What kind of adult does not dream of plunging into childhood for a short time and indulging in fun, exciting games? Truly spectacular fun is paintball. What is this game, what is its essence and what is necessary for it to take place? We will try to understand these issues.
History
From English, "paintball" literally translates as "paint + ball." In this fun, players shoot each other from airguns with capsules with special paint. There are several versions of the origin of the game. We will announce the two most popular.
In 1878, the practice of military exercises was introduced in the French army. The soldiers fired at them not from conventional weapons, but from a special pneumatic syringe with paint. Then inventor Postav Reclus replaced it with a model similar to the modern one, with latex shells. Inside such "cartridges" was paint.
Another version refers us to the USA in 1981. Three friends, stockbrokers, seriously keen on war games, purchased markers and set them up for paint firing. The downside was that the paintball marker contained an oily substance that could not be washed off clothes. Of course, the constant change of shape was problematic, so in 1984 gelatin balls appeared. A year later, the model of the gun for the game was improved.
Sports or entertainment
Controversy arose around the new invention at the beginning of the 21st century. Paintball - what: sport or entertainment? Of course, from the beginning it was fun for a fun filling of leisure. However, later the game was elevated to a team sport, which not only unites people with a common idea, but also involves physical activity, the development of coordination, balance, attentiveness, training of quick reaction, accuracy, analytical skills.
Recently, the paintball club is increasingly used for teambuilding, rallying the work team.
rules
Paint shooting has fairly simple rules. The participants are divided into two teams, choose a scenario, instruction and start a confrontation on a specially equipped area. A fighter who was injured by his or her own with paint in any part of the body or got into a weapon is eliminated from the game before its end or before respawn (game rebirth). He must raise the paintball marker and leave the field.
In case of respawn, the player must thoroughly wipe the paint off the clothing. If there is a suspicion about the enemy’s cunning, the participants call for help from a judge.
In Russia, paintball courts use two versions of the game: St. Petersburg and Moscow. In the second case, the ingestion of paint capsules into objects carried in the hands (weapons, props) is not considered a defeat.
Equipment
Paintball equipment comprises:
- Protective clothing. Usually it is issued on a specialized basis. But if paintball becomes a hobby for a person, he acquires an individual set. Clothing should be free, not hamper movement.
- Shoes with embossed soles, comfortable and fixing shin.
- Airguns. In this game, it is called a marker and differs in shape and size.
- Paintball mask. It is necessary to protect the face, since a capsule with paint when shot at any distance can leave a bruise. The mask should sit well and not interfere when moving around the site.
- Feeders - small hoppers for capsules with paint. They are attached to the marker, which allows continuous firefight with the enemy.
- Cylinders with compressed air (carbon dioxide). They are also attached to the marker, and thanks to them a shot is fired.
- Paintball balls - capsules or containers with paint of different colors, which open upon impact and mark the enemy.
Game scripts
Today, paintball bases offer many scenarios in which both men and women can participate equally. The plots of hostilities are designed for any kind of sites, whether it is a forest glade or an abandoned building.
The most popular are:
- Kare is the easiest way to develop a game that has been familiar to everyone since childhood. His second name is “wall to wall”. There is a collision of opponents who shoot out. The player does not enter back.
- Capture the Flag. Each team has its own base or fortress with a flag. The task is simple - to capture the opponent’s flag and deliver it to your defensive point. It provides input to the player after being injured. A variant of the same scenario is to capture the flag in the center of the battlefield and deliver it to enemy headquarters or your own.
- Partisans. This is a role-playing version of the game. One team (partisans) must keep the defenses in an impromptu desert or forest, the other - to expel her from the shelter. For this, various military operations, called provocations, are used.
- Duel. This is a classic reenactment of 19th century duels. They only shoot, of course, not with cartridges, but with paint. Each player has only one paintball marker. The judge commands, two players from different groups approach the barrier and shoot at each other at the next signal. The results are calculated according to the last player left alive.
- Escort. This is one of the most exciting stories of the game. The group of participants is divided into two unequal teams (ratio 1: 2/3). The smaller group is called terrorists. She was previously taken to the field for organizing ambushes. The second team must lead the VIP person through the site “with a surprise” to the appointed point without losing. As distinctive signs, a person is marked with a bright bandage or a bright vest is put on. This option is suitable for outdoor areas or large multi-level structures.
Of course, the scenario depends on the age and composition of the participants who decided to play paintball. Prices for each plot are set individually.
Security
Despite the fact that many experts consider paintball safe as a sport, it has certain health risks. Starting from sprains and dislocations and ending with loss of vision. To do this, before each game, the base staff conducts a detailed briefing. And for this purpose paintball equipment was invented. Let's get acquainted with the basic safety rules:
- Even in the so-called "dead zones" to remove the mask is strictly prohibited. When fired at close range, a paint ball can cause serious damage.
- To play paintball you need a sober mind and a clear reaction. Therefore, drinking alcohol or taking strong medications before the game is also a limitation.
- "Blind" or random shooting during the match is not welcome. In this case, the player is simply removed from the field.
- You can’t shoot at point blank range! This is one of the main rules that every paintball club dictates. Shots are fired from at least six meters. Otherwise, it threatens a painful blow and the formation of hematomas.
Where do they play paintball?
Depending on the season and other factors, the game can take place outdoors (natural landscapes, rough terrain) and indoors (with additional decorations). In any case, the paintball club must plan the battlefield and its equipment in advance.
Under natural conditions, trees, pits and bushes serve as shelters. On artificial sites, these are boards, barrels, large stones, an automobile body, etc. Also, paintball pitches are equipped with obstacles (inflatable or constructed) according to the game scenario, which are arranged in a chaotic or mirror order.
Prices
Paint shooting has become very popular today around the world. It is difficult to find an active young man or even a woman who has never tried to play paintball. The prices for such an activity depend largely on the additional services that the player wishes to use. They include ATV rental, arms rental, a climbing wall, a visit to the bath after the game. The very participation in a team match in Russia costs no more than a thousand rubles per person. It all depends on the region of residence and the level of the paintball club.
Important points
If a person likes to play "war games", then you should not naively think when choosing paintball that such an activity will give only pleasure and the opportunity to plunge into children's fun. Paintball is, above all, a team sport. There are strict rules, safety precautions, and even the likelihood of serious injury. Choosing this game in the form of entertainment, you need to show maximum responsibility, especially if friends, family or a working team become its participants.
There are also positive aspects that paintball boasts. What can a hobby bring to our lives? Much! As already mentioned, this game develops a person physically and, in addition, it is a team game, which means that it can unite, make friends, establish relationships, establish contact, and teach responsibility for each other ... Sometimes paintball clubs arrange fights for national teams. This is a great chance to meet new people, find like-minded people. Even if a person is not a fan of the described pastime, the joy of victory, and the process of the game itself, can radically change his mind.