Preface : This series of articles are designed to help the new player "bring", "say" and "do" stuff so they have more fun, represent the sport in a positive light, save a little money and grown into a mature player.

First played in 1981, paintball today claims world recognition as a top ranked outdoor participation sport. Paintball is played in an estimated 140+ countries! 10 million players in the US alone.
Paintball is a combination of the childhood games of "hide&seek" and "tag," but is much more challenging and sophisticated. Although many game formats can be played, typically players divide into two teams to play "capture the flag." The number of players on each team can vary from one to two, three, five, seven or ten-to over 1000 on a side, limited only by the size of the playing field.

The object of the two-flag paintball format is to go out and capture the other team's flag, while protecting your own. Before the game starts, each team's flag is placed in the team's home base (flag station) at opposite ends of the playing field. While you try to capture the flag, you also try to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a paintball, shot from a paintball marker. In center flag each team tries to capture the single flag placed at midfield, and advance the flag to the opposing team's flag station.

Scenario games often have themes based on movies, tv shows, historical events-any good story line involving at least two opposing groups will work. Teams score points differently, sometimes for capturing flags or finding unusual props like "gold", other times for completing "missions" such as meeting with a "spy" or capturing an objective by a certain time. Scenario games run several hours or can run up to 24 hours. Game variations abound, with imagination and safety guiding the themes and rules.



Paintball is a game, and a sport, played by people from all professions and lifestyles. Men and women compete equally, and neither age nor youth dominates the playing field. Like a chess game, being able to think quickly and decisively make a person a paintball pro! Intelligence and determination, not merely strength, speed or agility, are key to success in paintball.
Paintball is a character-building sport. Players learn teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop leadership abilities-while having fun, and enjoying welcome stress relief. Corporations find paintball's benefits through corporate training, increasing camaraderie within the company. In 2006 make time to enjoy this fast-growing action sport, and the personal challenge of role-playing in a living video game!
 

#1 Goggles

All recball fields rent goggles, but they are pretty used and scratched. Having you own set of clean goggles is the best first buy. When looking for goggles, first a foremost they should fit and stay on. Second: they should protect the ears, mouth, throat, and temples. Third: look for "Thermal Lenses" and check the availability of replacement lenses. See what lenses your local Recball field carries and then find goggles to match them. For scenario games, bring an extra set. When cleaning you goggle at the field try to never wipe the inside of the lens and when you do, only use soft toilet paper and wipe softly. Clean the outside with soft toilet paper and perhaps a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol / water solution. Carry and store your goggles in a hard protective container. (see GAME BOX)

NEVER USE WINDEX or AMMONIA CLEANER
NEVER USE PAPER TOWELS

Price Range: $30 - $80 for goggles, $20 for xtra lenses.

-- good value: JT nVader Thermal -- $30

Hauling your stuff from the home and leaving it at the staging Area (COMPOUND), can be a pain. Stuff being stolen is rare, but it has happened. Leave your wallet in your car if possible, and leave your keys and stuff in your game box.

For recball I recommend buying a fairly large multi-compartment softside cooler. The cooler can be used to store your paintballs between games and they will be protected from the heat, cold and sun. I put my goggles on top of my paint in my game box during transport. I also throw a roll of soft toilet paper (non-lotion type) in there and a small hand towel. The other compartment can be used for tools, oil, keys, squeegees, dowel. An 18 can softside cooler works pretty good for carrying a half case of paint and all the regular rec ball stuff (excluding gun)

Also get a wooden dowel that can serve as a push rod to push a wad of TP through the barrel of your marker to cleanout old paint. This works much better than squeegies.

Price Range : Game Box $15-$30

Games are frequently time limited, and it is good training for any new player to know and be aware of what the limits are. I recommend getting a waterproof, plastic, easy to use watch with big buttons for timer set/reset operation.

Price Range : Digital Watch $5-$50

 Paintball Markers are powered by carbon dioxide (CO2), compressed air, or propane. These compressed gases are contained in refillable bottles or tanks which connect to the marker. These cylinders can power a marker for hundreds of shots before being emptied. There are some markers which use small 12 gram CO2 cylinders which are good for around 30 to 35 shots each.

PUMP MARKERS: Each time you shoot a paintball with a Pump action marker you must cock the marker by using the pump, then squeeze the trigger. You must recock the marker to shoot again.

SEMI-AUTO MARKERS: The first time you shoot a semi-auto marker you have to cock the marker by pulling back on the cocking handle. The marker will recock itself after each shot afterward. They can by mechanical, or electronic.

*MULTI-MODE MARKERS: These types of markers can be mechanical but are usually electronic. They have the ability of operating in modes other than semi-auto. They can be set to fire in burst mode such as 3 round or 6 round burst per trigger pull. Some can be set to be increased 1 round for burst at a time. These markers often include a full-auto mode as well. The latest markers have "ramping" modes, which allow the player to increase the rate of fire (rof) while the marker is being fired.

*note: Triggertyme does not allow multi-mode markers to be set at any mode other than semi-auto while on the field during recreational gaming. This rule is enforced not only for safety and insurance reasons but to keep an" even playing" field for our patrons to enjoy.
 

$100 - $250 : A new or used Tippman 98 with a decent barrel - (500 to 1000 paintball rounds a day typical)

$150 - $400 : A new or used Tippman A5 - excellent markers. (500 to 1000 paintball rounds a day typical - double that if A5 has eGrip or response trigger)

Spyders : generally decent for a while, but tend to break much quicker that the Tippmanns. 6 months of service life typical of regular use.

The Smart Part ION's are decent, but not a good choice for a new player - to much time needed to keep running.

Autococker -excellent choice but the worst marker for the new player. Very tricky to get running.