Reply With QuoteTHunder-Flash
Playing paintball/airsoft at night
Played my first night paintball game this weekend- definitely a blast, but ran into a few logistical issues:
1. Friendly fire – it was an overcast night, so there was absolutely no visibility in the woods. Even though we were all familiar with the field, and used glow stick to mark objectives, we found it nearly impossible to tell where people were and what side they were on. Considered marking players with some type of glowing device….but am thinking that might give too much away? We had about 5 guys on each team…so fairly small game.
2. Close-range engagement- people were basically walking right up on each other and reflexively shooting- due to the surprise of contact, the surrender rule was out the window (I’m still wearing a bandaid on my neck…). We even had radios, but there were a number of times where I was 15 feet away from a guy and didn’t know it until he moved. Not sure if this is something that can really be countered aside from just getting used to playing in the dark. Probably should chrono the markers down to below what we use in the day time too.
Anyway, maybe some of you paintballers/airsofters with night-time experience can offer some tips that you’ve found to be effective for night play.
Would be much appreciated!
THunder-Flash
At the 24 hour airsoft games I have been to, we usually have a good idea of where our team's squads should be relative to our own position, so that helps. We also have decent comms between each squad and command to help keep us up to date. The old flash-thunder routine has worked wonders as well, but make sure EVERYONE knows the phrase....we had an issue or two once that almost took a squad and a half out of the game via friendly fire...
As for engagement distances, night time sees more full masks on the field and some fields lower the FPS limits for night time engagements.
Thanks for the response guys. Not sure what Thunder flash is....
it is the challange and response system. when encountering another group you say Flash and they are then supposed to say thunder (or whatever two pat phrase you cook up). If they say the correct pass phrase then you know them to be friendly, if not then light the suckers up!
Oh jeez I'm dense...and I just read Band of Brothers last week on vacation.
Flash/thunder/welcome.
thanks.
problem with the flash thunder system at night, is as soon as one guy says something, chances are he's going to get shot, the other guy will usually shoot on reflex, because airsofters are trigger happy, and completly jittery at night games, but they are really fun as long as you dont run into a team of campers.
Never had that happen to me.....but I did encounter the challenge when my squad was on its way back into the base for the briefing....we hadnt been given the challenge and response yet. But we ID'd ourselves in time, luckily.Originally Posted by Midtown
I would use a different challenge and password for each game. Thunder Clash is something alot of people know. Just make sure the whole team knows both parts BEFORE playing..Use something odd but easy like Oscar and Meyer!
At one or two of the night games I have been at we changed words every hour or two, or after every major offensive.I would use a different challenge and password for each game. Thunder Clash is something alot of people know. Just make sure the whole team knows both parts BEFORE playing..
Another great tool for those all-out night assaults on enemy bases is the ol' 1.5 million candlepower handheld spotlight. Great stuff.
employing that to bling them eh? I like it, IF I ever find a decent, older than 15 woodsball PB group here in so cal again I will have to try that.At one or two of the night games I have been at we changed words every hour or two, or after every major offensive.I would use a different challenge and password for each game. Thunder Clash is something alot of people know. Just make sure the whole team knows both parts BEFORE playing..
Another great tool for those all-out night assaults on enemy bases is the ol' 1.5 million candlepower handheld spotlight. Great stuff.
Yes its almost a must to have a fulton flashlight and a "beam master" (high powered flashlight) as we'd like to call them. The only problem is you get about half an hour's use out of them, so it must be spared during the game.
My next big night game I'm bringing my mag lite
Heh, well our squad of about six has two of the spotlights, so we do alright during the games. Sure makes it easy to pick off targets at night when they are lit up like it is noon, rather than midnight or 2 AM.
If you have a LARGE amount of cash get some NVG's and IR spotlights or IR filters for SureFiresThey wount know what hit them...
Some guidelines for playing night games, based on my own experience and that of others:
1. Mark all players with a "cats-eye" or chemlite on the BACK of their shirt. This will help team-mates find each other in the dark. Players can also use covered chem-lights to "flash" each other - use different colors for different players.
2. Issue (or require each player to have) a red strobe for "dead" players to use once they are hit. Cheap strobes can be bought at Walmart for around $1 each.
3. Prohibit use of white light except in emergencies (wrecks night vision).
4. Schedule games in conjunction with a full moon for natural light.
5. Mark re-gen points with tiki torches or a low-intensity strobe.
6. Give refs a blue or red lens light to keep them from shining other players.
7. Have clear objectives (attack/defend, for example) and keep the distances from the start point to contact short.
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