newbie seeking advice

[Bulletdodger]

Hi everyone,

Having really enjoyed my first paintballing experience, I've been considering taking up recreational gaming on a more regular basis but could do with a bit of advice on where to start.

Most paintball centres seem to cater for large groups, but as I'm sure most people also find, organising a group of people can be quite a task, let alone doing it regularly.

How easy is it for an individual to get in to regular paintballing? I'd like to have my own equipment at some point, so I could do with some pointers here too. Also, what seems to be the general policy on using your own equipment at sites?

As I said, I'm a total beginner, so any advice would be welcome.

Cheers.

[Tortoise-Licker]

Welcome to the forums Bulletdodger, also welcome to a new pastime.
Paintball is an interesting sport [yes many of us regard it as a sport] that allows you to get out what you put into it. To play you don't have to have the all singing all dancing ,bling bling, latest £1000 marker [most of us call them markers not guns]. You are at the bottom rung of the ladder in the terms of paintballing. Which is not a bad thiong before people flame me for that comment.
You have been balling in a recreational format and enjoyed it so you want more information. Well you've done the right thing in coming on here and asking questions. First things to do is ask yourself how far you want to take yourself in the sport? Are you quite happy to play recreational games at the moment. If so keep playing what we call punterball. That is you turn up at the site and pay your money and use site equipment. Most sites allow single players to turn up or small groups and they just band them into a bigger group of people. Just give your local site a ring and see what they can do for you. If your looking into buying your own equipment first and most important is your own set of googles. And don't go for cheapish sets buy as good as you can afford.
Right the next step up from here is what we call walk-ons. These are a group of players of all skill levels who own thier own equipment and prefer to play against each other. Most sites will hold walk-on events [usually one a month] and at this you pay a site fee and take your own paint. this type of ball involves buying your own marker, although most sites will allow you to still rent your marker of them. The best thing about this is that you take your own paint which is a lkot cheaper then using site paint. the worst thing is that as you have your own marker you use more paint.
Next step is finding a tourney team to play with. Most sites have a tourney team who class that site as thier home site. They are really easy to spot, as they have the shiniest markers and the brightest clothes and walk around like prima-donnas. These guys are into paintball in the highest way. they think nothing of paying £1000+ for a marker or traveling a couple of hundred miles to a tourney. If you show willing and approach one of thier players they will tell you if the team is recruiting at that moment and will either take you on there and then or give you a try out.
.
One word of warning though at some time you are probaly going to buy your own marker. If you do try the marker before you buy it as theres nothing worse then playing with a gun which you don't like the feel of.

[Bulletdodger]

Thanks for the info Tortoise-Licker, much appreciated.

I'll definitely look to get a decent set of goggles - as I recall, the goggles at the last site I visited where a bit on the crap side! The v-force range at Fatbob's look pretty good (and not as expensive as I imagined they would be)...

What about clothing? I guess a pair of gloves would be a good idea? Camouflage overalls?

I think my nearest site is the National Paintball Games site in Finmere, Buckinghamshire. I've not been there, so it would be good to hear from anyone who has experience of this site. It would be good to hear from anyone who knows of other good sites around the Bucks area.

[Tom]

Bulletdodger,

Welcome to that forums like the man said! Goggles - the V force range are pretty good, but most people tend to go for "JT". Fat Bob probably wont thank me for saying this, but in my experience JT are just that little bit better then the V force goggles, as they have a 'double glazed' lens, meaning they are virtually impossible to fog up. Coupled with that, because they are so common, there are a lot of extras etc to get (lenses, replacement bits etc) and a very wode range of goggles to get. I reccommend the JT Spectra, Flex 7 or Proteus series. I got my spectra 2 years ago, and other than getting 2 new lenses (yellow and chromed) its as good as it was new.

As for clothing, Fat Bobs sells a great range of protective stuff. The bare minimum you need are proper paintballing gloves. These are designed with tough padding on the back to protect your hands, while the palm and trigger fingers are extra supple. They're well worth the money. Personally, I'd stick to full fingered gloves, but there are fingerless versions available. The "wicked" gloves on the fat bobs web shop are exactly the sort of thing you want (in my humble opinion!)

Some people like to wear a neck guard (again a specialised paintball item) just for that extra protection. I don't but it's really a matter of personal preference. Getting shot in the neck really flippin hurts!

As for getting your own camos, a lot of tournament players are quite up themselves about the whole camo issue. Tournie players (generally) like to wear bright team tops and have a bit of a thing against camo. However, if you're playing in the woods every weekend, getting your own camos can make your day a lot more fun (Ie they fit, they dont smell funny and have holes in etc). The YPC gets all the kit washed every time its used, but some sites aren't so scrupulous.

Finally, if you end up deciding you want to buy a marker, people could write pages and pages on which is the 'best'. The good thing is, most players with their own marker will only be too happy to show it off to anyone who interested and might even let you take it our for a game. Try before you buy is the thing to remember, set yourself a price, work out whether you want to play tournie or recreational and go from there!

Hope thats not too much info,

Tom

[fleisher]

Gloves are indeed a good idea,and your right in buying a good set of gogs before a marker.
If you want a decent set of playing clothes for rec. ,Fat Bobs had some Camo NBC suits that are ideal as a starter item.
Finmere used to host the Mayhem finals,the then "FA Cup" of UK paintball and I remember it as a good site,but its a few years since I was last there.
There's a site guide on herewww.ukpsf.com
;)

[narerusco]

I am fairly new to paintballing just bought a V-Force Amour.

Considering buying the Icon Electronic Semi and was wondering what people's experiences with it are.

Or a second hand rebel extreme elctro.

which would people consider a better purchase?

[Welsh]

Icon is new and supposed to be reliable. Don't know if any reviews have been done on them.

Have a look on www.pbreview.com for unbiased consumer reviews of guns

As for the rebel, give it a go.

After all the choice of marker is down to personal preference. If you like it and the price is right both are suitable for recballing.