Woodsball is the original form
of paintball.
Woodsball isn't always played in
"woods" as such,
but also open fields, swamps,
mountains, canyons, etc.
Another characteristic of
woodsball is that its
playing field generally has large
boundaries, or
perhaps no boundaries at all. Woodsball
has many
popular variants, giving the game very flexible
variety.
Woodsball tends to be more
common among suburban
or rural paintballers, as it can
be easier to find suitable
land to play upon. Players
who live in an urban setting
tend to have more access to
smaller indoor arenas,
which typically offer Speedball
instead.
Levels
of Play
There are levels of play in
woodsball, ranging from basic recreational play, and
advanced play.
In basic recreational play,
most players tend to be either new players, casual
players, or moderately experienced players who aren't
part of an organized team. Player positions are rarely
employed among these groups.
Advanced play relies on
established fundamentals, and is distinguished from
basic play by its level of organization. Advanced
woodsballers are known for team coordination and
fluidity on the field, rapid maneuvers, cooperation in
movement, extensive training, proper usage of equipment,
and application of defined team tactics.
Woodsball markers are generally
known to be universal in play, as a player can fill many
roles while using the same marker throughout. For
example, a telescopic sight, stock, and more accurate
barrel can be added to the marker, increasing the
expected accuracy of the player to that of a marksman.
The same equipment can be later replaced by full-auto
grips and/or circuit boards, which enable the player to
play as a gunner. Because of the wide range of
possibilities, woodsball markers often come out of the
box with relatively basic configurations, leaving most
modifications to be purchased subsequently.
The popular and classic
woodsball marker company is Tippmann, mainly because of
their relatively low cost and high reliability. Their
markers are also renowned for their ability to be 'modded',
or modified, for many functions.
Another type of marker is the
military-simulation (or "Mil-Sim") marker.
Some player will put aesthetics modification on the
marker to make it more realistic or similar to real
firearms. Some compagnies like RAP, Ariakon, Tippmann
and Tactmark specialise in making out off the box marker
looking exactly like real firearm. Some off them even
using a box magazine instead off the traditional hopper.
Camouflagemou
Camouflage can be very useful
if employed properly. It's used for the same purpose as
modern soldiers, to blend in to the surrounding
environment, making it harder for the opposing team to
spot the player. Basic camouflage is
inexpensive, and is an excellent alternative to most
other colors often used in paintball, albeit
inadvertently — for example, bright color Speedball
clothing which are made to impress and represent a team
than to blend are more easily spotted in a forest
environment rather than the greens and browns of a
camouflage designed for that setting.
Woodsball
Strategy
There are many forms of
strategy in woodsball. Examples include solid and
staggered attacks, flanking
maneuvers, attrition, ambushes, charging, cover
fire, and base defense. Woodsball tactics strongly
depend on flanking maneuvers. The usage of cover is an
essential element of paintball.
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