most realistic games have restrictions on paint - this forces you to use tactical stategy and real war tactics.  There’s an event called Operation End War coming up in California that requires everyone on the field to have realistic magazine fed paintball markers.  Rap4 is running it and it looks like it’s going to be an awesome event.  Don’t worry, if you don’t have a magazine fed gun, with your admission fee for the game your rental consists of a brand new T68 Gen6 with 3 additional mags and a MOLLE Vest to hold it in..  it’s the perfect game.  My team and I are so looking forward to this game and just know it’s going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, we’re already bugging RAP4 to do it more than once/year and in more places than on just the west coast.  So if you want to see more well-run big tactical scenario paintball games, go to the event and also help us encourage RAP4 to please the nation and all of us true tactical paintballers by running this event more often.
Matt Kresch Team Trinity

Knowing different techniques is what will seperate you from the other players on the field.  It’s important to not only have a knowledge of  different playing strategies, but to be practiced in them as well and make them your own.  One good way to eliminate opposing players is by using a technique called sweet spotting.  This is when you shoot extended fire at high traffic areas such as bases and bunkers without aiming.  This method works best in games with time limits because you know at some point the opponent will have to come by that area.  When he does, he will have a very good chance of getting eliminated.

Shooting while you are moving is another important skill to master.  You should practice shooting your paintball gun as you walk, run, and even rushing out from behind bunkers and such.  Experienced players can come out from behind cover with their marker at eye level, ready to fire.  Using this skill along with keeping good communication with your teammates will not only help avoid accidental shootings, but will also keep you informed about what your teammates are doing.  This will also make it even more difficult for your enemies to eliminate you or your teammates.

The Frontman, also known as the pointman, is the player in the middle of all of the action; you’d better have a strong stomach and plenty of balls to take on this spot on your team.  The Frontman is probably one of the most exciting positions on the paintball field but they’re also usually the first to be eliminated.  The Frontman makes all the daring moves and stays close to the enemies the whole game; this makes him a very key player in the game.   Sometimes, the Frontman is also the captain of the paintball team.  He plays at the front of the field and is the player responsible for getting the other team’s flag or accomplishing the team’s mission.  The frontman is closer than any of his teammates to the enemies.  For this reason he is backed up by several of the other positions on the field: the lockman, the sniper, and the insert.  The frontman carries the lightest load because he shoots the least; his job is to maneuvre.  He needs to be the fastest player with the quickest reflexes; sprinting, jumping, rolling and crouching at the blink of an eye are a must for this player.  Most of his time on the field will be spent going from one bunker to the next until he competes the mission.  The frontman must also know how to make himself small, minimizing the target for the enemy as he runs from bunker to bunker.  The Frontman’s paintball gun should be light, easy to carry, aim and shoot quickly and accurately.  It does not have to hold many paintballs because this position spends more time running and hiding than shooting.  However, every good Frontman will still carry enough ammo in case he gets pinned down with enemy fire!

The back player, also referred to as the ‘backman’, is usually a more experienced player.  It is not uncommon for him to have to shoot with both hands, or even switch up trigger fingers when one finger gets too tired.  He starts shooting early in the game and doesn’t move around outside of his starting area much during the game.  The backman has a lot of responsibilities.  He pretty much controls the movements of the players on his team because he has the view with the most advantage.  He not only has to protect the flag or keep the opposing team from accomplishing their missions, but he must also defend his own teammates further up on the field, keep them informed on the opposition’s movements and progression, and tell the rover when he needs to take over for the pointman.  The backman needs a paintball marker and gun barrel that will shoot fast and hard.  It’s also smart for him to carry plenty of ammo; he will be shooting a lot throughout the whole game.  For this reason, he will need to carry the most paintballs, a larger air supply, and shoot a gun with a long barrel to improve his reach.  He must also be able to shoot and be accurate at high rates of speed and while he’s moving around the field.

If you want to keep your opponents guessing in your next game, try creating diversions.  You don’t ever want your opponent to know what’s coming and you certainly don’t want them to be able to guess what moves you’re getting ready to make.  If you’re planning on making an attack on the right side, you may want to build up more players on the left side to make your opponent focus more on the left.  Then, as your opposition prepares for more defense on the left, you can launch an attack from the right.  Another effective diversion is recruiting floaters for your team.  This position must be designated ahead of time/before the game.  A floater is a player who has view of the whole field.  This is helpful because they can see all eliminations made during the game, make sure backup is where ever it’s needed, and can call for defense at the appropriate times.  If you have a sniper on your team, sometimes they make good floaters and can use this position to pick off key players.  They may also be able to see the field better with their paintball sniper scope.

Attack and defend games are quite popular in paintball.  There are many different variations of this game.  In one version, one team may be confined to an area they’re to defend, the rest of the team may have a flag or treasure to capture for the opposing team and bring back to home base.  Either way, the basic point of the game is to defend your territory while breaking past the other team’s defense.  One popular game is capture the flag.  In this play, the opposing team must lower the defenders flag and raise its own.  The opposing team has to raise their team’s flag to the top of the flag pole.  If they are eliminated while raising their team’s flag, the flag stays where it is and the station remains uncaptured until the flag is fully raised.  At this point, the defending team cannot recapture their station.  Another flag themed game is ‘Attack The Fort’.  In this game, a fort is built up on a bunker.  Each team guards their own fort while trying to break past the opposing team’s defense and get their flag to the tower of the opposing team’s fort. 

Another fun variation (that doesn’t include a flag) is the Bunny Game.  In this game, the team on defense has a fake bunny to protect.  The defending team cannot leave the defending area or conceal the bunny from plain view.  The attacking team starts off far enough from the defense that they are not in shooting range.  They are free to move around where ever they want as long as they remain in the boundaries.  The purpose of the game is the assassinate the bunny.  To win, the attacking team must shoot the bunny in the lens of its goggles.

A paintball attack is when a team makes their move towards the enemy side of the field, make a surge to the opposing team’s flag, or makes a move towards the defending team’s players.  There are hundreds of different paintball games and your method of attack may be different for each, depending on the objective of the game or other variables, like whether or not there are bunkers to hide behind.  For example, in Capture The Flag, a player’s attack strategy may involve taking a path where the enemy isn’t.  In games of total elimination, the objective is for one player (or one team) to be the only one standing at the end of the game.  In the game Alamo, an attacking team must break through an enemy line of defense within a certain period of time.  In the game street fighter, players fight out in the open, with no bunkers, forts, or holes to hide in.  No matter what the game is, enforce your attack through a combination of strategy, player’s preparation, and luck and you will most likely emerge victorious.

To mount a proper attack, players must develop a keen field of vision to see the field around them, and know where the enemies are.  A player’s experience is the best means of developing the art of field of vision.  Players with this skill are successful at using their peripheral vision to see not only what is in front of them, but also what is to the left and right of them.  During an attack, make sure you’re running and shooting at the same time.  Players that only run across the field without taking aggressive maneuvers towards the enemy are putting themselves in a vulnerable position; you’re likely to get shot.  If the opposing players have the opportunity to take multiple shots at the enemy without seeing return fire headed that way, then they have a distinct advantage.  When a player executes running and shooting correctly, they shoot at the enemy while on the run, enabling their chances of staying in the game longer.

Checking out the field before you start a match is very important for both you and your paintball team.  If you know the field well, you will have a huge advantage over the opposing team.  If you are a back player, it is very important you check out the field so you know your lanes to shoot.  You need to know the paintball field to have the right angles on your opponents, and to know where your opponents will be able to see you; not to mention knowing where the best cover is.  Sometimes after looking at the field, you may want to change your game strategy at the last minute; we’ve done this and it’s helped us win the match.  Whenever you go to a tournament, try your best to check out the field before your match.  You have to know what to do and where you’re going during the match.  Know your surroundings while playing in paintball matches; any advantage you have over your opponent is a good one. 
Mike Morton, Team Trinity

Winning paintball teams have several things in common… good tactics, practice drills, and a well conceived paintball strategy.  Having a well planned paintball strategy involves thinking a number of moves ahead, playing as a team, and having a specific game plan when confronting the enemy.  These will obviously be different for scenario and speedball games but or still must-have’s to score the ‘W’.  Teams that use an effective paintball strategy often know which players will go to which specific bunker first even before the game begins.  They will often have players that counter one another and have counter-offensive moves as well for whatever moves the opposing team makes.  In general, paintball strategy can be thought of as a team that has a plan for any moves that they might make on the field in any competitive situation.  Teams that are effective in this area of the game are well drilled and practice their moves, calls and communication regularly - so they’re movement and actions are automatic under heat.  If they’ve done their homework, they’re prepared for anything that’s thrown at them in whichevery games they play, and they will have an answer for any obstacles they encounter.  Have a meeting with your team before practice to come up with new strategies and game plans; decide which ones you will practice and then practice them over and over again…. Soon you’ll be moving like a well-oiled machine and no one will be able to beat you!