In much the same way that golf is about chasing a little white ball with his stick, the fine sport of paintball is about capturing the opposing team's flag and that splattering them into state of surrender.
It's the speed, frantic action, and advanced (yet non-lethal) weaponry that make the game so addictive.
A paintball game covers a lot of ground - literally - so you generally don't want a space much smaller than a field. Indoor venues exist, of course, as well as temporary venues set up for tournaments. Permanent indoor venues cost money, but also provide such features as equipment rental, instruction, mad theme decor, and even food. There's no reason why you should let rain, snow, or sleet stop you from playing paintball!
Each player is issued an air pressure gun that shoots specially manufactured balls of water-based paint that explode on contact. The number of players required for the game is not fixed, but you need a group of 10 or so for maximum liveliness. The group divides into two teams and prepares for battle.
The two teams are demarcated by colored armbands to prevent friendly fire. Then the two teams, having worked themselves into a suitably manic state of mind, play a game very similar to Capture the Flag. With guns. Paint guns. It's actually a little more complicated than that: not only do you have to capture the other team's flag, but you have to splatter every opponent with paint. Then the trophy is carried back victoriously to your team's own camp.
If you're hit by a paintball, of course, you are out of the game - provided that it hits you and breaks on contact, neither bouncing off you nor bouncing off something else on its way to you. The paintballs hit fairly hard - which is why you wear a mask and padding - and it is up to the referee to determine the extent of the damage. The paintballs are not much bigger than marbles, with a tough gelatin shell.
A paintball game covers a lot of ground - literally - so you generally don't want a space much smaller than a field. Indoor venues exist, of course, as well as temporary venues set up for tournaments. Permanent indoor venues cost money, but also provide such features as equipment rental, instruction, mad theme decor, and even food. There's no reason why you should let rain, snow, or sleet stop you from playing paintball!
Each player is issued an air pressure gun that shoots specially manufactured balls of water-based paint that explode on contact. The number of players required for the game is not fixed, but you need a group of 10 or so for maximum liveliness. The group divides into two teams and prepares for battle.
The two teams are demarcated by colored armbands to prevent friendly fire. Then the two teams, having worked themselves into a suitably manic state of mind, play a game very similar to Capture the Flag. With guns. Paint guns. It's actually a little more complicated than that: not only do you have to capture the other team's flag, but you have to splatter every opponent with paint. Then the trophy is carried back victoriously to your team's own camp.
If you're hit by a paintball, of course, you are out of the game - provided that it hits you and breaks on contact, neither bouncing off you nor bouncing off something else on its way to you. The paintballs hit fairly hard - which is why you wear a mask and padding - and it is up to the referee to determine the extent of the damage. The paintballs are not much bigger than marbles, with a tough gelatin shell.
