What is Paintball?

Paintball, splat-ball, paint-tag... this sport has a few different names, but it's all basically the same. You have a marker (the correct term for your "gun") that shoots small gelatin pellets filled with a water-soluble paint. These markers are "gas" powered, generally CO2 or Compressed Air, though Tippmann now makes a propane powered marker.

Since it's beginnings a few decades ago, paintball has evolved in a couple different directions. The variation that seems to get the most press (TV & Magazines) coverage is Arena based playing. This is where you play on a team of 3 to 5 players in an area generally at least the size of a hockey rink, and you work to eliminate the other team. The arena will have various shelters, or bunkers, scattered about. This method of play is also known as "speed-ball" by players, because generally the winner is determined by who can run, duck and shoot the fastest, and games rarely last more than a couple of minutes.

The other method of play has come to be known as "Scenario Paintball". The field of play for a scenario game can be as small as those used in speed-ball, or it can be 50-100 acres or more. The terrain can be wooded or fields or desert or combinations. The reason this is called scenario ball is because there are generally other objectives besides just eliminating your opponents. The most basic scenario is "capture the flag". A common analogy is that it's like a cross between tag and hide & seek. Most games played at commercial fields will be some variation of the capture the flag theme. Since the MN Militia Paintball Team is a scenario team, the information you find around here will be geared towards those players.

A typical game can and will have moments of fast-paced, adrenaline pumping action as well as periods of slow, cautious stalking, to some moments where you are just sitting, waiting under cover for an opponent to come into your field of fire.

Scenario play can be for players of all types, ages, and experience levels. Younger players and those with not as much experience can often team up with a more experienced player to go scouting or to defend your base, so they can see action while getting assistance in learning the ropes.