The post I thought I would never make

[Chrishew09]

You want a challenge ?
Before you quit get yourself a good sniper and play some pump.
Personally I like the Series 6. 13ci tank and a Reloader II.
You have gotten bored thats all.
Get on stockclasspaintball.com and meet up with the pump group in your area.
I think you will be surprised how much fun you will have.
And to me, thats all paintball will ever be to me.
The only reason I play, for fun.

Yes, pump is the way to go now a days.
I was in that same boat a few years ago, until my buddy build me a sniper, it introduced me to a whole new game.
Some of the best games I have played it with my 1999 STO sniper, just get out of that whole competition scene.

Most importantly don't give up, God loves you!!!

[custar]

I second that! From the looks of it pump is FUN!

I also think scenario ball would be up your alley. The special units like the GJ's and ghosts at D-day sounds like what you'd be in to.

Did someone call? I can probably arrange that too.

custar
Sgt Major, OK D-Day German Army '08 and Sgt Major of Geisterjagers

[electriceel125]

Is your name George? There is a man who plays CFOA with one leg named George is the reason I ask.

[kurtisqpublic]

Paintball Sams in Racine Wisconsin. where the regular recballers walk on the pro tourny ballers everyday im there

I was a regular at Dave's Splat camp for many years. I think I'm making the trek to Sam's big game this year, but so far I have not talked anyone I know into coming with me

[PumpMag]

Try playing pump. It will be a whole New way for you to enjoy the game again, after the learning curve of course.

You'll be a newbie again. :)

[Gabriel]

Did someone call? I can probably arrange that too.

custar
Sgt Major, OK D-Day German Army '08 and Sgt Major of Geisterjagers

man, I was pre-registered with your unit last year, but at the LAST MINUTE (literally... like the week before) my friend bailed on me.

I was so dissapointed...

PM me with info on this year's game and the gj availability please!

[Lohman446]

Obviously I cannot begin to know what you are going through right now, so I have to relate the best I can.

Somewhere I got a reputation of being a better player than I ever was. It comes from a unique perspective on playing the game, unique attempts at breaking games open, and a little bit of luck. Somehow people remember the 10% success ratio and don't see the times that someone else playing in my spot would have been better for the team. Call it a lack of effort on my part, a lack of taking it seriously, whatever. I had great teams for awhile that could carry me. While I was an off field leader somehow the reputation carried to on-field where it was so not deserved.

Well, people are realizing my weaknesses. Am I a worse player than I was? Perhaps, I would say the game has changed and hindered my style. At first, watching players I had had a hand in grooming to the level they are at (and only a small hand) made me flinch. But I realized that I could make a niche out of it.

I found a niche though. Player development. I simply play on the "B" team and do everything I can to make the players around me better, to make them next years top players. With the turnaround in paintball I think I will always have that spot.

Perhaps there is such a spot for you? Perhaps its using your knowledge to coach. I don't know exactly. What I know is that I had to take an honest look at myself as a player - not the player that other people thought I was - and make decisions. I made the decision that I was not ready to work hard, practice, and make drastic improvements on my shortcomings. Perhaps I just couldn't. I found where my skill set and my desire to play and be part of a team best fit together, and I am as happy playing as I ever was.

[rabidchihauhau]

Like few others here, I can directly relate to this. 15 years of nothing but tournament play, followed by another 5 not playing but still involved.

If you don't have the 'tournament mind-set', you might be able to talk about it, but you have no real appreciation for what it means, nor what it feels like.

You can suggest trying other formats, but those suggestions will fall flat for the basic reason that the people you're suggesting he now play with DO NOT have the tournament mind set. They may be fine players, they may be fun to be with, but they just don't think, feel or act in the way that you are used to.

They don't 'understand' what its all about.

Rec ball is and was done for me after tournament ball. What he said is right - not an attitude. You can't trust anyone on the field, there's no "team" out there.

"Team" is not just friends or good people to hang with. Its a single entity with a single brain that you can feel all around you. If you've never experienced it, you can't relate and you have no idea what its like to be on the field without it.

I've never experienced it with more than 15 some-odd players, which may be one reason why the larger scenario/mil-sim teams don't cut it for me either. It may not be possible for it to develop with larger groups, so suggesting that as an alternative won't work.

My experience with scenario also touches on the 'no trust' issue; I read all about these teams that accomplish so much and complete these missions and whatnot - I've yet to see it on the field. What I do see is a bunch of individual groups sometimes coordinating their actions, but more often than not just out there doing their own thing. That's not a friendly environment for a tournament player. Not a down on scenario, just an illustration that its not a substitute for tournament play. They are, after all, two different animals.

With all that being said, I'll second/third the suggestions that you coach. That's what I moved into when I no longer had the heart to give a game my all (and as a tournament player, if you aren't literally willing to die trying to win for your team, you don't belong on the field and you know it).

I found coaching to actually be as, if not more, rewarding than actually playing. The greatest moments occur when a player comes off the field and says 'hey coach, I did what you told me to and it worked!'. That, and players who move on to greater glory playing at the higher levels because you gave them the necessary skills.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Gabriel]

Like few others here, I can directly relate to this. 15 years of nothing but tournament play, followed by another 5 not playing but still involved.

If you don't have the 'tournament mind-set', you might be able to talk about it, but you have no real appreciation for what it means, nor what it feels like.

You can suggest trying other formats, but those suggestions will fall flat for the basic reason that the people you're suggesting he now play with DO NOT have the tournament mind set. They may be fine players, they may be fun to be with, but they just don't think, feel or act in the way that you are used to.

They don't 'understand' what its all about.

Rec ball is and was done for me after tournament ball. What he said is right - not an attitude. You can't trust anyone on the field, there's no "team" out there.

"Team" is not just friends or good people to hang with. Its a single entity with a single brain that you can feel all around you. If you've never experienced it, you can't relate and you have no idea what its like to be on the field without it.

I've never experienced it with more than 15 some-odd players, which may be one reason why the larger scenario/mil-sim teams don't cut it for me either. It may not be possible for it to develop with larger groups, so suggesting that as an alternative won't work.

My experience with scenario also touches on the 'no trust' issue; I read all about these teams that accomplish so much and complete these missions and whatnot - I've yet to see it on the field. What I do see is a bunch of individual groups sometimes coordinating their actions, but more often than not just out there doing their own thing. That's not a friendly environment for a tournament player. Not a down on scenario, just an illustration that its not a substitute for tournament play. They are, after all, two different animals.

With all that being said, I'll second/third the suggestions that you coach. That's what I moved into when I no longer had the heart to give a game my all (and as a tournament player, if you aren't literally willing to die trying to win for your team, you don't belong on the field and you know it).

I found coaching to actually be as, if not more, rewarding than actually playing. The greatest moments occur when a player comes off the field and says 'hey coach, I did what you told me to and it worked!'. That, and players who move on to greater glory playing at the higher levels because you gave them the necessary skills.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

but don't forget pump tourneys!

[punkncat]

Like few others here, I can directly relate to this. 15 years of nothing but tournament play, followed by another 5 not playing but still involved.

If you don't have the 'tournament mind-set', you might be able to talk about it, but you have no real appreciation for what it means, nor what it feels like.

You can suggest trying other formats, but those suggestions will fall flat for the basic reason that the people you're suggesting he now play with DO NOT have the tournament mind set. They may be fine players, they may be fun to be with, but they just don't think, feel or act in the way that you are used to.

They don't 'understand' what its all about.

Rec ball is and was done for me after tournament ball. What he said is right - not an attitude. You can't trust anyone on the field, there's no "team" out there.

"Team" is not just friends or good people to hang with. Its a single entity with a single brain that you can feel all around you. If you've never experienced it, you can't relate and you have no idea what its like to be on the field without it.

I've never experienced it with more than 15 some-odd players, which may be one reason why the larger scenario/mil-sim teams don't cut it for me either. It may not be possible for it to develop with larger groups, so suggesting that as an alternative won't work.

My experience with scenario also touches on the 'no trust' issue; I read all about these teams that accomplish so much and complete these missions and whatnot - I've yet to see it on the field. What I do see is a bunch of individual groups sometimes coordinating their actions, but more often than not just out there doing their own thing. That's not a friendly environment for a tournament player. Not a down on scenario, just an illustration that its not a substitute for tournament play. They are, after all, two different animals.

With all that being said, I'll second/third the suggestions that you coach. That's what I moved into when I no longer had the heart to give a game my all (and as a tournament player, if you aren't literally willing to die trying to win for your team, you don't belong on the field and you know it).

I found coaching to actually be as, if not more, rewarding than actually playing. The greatest moments occur when a player comes off the field and says 'hey coach, I did what you told me to and it worked!'. That, and players who move on to greater glory playing at the higher levels because you gave them the necessary skills.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

You brought to words much of what I was apparently unable to do succinctly.

I actually have found myself gravitating towards coaching a bit when I go to the field. It is like I tell people, I can't do this myself, but try it and see how it works out.



I have pretty much decided that for now I am going to make no decision. I practiced a little too hard last week and it was the first time I had come back up against some of the players and teams we scrimmaged who are pretty much at a pro am level. They are really good and know to do a lot of the things that prey on the "little" mistakes and shortcomings players tend to have. I went home over tired, sore as hell for about half the week and pretty dejected about my performance. As I said, sort of feeling sorry for myself.
I think that I am going to continue to scrimmage a bit because if nothing else it is excellent therapy and a great motivational drive to make myself do things I am so far not capable of. I have come a long way in a short time all things considered. I got a little too down on myself, something that I need to make a conscious effort not to do in the future.

Not to mention there are some upcoming scenario games I want to make and a few people I hope I can "get my stuff" together to play ball with and against next year.

Thanks AO for all of your support and suggestions.

[ThePixelGuru]

[Jaan]

Well, for what it's worth I got burned out on the game a few years ago myself. Mostly it was the blatant cheating. Like you it simply wasn't fun anymore. It was only until I played a pump game that I rediscovered my love for the game. Now, I can't remember the last time I shot a semi, I played all of last year with a stock class Phantom pistol.

I guess it's a bit like dressing up your wife in a schoolgirl outfit when you start getting sick of her after a few years. Change things up a bit lol.

[ta2maki]

Get out. If it's not the most fun you can have anymore, then just leave.

There are many, many things to do in this life. Why stick around paintball if it's not fun? Just because it was something that you were passionate about and loved doesn't mean you owe the sport your time not having fun. You are alloted a finite amount of time on this earth. You already have things you have to do that aren't fun. Why waste the free time you do have doing stuff you don't even enjoy. Experiencing different and new things is what life is all about. Go do other stuff, you can always come back.

[Gabriel]

Get out. If it's not the most fun you can have anymore, then just leave.

There are many, many things to do in this life. Why stick around paintball if it's not fun? Just because it was something that you were passionate about and loved doesn't mean you owe the sport your time not having fun. You are alloted a finite amount of time on this earth. You already have things you have to do that aren't fun. Why waste the free time you do have doing stuff you don't even enjoy. Experiencing different and new things is what life is all about. Go do other stuff, you can always come back.

it's not just the sport, it's the people too!

[Beemer]

you just gotta roll with the punches and adapt.

I will add to that. Be Verstile, Modify, Adapt, Overcome. VMAO