Woodsball
Woodsball, also known as woods paintball, Bushball, and sometimes incorrectly as scenarioball, is a popular form of paintball. Woodsball is the name of paintball that is played in any natural setting.
General
Woodsball is the classic form of paintball. Technically, woodsball doesn't have to be played in "woods" as such, but play is called such if it occurs in a natural area such as, of course, woods, but also open fields, swamps, mountains, canyons, et cetera. Another characteristic of woodsball is its generally relatively large boundaries, or perhaps no boundaries at all. Woodsball has many popular variants which are often played, giving the game very flexible variety.
Woodsball tends to be more common among suburb or rural paintballers, as it can be easier to find suitable land to play upon. Speedball is played more likely by those who live in a more urban setting, or places that are hard to find open woods to play.
Where speedball can resemble a game which simply revolves around basic angles and fast-shooting markers, woodsball is intended to simulate every side of combat that's possible. Strategy is more important in woodsball than ROF (Rate Of Fire, or how fast the marker fires). Speedball, on the other hand, requires much faster-shooting markers than usually seen in woodsball, a notable exception beings the heavy rifleman or his equivalents (see below). Also, the speed of players is much more important to speedball games in general than in woodsball, as woodsball relies much more on maneuvering, accuracy, and broader strategy. To learn more about woodsball, one may visit Special Ops Paintball. Their section Field Intelligence contains plentiful articles on woodsball, reviews on some popular woodsball products, and overviews of suggested woodsball player positions (see below).
Levels of play
There are generally two levels of play in woodsball: recreational play (sometimes known as recball), and advanced play. Basic recreational woodsball is the most common form of woodsball, and indeed, all paintball, that is played. Most people who play woodsball fall into one or more of several categories: new players, sometimes called 'newbs' by veterans; casual players; and sometimes, players who lack organized teams. Essentially, basic woodsball is the result of having practically no applied organization or training in the field.
There are numerous differences between basic recreational woodsball and advanced woodsball. In basic recreational play, player positions are rarely employed. Equipment is very simple, often just the player's marker and mask. Markers used are often economy markers, such as the Tippmann 98 custom or Tippmann A-5 with few or no aftermarket upgrades. Camouflage is not always used, as most players tend to wear casual clothing such as the stereotypical sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Basic recreational games are generally very simple, with the two opposing teams both uncoordinated and without an efficient chain of command. Communication is minimal at best. Movement, especially on small scale movement, such as that seen from bunker to bunker, is slow and ponderous. Recognizable maneuvers are almost nonexistent.
Advanced play is much more complicated, because it is based on the principle of organization, among other things. Advanced woodsballers are known for team coordination and fluidity on the field, rapid maneuvers, cooperation in movement, excellent training, proper usage of equipment, application of woodsball strategy and basic team tactics, and a myriad of other characteristics.
Equipment
Normal equipment can include anything that the military uses, such as BDU forms of camouflage, army boots, ghillie suits, and so on. Additionally, one's personal equipment can vary greatly depending upon one's style of play, or position.
Markers
Woodsball markers are known in general to be universal in play, as one can play many roles while using the same marker all the while. For example, a telescopic sight, stock, and more accurate barrel can be added to the marker, and that player has the accuracy expected of a marksman, which he may choose to assume for his player position. The same equipment can be later replaced by full-auto grips and/or circuit boards, which enable the player to play as a heavy rifleman. Because of the wide range of possibilities, woodsball markers often come out of the box with relatively basic configurations, leaving most modifications to be purchased subsequently.
The popular and classic woodsball marker company is Tippmann, mainly because of their relatively low cost and reliability. One of their most popular markers, the Model 98 Custom, has actually been run over by pickup trucks and survived, to demonstrate the durability of the marker.[citation needed] Their markers are also renowned for their ability to be 'modded', or modified, for many functions.
Most paintball markers use carbon dioxide as a propellant, although they can accept compressed air and nitrogen. Also, most are built with the inline blow-back gas system. The blow-back system is a system initially developed by Tippmann Pneumatics that allows a portion of the same gas used to shoot the marker to also re-cock it. Most paintball markers are semi-automatic, and have stock barrels typically around 20 centimeters (8 inches) in length. Although most stock barrels are only 8 inches long after market barrels can be as long as 20 inches.
Camouflage
Camouflage can be very useful if employed properly. It is essential for most woodsball games as it provides the basis for the stealth which is often the backbone of woodsball. The most popular camouflage by default is the Woodland camouflage developed by the American military in the latter half of the 20th century. The many forms of digital camouflage are making inroads on woodland camouflage's dominance, however. Digital camouflage, known colloquially as digi-camo, remains relatively rare, as military surplus woodland camouflage is easier to find commercially. Many other kinds of camouflage are also used. Mossy Oak camouflage and German fleck camouflage are not uncommon.
Camouflage can be a controversial topic. Often, inexperienced players and outsiders will confuse its purpose with rendering its user completely invisible while in a forest setting, regardless of movement, conditions or other factors. However, this is not the case. It must be understood that camouflage was never intended as a method of complete concealment while moving — the human eye can too easily detect movement, no matter the colors that one might wear. This is because unless one is in heavy cover or moving slowly, it isn't difficult to spot a camouflaged player without distraction. Rather, camouflage is designed to be more an aid against being spotted than a certainty against it. In order to be used properly, one must have a good grasp of the intended uses of camouflage. Use of one's surroundings, namely cover, the colors of the cover, lighting, quality of the air, backdrop, wind, the locations of other paintballers and a myriad of other factors must be considered to use camouflage to its greatest potential. The opinion that camouflage is irrelevant in a paintball game betrays ignorance of camouflage's more advanced capabilities. However, as with any tool, in order to utilize these capabilities, one must first know how to use it properly, and the best teacher of this is experience.
Basic camouflage is inexpensive and a shirt and pants can be picked up for around $15, US currency. Camouflage is an excellent alternative to most other colors often used in paintball, albeit inadvertently — for example, a pair of jeans or a black T-shirt will be more easily spotted in a forest environment rather than the greens and browns of a camouflage designed for that setting.
Masks, vests, belts and other gear
There are numerous other products available for purchase which are marketed as "woodsball" products. In reality, a large number of the items used in other paintball game types, such as Speedball, may be used in woodsball. The only real features that a "woodsball" item usually has are durability, lack of flashy logos or colors (to reduce individual visibility), and light weight. Paintball masks are an obvious necessity, as any paintball game type requires masks designed and manufactured specifically for the sport of paintball. Pod packs, which carry additional ammunition, are popular among players who shoot more than their hopper's complement of paintballs in a single game. Pod packs can be integrated into a number of platforms, including vests, belts, and leg packs. Gloves, pads and armor may also be used, although armor is rarely used amongst experienced players, who discard it in favor of speed and maneuverability. On the other hand, gloves and pads, such as knee- and elbow-pads, can be very useful, especially in more rugged playing environments, such as canyons and rocky areas where one may easily come into sharp contact with rocks or other hard surfaces, including prominent roots, artificial structures, et cetera.
Woodsball strategy
There are many forms of strategy in woodsball. Some Examples could include flanks, suppressive fire, rushing, and holding a base. To get more on this read the article.
Player positions
There are numerous different styles of playing woodsball. Some of the most popular are summarized here. Each style is known as a player position, and will often require different individual tactics, equipment, and even different mindsets. Player positions usually suit different kinds of people, and are often chosen for a player by the player's personality. Normally, player positions are only useful if one is playing on a co-ordinated woodsball team. This is because of the relatively common possibility in 'walk-on' games of having a proportionately vast amount of, for example, scouts to riflemen, or anti-armor specialists to scouts, et cetera. In light of these potential inherent difficulties, player positions are rarely used in 'walk-on' woodsball.
Special Ops Paintball has an overview of their recommended player positions, including pictures, gear recommendations, and roles here. A more broad and wider-used set are identified below.
Infantry positions
The infantry are the most commonly seen players on the field. Usually, woodsball teams will consist of up to 75-90% infantry, with the remaining percentage distributed amongst specialists.
Scout
Scouts are always lightly armed and fast. Usually, they are counted on by team command to 'take point' in front of a squad. In numbers, they can also act as a team's quick response force, hovering behind their team's front line and filling in the gaps as friendly players are eliminated. However, scouts' primary responsibilities, of course, lie in finding elements of the opposing team, and then leading elements of the scouts' own team to destroy those opponents. Scouts tend to be chosen for their speed, lightweight gear, intelligence, and their initiative on the field (most 'adrenaline jockeys' are assigned as scouts).
Rifleman or Basic Infantry
The bulk of a team's forces are riflemen. They are generally grouped with squads, and rarely play individually unless as a last resort. Most 'newbies' will start out as riflemen, due to the relative simplicity of the position and since most riflemen stick together. Newbies are known to keep together in their first games, forming what are colloquially known as 'newbie clumps'. Being automatically assigned as riflemen gives strategic meaning to this trait.
Experienced riflemen are the jacks of all trades, and are expected to fill in when a specialized player has been eliminated. Perhaps ironically, veteran riflemen are virtually the direct opposite of the 'newbie riflemen' described above, in that they characteristically are competent in virtually every style of paintball play.
Front & Back
Just like in speedball there are positions assigned to players based on their skills. These are front, middle, and back players. Front players are usually scouts or very fast players. They are usually alone and check out the enemy. They also pick off small amounts of enemies. Middle players hold positions in the middle of the field and stay in bunkers. Most players are middle players. Back players stay at the stare point and guard the flag or breakshoot.
Specialists
There are a number of different specialties that can develop in woodsball and scenarioball, due to the wide range of possible equipment configurations and the different needs that come about in play. Thus, specialists are quite often more diverse than general player positions. Specialists are usually integral to a team's strategy, especially if there are a large number of specialists present within that team. This effect is doubly apparent in scenario games, when a particular class of specialists may be assigned to a team to better forward that team's designed purpose.
For example, a given scenario has team Alpha playing as guerrilla insurgents, and team Beta as a mechanized force attempting to destroy them. It is probable that Alpha will have a concentration of accomplished ambush players, often marksmen (see below), and anti-armor infantry. Beta will probably have a concentration of riflemen, perhaps gunners, and mech pilots to operate the tanks, armored personnel carriers, et cetera.
Gunner
Players with the fastest-shooting markers are almost always gunners. They tend to hang back and 'longball' the opposition, letting scouts and riflemen move up alongside the other team. Gunners are responsible for providing heavy suppressive fire, and they will often rush up and down the front line, providing cover for other elements of the team as they advance.
Heavy Weapons or Anti-Armor
Advanced teams will often have heavy weapons to combat opposing tanks, boats, and aircraft. However, such players will rarely be seen anywhere except 'Big Games' (games where sometimes hundreds if not thousands of paintballers will play) and Scenarioball. Heavy weapons specialists may carry paintball grenade launchers, paintball rocket launchers, paintball mortars, and operate mounted paintball machine markers. If there is a tank assigned to a team, it is common that heavy weapons specialists will be reassigned as tank pilots, also referred to as mech pilots. This can add an interesting twist, as the recently appointed mech pilots will often know 'tricks of the trade' in how to destroy mechs, and thus will bring that knowledge - and knowledge of counter-moves which can benefit the mechs - to their new position.
Marksmen or Snipers
Marksmen are players who are dedicated to unparalleled accuracy on the paintball field. They are often characterized by expensive equipment, a cool mentality, and a passion for excellent shots. Woodsball marksmen are best known for their ability to sit back from the front line, safely out of harm's way, and longball the enemy positions from afar with effects as great if not greater than those of the infantry on the front line itself. Due to their characteristic accuracy and stealth, they are often observed in teams that are known for ambush operations, ghost flanks, and stealth maneuvers in general.
Woodsball marksmen are often used as special operations elements in specific situations. While this is seen mostly in scenarioball games, they are sometimes considered this in woodsball as well, such as during a hostage extraction operation, a VIP elimination operation (for example, assassinating a 'general' or 'president'), and other such games. Classifying marksmen as special operations elements in such games should be done with hesitation, as often players from many other positions are utilized as special operations forces as well.
The term 'paintball sniper' is the cause of much controversy. Indeed, it may arguably be the most controversial issue in paintball today. Critics of paintball snipers argue that the very nature of military snipers contradicts that of paintball snipers, since paintball snipers in general cannot make kills at distances substantially greater than any infantryman. Furthering the controversy surrounding the "paintball sniper" it should also be noted that at ranges beyond 150 feet almost no paintball will break on a soft target anyway. However, proponents counter that the difference is great enough to warrant a class distinction. Some will also argue that even if a "paintball sniper" can't hit a target further than any other rifleman, what they will do is use far less paint in doing so. For example a riflemen may use 30 balls to hit a target at 100 feet where as a "sniper" may only use 3 balls to hit the same target. As a kind of unwritten compromise, the term 'paintball marksman' is emerging in various areas throughout the world, which is more politically correct than the original term. In laymans terms, most people think that there is no such thing as a sniper in paintball.
Speedball in woodsball
Since its dawn in 1988 in southern California[1], speedball has been set apart by proponents of both sides as radically different from woodsball. Indeed, it is possible that the two could even be seen almost as different sports by outsiders.
However, this is not automatically the case. Speedball is defined essentially as woodsball but on an artificial field. This difference necessitates a number of differences from woodsball play. Another of its characteristics is speed, both in the short length of games and in the tendency of speedball markers to be capable of shooting up to twice the rate of fire of most woodsball markers. Speedball is also differentiated from woodsball in that speedballers often wear uniforms that are brightly colored and can be considered flashy and unnecessary by woodsball players.
These differences can all seem more than they actually are. It is true that speedball is played on a generally smaller course than most woodsball games. However, having speed be a distinguishing feature from paintball is not as realistic. For serious woodsballers, speed is of the essence, often deciding whether a maneuver will be successful and whether a game will be won or lost. Even in rate of fire, woodsball players are not limited to relatively slow-shooting markers. Many serious woodsballers own markers that have maximum ROF rates at twenty rounds per second if not more. A Tippmann A-5, properly modded, can fire up to 25 BPS. [2] Additionally, it is not the case that woodsballers themselves are consistent in their use of camouflage. Some players do not attempt to wear uniforms during games in any sense, playing in just jeans and a t-shirt. Speedballers' often brightly colored jerseys and pants can seldom be considered as too flashy on an airball field with brightly colored bunkers.
Scenarioball and woodsball
Scenario paintball, known colloquially as 'scenarioball', is very closely related with woodsball. Scenarioball is, by definition, any paintball game that is played according to a predefined scenario. Most scenarioball simulates military operations, in the kind of scenario presented and often the equipment and 'costumes' worn to events as well. Scenarioball has a widely known reputation of being played by organized paintball teams that are usually not found in basic recreational woodsball.
Game variants
Elimination or Slayer — Generally the most common variant of woodsball played, and again mostly among new-comers to the sport. Elimination rules can be played by (but not restricted to) two or more teams, in the woodsball setting, engaging in combat until there is only one team left still in play.
Capture the Flag (CTF) — While the primary objective in Elimination is to eliminate as many enemy players as possible, the primary objective in Capture the Flag (sometimes abbreviated to CTF) is to capture the enemy flag instead. This is a very popular game type, second only to Elimination itself. CTF is also not limited to woodsball - CTF is arguably the most common variant of Speedball.
Often in CTF, there are two flags - one for each team. Each flag would ideally be situated in a base, bunker or some other such defendable position, which is then called the 'flag station'. The enemy team must find the opposition's flag station, seize the flag, and return it to their own flag station. Once the enemy flag is in one's own flag station and one's own flag is still there, then victory may be claimed.
Assault, or Siege — Assault is a fairly common game variant where the players are divided into two equal teams. One team—the 'defenders'—must hold a fixed location on the field. The other team—the 'attackers'—must attempt to completely eliminate the Defenders or touch a flag in the center of the Defenders' base. The Defenders, however, must completely eliminate the Attackers or hold their flag for a set amount of time.
See also
- Paintball
- Scenario paintball
- Speed paintball
- Paintball strategy
- Player positions (paintball)
- Paintball marksman