The Age of the Mechanical Marker

[Aslan]

Just wondering about this a bit today...

When I started playing way back when, electronic markers weren't available. As they started coming available, they were slow to make their way to the woodsball fields.

But, as E-triggers for A-5s started showing up...and the electronic markers started getting more rugged and sophisticated...I saw more and more starting to filter in.

I've been away from the game since the summer of 2007, so I'm a bit anxious to see what everyone is using nowadays. I've used a classic Level X automag and held my own okay...but I've wondered how long that will continue to hold true.

I've upgraded to a Level X Minimag with ULE trigger retro valve...but am I just delaying the inevitable?

I have a PM5 that I'm trying to get running...I figure if I'm outgunned it'll eventually be my primary marker. Got an autococker I was thinking of throwing an E-blade on but I can't get that thing running worth a darn.

I know, I know...it's the player not the equipment right? But do you think there might be a time when mechanical markers are no longer relevant?

[ManInBlack]

It only takes 1 ball to take out an opponent, and any paintball gun can do that, electric or not.

[gunman_2000]

nah, as long as guys want to tinker with guns there will always be some fancy hot shot mech that can easily keep up with the e-guns. Look at all the pneumags out there these days. And I've never seen an RT actually rip in person before, but everything I hear about them makes me think they will hold off any electro :)

[kcombs9]

more and more fields are setting the rate of fire cap of 10-13 BPS and if they aren't I would recommend you suggest that to your field owner ( I know I have )

with a ULT valve you can reach peek rate of fire in that range. Not easily or for very long but It will make you competitive

[WenULiVeUdiE]

But do you think there might be a time when mechanical markers are no longer relevant?

In a competitive environment, mechanical markers are not relevant and essentially a waste of time, unless it is a mechanical and pump only tournament (obviously).

[CatoRockwell]

As a woodsball player who up until November of 2009 used purely mechanical. I can speak with some experience on this. At our woodsball, recball, scenario events we now have a lot of players using electros. It all started with the cheap Ion, but now if I go to an event we've got entire teams running with electro's (i.e. Team Desert Edge uses Ego's). However, that never stopped me & my mech buddies from doing well. Guys with Pumps are still feared on the field, and my mech Tac One held off the electro's reliably. Ironically after saying this I have to admit that I just upgraded my Tac One to an E-Tac. There is only one reason I did this, there would be several gun fights where some guy with an electro could just keep my boys down just by spraying. While I could hold my own just fine against and electro, the fact is sometimes you just need to lay down some suppressive fire.

I think there will always be a place for Mech markers, heck my E-Tac is out getting annodized and my backup ULE Mag, worked just fine over this weekend against my opponents who were using electros, in fact they were really surprised that I played as aggressive as I did with a mechanical marker.

[mostpeople]

I think we are about to re-enter the age of the mechanical marker. Possibly within 2 years.

[cockerpunk]

as long as your not playing for prizes, money, and fame, mech guns will always hold there own.

[b-cuzz]

I've eliminated all manner of electros with my mech Mag.
I've played long enough to where I don't feel the need to have an ungodly rate of fire. I've never used an electro before, though, so there may be some hidden appeal to them I don't know about.
I own a Rainmaker, but that's more out of adding to my collection of oldies, and I have yet to use it. Batteries are getting expensive, and I need almost a dozen 9v's just to keep my revvies turning.
I believe that a rather large part of the number of electro users out there consists of people who feel belittled by electros, and bought one out of intimidation.

[mostpeople]

yeah

I just wish someone would start a purely mechanical tourney series.

[211]

I shoot electros (like my Emag in E mode) when I want to conserve paint
my old RT valve fed 1100 psi shoots alot faster than I can walk the trigger

[Aslan]

yeah

I just wish someone would start a purely mechanical tourney series.

The field I used to play at used to have 2 divisions during open play. In the novice division you couldn't use any electronics (including hoppers) and you had to use CO2. In the expert divivsion, it was wide open.

The cool thing about that was the better players would always win. I loved playing with my old Spyder in the novice division. Right about the time I got a Mag, they combined the divisions because I guess they got tired of reffing two divisions at once and also because they got tired of loaning mech guns to guys that show up with electros...not to mention that electro hoppers were finding their way into the mech player's hands.

I didn't welcome the electros, but I was glad it changed and I could use my Mag (needs air not CO2). It wasn't too bad at first...but as more and more electros started showing up, it got worse and worse. Pretty soon you were getting hit 12 times before you could even call yourself out.

[athomas]

Honestly, the only time I fully use the power of my electros is during the break out of a tournament or X-ball match. After those first 10 seconds, I am shooting at mechanical speeds. For general play any mechanical marker can keep up. I honestly dare anyone to stick their head out the side of a bunker that I am putting even 6 balls per second onto.

Anyone that fears the electro because of its rate of fire, just needs to get a bit more experience. Once you stop fearing the sound, you can play ball. Remember, if someone with an electro blasts your bunker for 12 seconds at a high rate of fire, then he is out of rounds and needs to reload. If he reloads and continues, then he will run himself out of rounds completely in under 2 minutes. If one guy is just "spraying" more than one or two bunkers to keep guys down, then he is not effective and is just begging to be snap shot in the goggles.

[leloup]

as long as your not playing for prizes, money, and fame, mech guns will always hold there own.

Last tourny I played in, my electro started having problems, so I switched to...drum roll...my phantom (my primary marker anyway). Got just as many people out with it as my electro, and we placed first. A marker is a marker, any of them can do just fine in any situation. Now it sure doesn't help laning with a pump, but it can be done.

As for resurgences, I have seen pump play come back a lot more than mechs. If anything, high prices will make pumps more economical...and just more fun to play with.

[Abizdafuzz]

My team plays in the SPPL and UWL and almost every one and most teams run electros out there but there are two of us on my team a good friend and myself that use our mech mags, cockers, and my blazer and we hold our own with no problems. I even play pump in the UWL and I have taken out 6 players in one game before and they were using Egos. I say with practice and knowing how and when to use any marker you can do almost any thing. I do have two Vikings, two Ebladed cockers and now getting an Emag to try and they are fun, but it takes skill to do it the other way...e-guns feel like cheating to me. To each his own I guess.