Imagine how great it would be...

[Lohman446]

All good and valid thoughts. What about gaining and keeping new customers?

The concept is playing in mind. Assuming one had the space to do it and was not looking to make a tremendous amount of money they could rent the land to a club. Legally seperate that club while keeping protections for the "founder" in its documentation. Perhaps tied to the club is a pro shop where members can receive some "discounts" (similar to someof the sponsorship "discounts" given to some teams).

Meanwhile the formed club can invite new members. For instance to gain admission to the gun club I belong to you have to be invited by one member, seconded by another, and then voted on by the club (I have never seen anyone denied). The member inviting you vouches for you, and is responsible for your conduct for the first year.

The club then is responsible to vote on and approve changes / additions. It is also responsible financially. Money for rent / improvements / maintenance etc. could be raised through paint sales and yearly dues. In addition membership would require XX amount of hours of service per year (this is common in many clubs). *Poof* a ready made reffing crew / work crew etc. A club also keeps the financials fairly open to each member.

Gun clubs have competitions with other clubs, turkey shoots, etc. and some some other fund raising activities. These can be replaced by tournaments, public invite days, etc.

The key is getting it off the ground. Paintball in many areas is still elitist to a large degree. Face it it takes $$, time, and often travel. Careful selection of key members would help. Careful selection of other members would help. For instance if I had a place where I could go play, with people I beleived (beleive is a key word) would hold themselves to a higher standard I would not only be more willing to get into playing again. I would also be understanding of slightly higher prices. Work days are not an issue as I helped a lot at the field before.

I think, once off the ground, membership would grow. I think the idea of "buying in" memberships would keep people more likely to continue to come back after trying once or twice. I think the idea of trying to grow membership would keep the regulars more helpful. Remember how helpful the regulars used to be at whatever field you started at, is it still that way? I think, even though membership speaks of an air of exclusivity, new players may find it more inclusive.

A club also makes it more about the activity, and less about winning (I think).

[3DSteve]

When I started playing in 96 there were a lot of tough, intimidating people at the field, but there were also a lot of nice, helpful people that guided me. I don't think it's any different now. If there is a lack of business retention, it's because people are having bad experiences at the field. A big way to stop that is to find your ideal customers and reward them so they stick around. As a member of Total Greif, if i'm playing in open play, it is part of my resposibility, to make sure people are having fun at Xtreme Paintball Park. We take it seriously, and the field profits from it.

As far as changes in the tournament scene go, if it's not the way you want it...get in there an change it. We play with CCM pumps in every tournament we enter whether it's OSC limited paint pump tournaments, or ramping. We play because we love to play and compete, and we use pump guns because we think it's the best way to play our sport. It's weird how other teams will alter their game when they know you're going to play 100% honest paintball, and do it with a pump. We've seen the nastiest cheaters play ultra clean against us, just because they know that that's how we play.

[Ninjeff]

The biggest problem is the consensus that tournaments are to showcase the equipment, not the sport.

[Lohman446]

I do find it amusing that a lot of the people who have complained about the BPS race love the idea that new rules could give them a BPS advantage by using mechanical equipment.

[RogueFactor]

I do find it amusing that a lot of the people who have complained about ramping love the idea that new rules could give them a skill advantage by using mechanical equipment.

Fixed.

[behemoth]

Fixed.

No, i'm pretty sure Lohman was right...

[Lohman446]

I think it was accurate too... it does amuse me.

[Lohman446]

http://automags.org/forums/showthrea...=mouse+clicker

This discussion was before the advent of ramping. Many of us were crying out against electros long before ramping was an issue. You were involved in that discussion Rogue, so was I for that matter. The fact of the matter is I have since found electros I liked.

So no Rogue, I was right, even though it was not what you wanted to hear.

[211]

Changing the ROF of tournaments does little to nothing for the sport in general
I have never met a single person whose first paintball experience was at a major tournament.
All that lowering the BPS does is allow players to get into the tournament scene at the lower level with less cost. Good for tournament promoters, nothing for the sport.
What this sport needs is to focus on the new player, and the occasional player, those that only get out a few times a year.
These players are needed to keep the sport vital and growing, but are generally forgotten about in the industry.

Yes tourny rules tend to trickle down and get used at local fields, but getting overshot at even 12 bps sucks, especially for someone who is out trying something new.

The responsability to these players falls upon the feild owners, and more importantly on US the experienced players.
Every game isnt a tournament and shouldnt be treated like one. Everyone wants to win, but more important is that everyone has fun, win or lose.

The tourny players of tomorrow start as rec ballers today.

Now dont get me wrong, Ill ramp it with the best of them, when the game warrants it, but that time is not when playing rec ball with the walk ons.

[halB]

So, can someone tell me WHAT the purpose of having flags in the NPPL was? Let's face it, it was an elimination game.

And people are sick of the same thing.

I proposed a new type of game several years ago. The field would be a V, with players starting at the top on either side of the leg. No bunkers in the back. The further "down" the field you go towards where the legs meet, the more bunkers and cover you find.

It would give each team a huge incentive to rush the middle and take the best cover.

Make it fun for the people.

[teufelhunden]

Fixed.

You're seriously one of them?

Sound like a kid who just bought a Spyder TL+ who is bitter that he got shot out by someone with an Impulse and blames it on the gun... after all, it takes more skill to suck with a Spyder than an Imp, right?

[guns intentionally adjusted for time period]