Speedball and Woodsball

[roxcreek]

I was trying to write a quick compare and contrast on Speedball and Woodsball: I have some pretty solid beliefs on the differences, but I was curious about others' opinions. Especially those who have had several years in and around either of the two genres, and have enjoyed products geared to either side of the schism.

I'm just trying to get a full spectrum of ideals that will help me to understand the sport and encourage others to start the sport.

-Charlie Myers

[kruger]

speedball = checkers

woodsball = chess

[Sumthinwicked]

true that

[Ninjeff]

Speedball is about tactics,
Woodsball is about Strategy.

[Hilltop Customs]

One of the main difference I can think of is distraction/stealth movement can be much more reliable in woodsball. This isnt to say a stealth move in speedball cant blow a game wide open, but that stealth move cant be regularly counted on since the chance of being seen is so high.

Ive always wondered what speedball would be like if it was played on a field that is about 2x wider than the distance between the starting gates......preferably in lighting conditions similar to in the woods.(ignoring the effect it would have on spectators)

[GoatBoy]

Hilltop Customs: you're on to something.


With woodsball you typically engage at much longer distances than speedball initially. This is in part due to things like...

Larger fields with clear asymmetries and varied landscapes; for instance one side might have a distinct height advantage, or extra cover advantage.

The same goes for the type of cover -- there's a lot of varied cover, although some of the stuff which kind of looks like cover isn't really very good cover. I tend to find myself much more comfortable tucked behind a typical speedball bunker than some tree or rock out in the woods.

With all that, your players can tend to get spread out more, so it makes flanking and coordination less ... obvious.

Stealth is really overhyped for woodsball and underhyped for speedball. The truth is somewhere in between. You get a slightly greater sense of "stealth" in woodsball mostly because it's just a larger field to begin with. I always laugh when people pull out the ghillie suits though.

It really comes down to the after-effects of different field sizes. When you reduce the field size, you literally cut the engagement distance down, which cuts down on human reaction time (distance = velocity * time, roughly) as well as reduces the scope of vision. The end effect I think is just a compression of time (the effects of a stealth move in speedball are immediately apparent -- you slip behind a bunker and there's no waiting to eliminate a player, whereas in woodsball it may take longer to pay off), and that results in all the other apparent differences that people seem to notice.

Hence... "speed" ball.

[Sundown]

speedball = checkers

woodsball = chess

haha.. good on.. so true

I would say.. try them both and you will get a fairly good idea
Although, some experiences are not as good as others

[mostpeople]

speedball = checkers

woodsball = chess

This is why speedballers consistantly womp on woodsballers?

[snoopay700]

This is why speedballers consistantly womp on woodsballers?

Finally someone who shares my experiences.

[mostpeople]

Oh trust me, I LOVE playing woodsball, for the sole reason the players are so inexperienced. Its easy to mop them up because unlike speedballers, they don't know how to move, they don't know how to snapshoot, they don't know how to use a bunker.. they know how to plant themselves and shoot and thats about it.

[tech-chan]

Finally someone who shares my experiences.

Same here.

[snoopay700]

Same here.

Where were you when people were telling me i was wrong?

[kruger]

Oh trust me, I LOVE playing woodsball, for the sole reason the players are so inexperienced. Its easy to mop them up because unlike speedballers, they don't know how to move, they don't know how to snapshoot, they don't know how to use a bunker.. they know how to plant themselves and shoot and thats about it.

I dont share this view. Oh, dont get me wrong, there are speedballers that can excel in the scenario games. But, I have yet to have a speedball team come to my field an dominate it. Dont underestimate the woodsballers.

[snoopay700]

I dont share this view. Oh, dont get me wrong, there are speedballers that can excel in the scenario games. But, I have yet to have a speedball team come to my field an dominate it. Dont underestimate the woodsballers.

We're talking like the spec ops or nordic marauders type woodsballers, they're just horrid. And again, most speedballes that are worth anything have played woodsball a lot, so it makes sense they'd be good at it.

[Psicko]

I know of a few people that are ninjas on the speedball field, especially if you have a few guys off of the other team. It all depends on who i'm playing.