Views from a paintball cynic

Friday, March 23, 2007

Woodsball Stereotypes

A long time ago I released the "speedball stereotypes" piece on the blog. And ever since then it's been something people read and flame the hell out of me for. "You're bashing speedballers!" No, I'm just pointing out what you look like and poking fun at you. But one thing I've noticed about paintball, and any "youth sport" for that matter, nobody has a sense of humor.

Oh they have one, just not at themselves. They'll make fun of you, your gear, your clothing, your car and possibly your state of origin. But when you flick a pea-sized joke about them they'll react like you threw boulders of insults at them. So to you all, get over yourselves.

So I'm going to see if it's just the "speedball kiddiez" that have no sense of humor, and give you...

Woodsballer Stereotypes

Granted, you get all kinds in the rec-ball game. And when you talk "woodsball" you're covering a LOT of ground from scenario to rec to milsimmers. So go with it and get out your salt blocks.

"IWBA2R" : "I wanna be an airborne ranger". And in this there's actually two types. The first is the gung-ho 15-17 year old kid who has no clue what the military is like outside of Hollywood. This is a guy who won't make it through boot, but damned if he doesn't want to do it. He's got every line of "Full Metal Jacket" memorized! The other is the guy who did boot, and was dropped because of something that was never his fault. Either way, this is the guy who wants the total package. He'd paint his face if he thought it'd help, and sometimes they do just to get "in the mood to kill". Often, however, this guy could be nicknamed a "grenade". When it all goes down and the pressure is on, he'll go to pieces so fast people in his bunker get hit with shrapnel.

"The old guy" : Every field has one. If you can't find him, it may be you. This is the guy who shows up regularly, 1-2 times a month. He's wearing the same BDU's he did the first time you saw him, and for that matter the first time anyone saw him. He's probably got an "old clunker" of a gun that he bought for +$500 new back in the day, and he plays a solid game. He should, he knows the field better than he knows his children's birthdays. His best role is cover-fire, because like hell he's gone try to out-sprint you to the front! Stick with this guy, he's probably got more than a few tricks he can show you. He probably also has the beer chillin' in the cooler hiding in the trunk too. Funny, this is also the guy who has the paper towels, the real towels, and a change of clothing. He's done this before.

"Teh Sniporz" : If the field lets them, they show up in their "ghillie suit". Even if they won't let him, he tries to sneak a few dozen leaves under his goggle band and if he's got time try to weave them into a "sniper veil". If he doesn't have a real suit made for him, he may have destroyed a perfectly good pair of BDU's to make what he called a "Ghillie". Twine tied to a ripped-up camo costume doesn't cut it. And neither did the sweatpants / sweatshirt he stapled strips of cloth he found in Mom's closet. If you still can't find him, look for the 3 foot long gun they "need" to longball (which doubles as a walking stick). Or look behind the base, he's hanging back to guard the flag. If they can actually shoot, they're useful. If not, they're basically a human speedbump.

"n00b mob" : This is never one person as much as it's a group. The Mob come to the field together. Mostly they're in sweats or jeans and long-sleeve t's (occasionally they bust out their "Hunting camo", if they hunt), and they have no clue what's going on. They never have enough people for their own private game, so they get thrown into the rec game like raw meat to lions. Off the field they stick around their cluster of vehicles, drink soda and choke down whatever the field sells for food and tell stories that usually start with "No shit, there I was...." On the field they seem to inherently know that "we need to stick together, at all costs!" How they fit 40 people behind a small tree, I'll never know. The best thing you can do for these people is take a game or two, and you quite possibly need to use the jaws of life to do this, and get them to spread out and move! You can actually pull them out of this stereotype!

"The Quiet Man" : There's always at least one. He doesn't talk much, he doesn't need to. The only reason you noticed him was that his gun is nothing you've ever seen before. It's either an exotic made in the mid 90's that he's used all his life, or it's a "franken-tippy" with parts he made himself or modified from other guns. On the field he's usually competent enough that he's not a hindrance, but he's not a standout help either. He's not a bad addition to the team, let him do his thing, and he'll help the overall cause.

"Milsim Guy" : I really don't like milsim myself. I can't justify spending money to make an otherwise light paintgun heavy with parts you don't need. Then again I'm weird and we all know this. But this guy goes all out. He's bought the "M-16" kit for his gun, then modded it with the clear plastic magazine "so you can see the bullets in there!" Sometimes he wears a replica kevlar helmet, most of the time he's somehow managed to modify a "ranger vest" to hold pods of paint. And what's with the spikes in the mask? "It's hardcore!" The good thing about "milsim guy" over "IWBA2R" is that the milsim guy actually knows the tactics. He's studied them. Over and over. But it's all book knowledge, not practical. On the rare occasion it's practical, it only works when the rest of his "fire squad" is with him.

"Vet" : This is a guy who's been there, done that, and has the holes in the t-shirt to prove it. He's not full of himself, he's just confident. They're not here to relive old experiences, but they know what to do when the "kimchi" gets thick. Back "in the day" mostly they were Vietnam era, but now you see a lot from the various Gulf conflicts. Most of the time this guy is the most laid back guy on the field. When you have had real bullets whizzing around your head paintballs are nothing. Sometimes they'll talk about being "in", sometimes they won't. Either way, this guy knows his stuff. Or they react to things in very un-paintball like ways. Like taking cover rather than charging down the gullet.

"5-Star" : He's wearing camo that somehow distinguishes him. Like "chocolate chips" or a weird "swahili pattern" or something bizarre. He knows EXACTLY what it takes to win on ANY given field. You don't even need to ask him. And right away, he's taking control of the team in the start area. Usually he speaks up right away and demands attention, and lays out the battle plan on how to win "this field". Most of the time, he's just laying out a battle plan that worked last week too. Sometimes, if you're lucky, they know what the hell they're talking about! Most of the time, they're just flapping their lips and making a lot of noise to look more important. On the rare occasion they're actually useful, LISTEN TO THEM. IF they say anything along the lines of "So you guys rush the side while I move with my guys the other way", ignore him. Or just shoot him yourself when the ref blows the horn. You'll be happier.

"CS / HALO Dude" : This is most of the people you meet. They're here to shoot paint, run around like headless chickens, and basically have a good time. They don't care about team tactics, they don't want to learn anything, and they certainly don't want you to be their buzzkill. They're playing "live counterstrike" or "live halo". They're just gonna run around the map and shoot anything that moves. Opponents, teammates, refs, wind-blown tree branches, it's all fair game. Oh, and the only thing that distinguishes these guys from the "Noob Mob"? They actually try to leave their goggles on most of the time and they know how the safety works. But don't be to upset if all you've got all "HALO" guys, it's probably what the other team has too.

"Lone Wolf" : He's a lot like the "Quiet Man", but he actually has the skills to be a standout player. Most of the time he floats from place to place on the field, and he'll help where he thinks he needs to help. And if he sees an opening he takes it if you're ready for it or not. Best way to handle this guy is to let him do his thing, because he can do it a lot better than you think. He really wants to win the game, he just doesn't trust you or anyone else to do the job that he knows needs to be done. He's also, in fact, most likely to shoot a "5-star" on "accident".

"Blister Pack" : They roll into the lot fresh from the S-mart (shop smart, shop s-mart!) with their brand new paintguns. You know they're new, they're throwing the wrapping away in the 50 gallon drums. They don't have a clue how it really works, they barely know how to put the rubber barrel plug into the muzzle. And they don't know it's in packing grease, not playing lubrication. First few games they're happy, until the mechanism seizes up and they're completely helpless on the field. It's not surprising most of them throw the gun away after a day or three of use. If they learned how to maintain their gun, they'd be a decent "CS Dude".

"Family" : I've been seeing this more and more over the years, and this is the stereotype I personally like to see. They come in the mini-van, and this is the family outing this week. Dad's been playing a while, Mom may play but most of the time she's hanging out by the van, and the kids are wired to play. Sometimes there's an Uncle or Aunt there too, but most of the time its just the core family. On the field, the kids stick to Dad's side as he tries to teach them about the game. Off the field they're still smiling, having a good time. And by the end of the day, the kids are passed out in the back of the van, and Mom and Dad are happy for the brief silence they get. If you're on the field, play nice around the kids. And don't light a kid up. It's not dad you have to worry about. Ever seen what a mother bear does to someone who injures her cub? Yeah.

"Tech-Head" : And I'll wrap up with this guy. He has the latest, and greatest, in gear. And some of it it made for paintball too! "Yeah, I got this laser range finder, mounted that on with the boom mike, then undermounted it on the pitkanny rails for the body I just bought. Cool huh? I'm trying to get the GPS to work on the retackle sight on my gun too! And the voice activated FRS radio is rockin!" He's got the best gear money can buy, this week. And he doesn’t really move up the field, the weight of all that gear keeps him from it. He'd be a decent player if he'd stop spending money on "ultrasonic mud removers" and just play.

There's more. And obviously I missed some in there. But, that about covers it.

numly esn 62647-070323-543602-33 Rate content:

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15 Comments:

  • You nailed most of the sterotypes right on the head. I like the quiet man and lone wolf one because I see myself somewere between those two :).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Friday, March 23, 2007 10:05:00 PM  

  • Tyger,

    I never thanked you for leaving your comment on my blog. Its nice to see someone who knows what they are talking about pay attention to my stuff. Anyways I thought this was a good post and it was humorous to think about where I would put myself and the other people I play with.

    I also think this is a good post because it shows that your not just about woodsball and bashing speedball but that your a paintballer and we all need to make fun of ourselves and stop taking things so seriously!

    By Blogger Bielerga, at Friday, March 23, 2007 10:40:00 PM  

  • Ha, great post. I think you must have gotten them all! Milsim does seem a little silly; I always see guys in tactical vests which have a good 20 pockets ... and their all full. What are they keeping in there? haha.

    Though I can understand how milsim adds to the game for some people but after seeing a friend of mine pay $500 for what is little better than a bone stock m98c with a bunch of plastic molding stuck to it, well I was kinda turned off from milsim.

    I don't know how anyone could think you were bashing speedballers. From your videos your just as good a speedball player as you are a woodsball player! I'm really coming to hate the division between the two styles of play

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Saturday, March 24, 2007 1:02:00 AM  

  • Haha. It's funny because at one point most of us have been, or still are part of one of these woodsball stereotypes. It's all in good fun really and those who can't see it as just that....well they're just being immature. Funny post Tyger!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Saturday, March 24, 2007 1:23:00 AM  

  • Haha good post tyger. I think I'm somewhere between "halo" and "lone wolf"

    Steven B

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Sunday, March 25, 2007 10:31:00 PM  

  • TYRE KICKER,

    Tyre Kicker is unreliable. He is the most basic of casual players. Has his own mask and gun... always something basic like a tippmann or spyder, but doesn't yet own any camo, or a full set of camo (Sometimes has just the top or just the pants).

    The problem with Tyre Kickers is, he takes the game less seriously than every other woodsballer out there. He turns up late (when he does come), is never into organised tactics on field, only comes once every 2 months or therabouts, and when he does play... he leaves the field early because he's got 'more important things to do' (Nevermind the fact it took him 45 mins to drive to the field).

    The Tyre Kicker isn't in it for the long haul. Even if he says he is, he may have the initial phase of interest, but it quickly wanes for him and he comes less and less. Soonafter, his gun is on ebay and he's now into radio control airplanes instead. It's not surprising most people have a silent dislike for Tyre Kicker.
    _________________

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wednesday, March 28, 2007 1:24:00 AM  

  • Nailed it on the head again Tyger, and I've seen those kinds of people during scenario games (heck at the field that the Scenario team Im a part of, we have bonafide perfect example of "Ghille whimp". He constantly brags about how his team is the best and about how he'll "Leave a calling card at the central objective" but instead you can never find him (Several times he and his team have been on the same side as ours and when my teams Captain was the General for the game, we were calling for back ups and finally somewhat suggested "Well I think *Ghille player* and his team are somewhere on the field". we spent 10 mins calling for him on the radio, and it took us 20 mins to find him after we sent out a messenger team to find them thinking their radios were dead... their position, upon nearly causing friendly fire and hiding in Ghille suits, was a far corner of the field on our side far away from any action "Guarding" a site which had no objective or purpose at the moment. As for my stereo type, I admit Im kinda part Milsim, part lonewolf (I get the mission details or find out where to go and just go for it) But you forgot some other stereo types (granted I know, Space limitations and a lot more, good and bad, for woodsballer than speed ball) among them are these. ( positive, one or 2 negatives)

    Flag Waiver: He's the guy that can probably be spotted easily, he's probably carrying a flag rigged up to his pack thats often in the theme of the game. He's in it for the glory and he's also making sure that others don't miss out on the fun too. He's the guy standing up on top the hill, with loads of paint that rival, if not put to shame, the ammount fired at a speedball tournoment flying towards his general vicinity, yet he seems almost invincible, Whether he's acting as bait so others can get the job done or acting as a morale boost and urging others forward you can be sure you'll find him where the most action is.

    The cheater: Its sad to say, but like Speedball. you have your same type of cheaters. The guy who wipes because no refs are around or near. the guy who has to "be a sniper" or thinks he needs extra range and turns his velocity up after chrono. The guy who sneaks out of the field boundery to flank the other side.. the list just keeps going on....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wednesday, March 28, 2007 5:34:00 PM  

  • You cant forget the "Crazy Legs" He is the fastest guys on the team and he lets you know it. At the rec games hes the first to hit mid-field and start shooting. Hes a decoy, a rusher, or the first one into a wall of paint because hes got nothing better to do than run and just cant control himself.

    By Blogger ghost4-6, at Friday, April 06, 2007 7:56:00 PM  

  • Tyger,

    Like always I have fun with blog!
    There is another type in woodsball:

    Mercs:

    Mercenaries are the players that combine lone wolf+quietman+sniper on occasion.
    As a lone wolf they do not want anyone too close because most likely they will ruin the plans,quiet man just go with the style and sniper is a necessity.
    The main difference is that mercs dont give a crap about the the "format" of the scenario game, there is no engineer,medic,special ops, this player just don't care who wins or looses the only important thing is the KILL COUNT and how well it was executed, leave his mark and leave the field...

    By Tobrak

    By Blogger Unknown, at Sunday, April 08, 2007 5:12:00 PM  

  • You guys are sorta ruining it, although I don't want to be rude. I could relate to seeing every single one of the people Tyger wrote about on the field, but all of the comments are a bore to read, and I really can't seem to relate the descriptions to anybody I've seen. Actually, the runner one is sorta good, but I only see that type of guy once in a blue moon, and he's usually a designated player for a team (we've got one on my team).

    By Blogger David, at Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:08:00 PM  

  • the one sterotype where he has spikes on his mask... u have cat ears on yours!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:18:00 PM  

  • I love it, I laughed so hard I cried. Thanks for the good stuff Tyger.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Sunday, April 22, 2007 1:51:00 AM  

  • Hey Tyger,

    I've read you're blog for a while now but this is the first time I leave a comment (you may not remember me but we have talked on SO; Deus_Wolf nice to REmeet you). I just thought I might add one last player to you're exquisitely precise list(by the way it was difficult for me to wright this because it meant excepting my faults.)


    YOUNG GUN:

    This is the younger player (ages 16 to 20) who loves paintball, tries to understand the game and play fair. He is a decent player but overestimates his importance. He usually has his own gear (that he probably spent every last dollar of his on) and tries to get to the field about twice a month. He has big plans for himself and paintball such as building a sponsored team, opening a paintball field and owning the biggest gun collection of all time. Although he may be captain of a decent local team only 3 players on that team are as dedicated as himself. He gets dropped off at the field by mom or dad and him and his buddy get quietly ready for the day's game. Although he will play well he will tell anyone who listened that he eliminated half the opposition and dominated the entire field. He will have problems seeking credibility due to his age and his exaggerated opinion of himself. Although he may actually get some where almost no one is ready to believe it.


    Ouch that really hurt my ego.(especially coming from myself)

    Magnus McCune
    Deus_Wolf
    Quebec Canada

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wednesday, August 29, 2007 1:27:00 PM  

  • I'm 38 and I just played for the first time 3 weeks ago and havent played since (not that I don't want to...it was incredible).
    It was so funny to read your descriptions because in that one time that I played I saw almost all of these steroetypes. The thing I noticed about the team I was on that made it work so well (we won all 6 of our games including 2 speedball) was that we had a bunch of different types on our team. In one game of capture the castle it ended up being the "lone wolf" that everyone forgot about who won it for us. In another it was "crazy legs".
    I did notice a lot of one type I didn't see listed...I'll call them "buddies". They did absolutely everything together on and off the field. Despite the pleading from all the teammates they both stayed eternally glued at the hip and even tried to both hide behind the same 14" tree together. They both walked off the field together because...you guessed it they got shot together. It actually worked out well. While they drew all the attention I flanked the guys firing on them and took em out most games.
    The one thing I came away from it with was that no matter what type of player they were, everyone had a blast (except "cheter guy"). I've got 18 acres and think I just found something to do with it besides cut hay.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:08:00 AM  

  • Thank you for your interesting and informative blog. I have enjoyed reading it and appreciate the work you have put into it. Here is some relevant information for you to review .
    Kids Tactical Vests

    By Blogger Unknown, at Thursday, August 18, 2016 11:00:00 AM  

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