h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Really great fun day. Rather hot running around in woods all day in combat outfit, with head protection gear on though. Now I have the mark of a true paintballer - I am covered in totally spherical bruises. But worth it!

"Spherical" bruises? You must be very lumpy...

ok circular nitpicker. But spherical sounds more fun. Actually the one on my arm looks more like Haley's Comet now.........

So, with all the bruising, and all the hot physical exertion, why is it so much fun?

I can remember playing wargames up in the bush when we were somewhat younger than I am now, and I also remember that the attraction wore off a bit when we began to realise that the real skills involved in the games were simply not getting caught. Later we learned that there are more profitable ways to make use of these skills than to get yourself into a position where you can shoot somebody before they're aware that you're there. In spite of this "maturation", however, I do remember that our wargames up on the ridge were tremendous fun, it's just that in my old age I can't really remember why! Because of this, I have not been able to resign myself to committing the money that an activity like paintballing would require, even though I am almost certain I would enjoy myself once I tried it.

Adrenalin.........If you are sneaking through a wood and know that people are waiting out there to shoot you, paint ball or not, you get quite a rush. It is also fun to do something childish, once in a while, running around shouting in a wood is actually quite good fun and not the sort of thing most adults normally do. It builds camaraderie, as any kind of shared excitement does. You end up tired but laughing. It's stress relieving because you can't think about problems, or bills or work... It's fun. Age no object. Try it!

I've only been once, several years ago, and Peta's comment about adrenaline is right - it's mostly fueled by it HURTING LIKE HELL.
But I'd love to do it again sometime soon. I was meant to be arranging it for my best friend's stag day but we found that one of his friends was doing paintball for most of the same people 3 weeks before my best friend was due to, so we're probably doing clay pigeon shooting instead.

-- Yoz

Funnily enough, the closest I've ever come to paintballing was playing Lazerzone - again for a stag party. I suspect Peta's comments about "acting childish" had a lot to do with that one. Urban warfare is not the same as bush-based warfare, however, and you only get one shot at a time in paintball - and on top of that, as you say Yoz, it has the potential to hurt a lot.

Even allowing for the glorious potential of the activity to allow you to be silly, I have a feeling I couldn't help but take it seriously - at least until I got shot the first time!

I think paintballing is in a way, actually not a warmongering activity - You realise how quickly you would die if thrust into that situation. War/battle has obviously changed, but I imagine its a bit like the gun fodder of the first world war...

I've been paintballing a few times now and have found it really very exciting apart from one unfortunate experience...

There was this fort you see, which was a multi-level jobbie constructed of planks with lots of gaps between. Now, I was standing on the second level when someone decided it would be great to shoot up through the slats. The pellet (hard due to the cold winter climate) whizzed through the gaps in the wooden floor I was standing on and struck me between the legs... I had more than a circular (or spherical) bruise! *OUCH*

On the plus side, the offending party was made to stand up against a wall while everyone in our team and his (40 or more people) were allowed one shot at him for unsportsman like behaviour totally against the rules!

I didn't do much running around after that...

Ow...

Oooooowwwww...

-- Yoz suddenly doesn't want to go paintballing again

Well, the baggy overalls provided some protection, but not nearly enough! Thing is, when it's cold the paint-pellets don't burst and it's like being shot with marbles!

Oh yeah, I know. I got hit in the back of the head with a cold paintball once. OW. (Still, at least I wasn't out of the game)

-- Yoz was out cold, though

Playing a game where head-shots didn't count, I was hit right in the goggles, covering them in orange gunk - I couldn't see a thing! I umpire told me I was still in and I have 5 seconds to find cover! Great - I stumbled around for five seconds then got totally obliterated from all sides!

We aim for the targets boys....................!

After reading this I have banned Doug from ever paintballing again!