SplatChat : Paintball Commentary, News, Tips is a semi-sporadic bi-monthly column by Kevin "Anam" Conner dealing with all things paintball. Need a custom logo for your paintball team or paintball business? Please click here for sample art, graphics, and 3D animation.

Rained Out
3.22.2008
What do you do when you get rained out or otherwise can't play paintball? Not that the rain prevents me from playing now that I've set my electronic marker aside, but I've found myself having unforseeable issues raise up when it's time to play. Being sick (not going to run around in the woods sneezing in my mask) was one of them.

For those of you who do enjoy the thrill of paintball, you may understand how you may get cabin fever when you can't play. Well, what's helped me in such dire times is I read up on strategies that others have formulated for playing the game, watch online videos, and use the Internet to network with other players. One such great place is SpecOpsPaintball.com.

This website has a "game finder" tool that allows me to find other players and pre-announced games. I can plan out my next game, find more paintballers, and extend my paintball network. This veritably increases my chances of getting into another game and soon.

So, stay well, stay healthy, stay from under the weather, but when the rains come crashing down and you can't play ball, teach yourself and reach yourself out to others who enjoy the sport. Honing your mind, will save your behind.

Safety First
3.07.2008
Safety First! You probably heard this after whining because when you first started riding a bike on training wheels, your parents crowned you with a turtle-shell-looking bike helmet. (Odd that in the state of Florida motorcyclists aren't required to wear a helmet).

At any rate, the game of paintball is much safer than many of the other sports which are actually full contact. Why is it safer? The gear that you wear protects you very well. There are three things to keep track of, namely:

There are few deaths in paintball, and the ones that have happened are typically because someone tampered with thier air tank or didn't read the manual on gun safety. There is a case where a woman was killed by a tank dislodging from a gun. Incidently, it is recommended to paint a white line from your tank body and onto the brass assembly that connects your tank to your gun. This is so that you can see if the tank body is separating from the assembly. If it does start to separate, it's not safe to use that gun until you take it to a qualified airsmith (the guys that you want to be friends with who put air in your guns).

I've found a handy little search via the Paintball Training Institue where you can find airsmiths in your area .

Remember, paintball is the most fun you can have with paint and willing targets. A major injury is never fun.
Play it safe and take care of your fellow targets!

Subtil Snakery
2.25.2008
The swamps and subtropical woodlands of Florida are home to many frightful creatures. Snakes are one that most people don't quite enjoy running across. The last time I played with the Narcoossee Swamp Soldiers I focused intently on my sniper/ambush position of play. I remember during the game hearing one of the guys say that he mistook another players slow movements in the palm fronds as the sound of a snake. He expressed that it freaked him out a bit.


Narcoossee Grocery - Quaint little grocery/gas station right near the Narcoossee Swamp Soldiers stomping grounds.

I've been studying the things that make this subtil style of play work. I've read other websites, watched videos, and recently been testing my own theories in the field. I believe it comes down to patience,calm, and a steady aim.

Aim- Now, paintball guns are not known to be extremely accurate, most definetly not at all like an actual bullet from an actual rifle, but practicing to increase your marksmanship, you can shoot much better than the rest.

Patience- Patience is a mental discipline that few in the world truly possess. This holds true for paintball. The majority of paintballers will run to the sound of a firefight like underfed gators in a feeding frenzy. Resist the urge to jump in the frenzy. Now, it is advantageous to use that frenzy as a way to move, slowly, but move unheard. Sometimes unheard is also unseen. Remember that most will be looking in the direction of the firefight with eyes and ears, move behind the enemy. Have patience, move where they don't expect you, move slow and sure.

Calm- Calm is keeping cool under pressure. It's laying down flat on your belly 20 feet away from the enemy, remaining completley still, waiting for that perfect moment when you can whisper "take the hit" (a way in woodsball that you call someone out and at the same time give them some mercy by not shooting them at close range), or dispatching them in one quiet shot. The previous method, means you make less noise, less noise means the enemy may not find you out. It also saves paint.

I did better this time. With all the games we played that day, I got eliminated four times but got seven confirmed "kills". This was a record for this field for me. I'd like to mention that I was wearing my new tiger stripe camos, using compressed air vs c02, and using my new tippmann custom pro with response trigger and the ACT system.. but really folks, it's not about the gear. The Tippmann has a sight as do all, and I did get some practice in using the gun. I like it, it's solid, and I don't have to worry about it getting dirty or wet (as opposed to my fully automatic electronic gun). Camo helps, yes, but only if you are very still or crawling VERY slowly on your belly. A ghillie suit would help a bit more, but I seriously believe the best weapon you have is your mind. If anything, be patient doing the sniper role. Think things out, move slowly, resist the urge to jump in the middle of a fight, take them out one by one.

Until next time, if you happen to hear a snake in the woods, odds are he already smells your fear.

Beginning of a Commentary!
(Or,Why I shoot paint at people)
2.21.2008
This marks the beginning of a new section on ArtofAnam.com where I will discuss all things paintball. What can I say, but I love the sport. A friend years ago tried to get me into it, but I was too chicken, I admit it. If you play paintball, you all know someone that simply refuses to play because of fear of pain.

Well, I was one of those stubborn guys who was not going to budge... until I let my friend shoot me in the back. Hey, it wasn't so bad! In fact, as long as I was allowed to shoot him back, I think I could do this. So begins the history of the game for me.

From the beginning, safety was very important to me. We made it a rule to never lift a mask, and to keep barrels plugged. My friend and a few others from the church we went to decided to play some paintball in the back property. I even got members of my family into it, and man did they kick my arse! They were all good! In fact I have two sisters who are now trained in ultimate pursuit strategy, they are both serving in the US Armed Forces. Wow!

At any rate, this great sport of paintball is one of my passions. If you can't tell by now, I enjoy developing websites , graphics, logos, paintings, and 3D Animation as well. So, I have decided to use my talents, skills, and abilities to further the sport. How so? By serving the paintball community at large with said talents, skills, and abilities. I love to talk too, and I have collected many wise things from other players (it's how you learn anything) from safety tips to paintball strategy. I also want those that don't play paintball to do so.

The sport of paintball is a wonderful way to exercise your ability to fit a role in a team, to quickly plan and execute said plan as well as have a fun excuse to stay in shape! In case you are wondering, I have played and enjoyed airsoft as well, but I find I enjoy seeing paint on people to prove I got them "out" vs keeping my eye on the tiny airsoft pellets to see if they bounce off of them.

Be looking for more from the likes of me on why I love to play paintball, and what I have learned while playing it. Until then, "Aim high, and watch your ball count!"

.

.

.