Why Do You Like Paintball?

[DaFlip]

After getting back from the AO meet in Austin, I started to wonder why do I like paintball? Is it the rush of paint filled pellets coming at you at 200mph? The thrill of shooting your fellow man? The feeling of welts, paint, dirt, and sweat after playing hard? Or the fun of talking to people of your most awesome moves and experiences? Why do you like paintball?


DaFlip

[TransMan]

I like the technological aspect of it as well as being able to shoot people.

[Mango]

I like the taste of paintballs.

[bigsarge72]

This may take a minute people, but bear with me, paintball is near and dear to my heart.
When I was 15 years old, I ordered my first paintgun from Bass Pro Shops. It was a splatmaster. My friend and I went out into the woods by my house in southern Oregon, and we started shooting at each other. I was hooked.
Initially, it was the adrenaline rush...and the fact that I grew up in the country, so when I moved to the city and got my friends their playing, I used to whoop-stomp all of them I remember thinking back then (while reading my premiere edition of APG, which I think is still at my mom's house in a box somewhere), "I hope paintball doesn't just fade out like laser tag..."
And here I am, age 30, still playing paintball, I have been playing since the beginning and have seen every phase that paintball has gone through. I have played local tournaments, one Pro/Am (old NPPL format) tournament, and reffed at a number of fields.
I still love the adrenaline rush at the break, that feeling of relief when you slide into that bunker that you weren't sure if you could make on the break, and the feeling you get when you are one of the guys still in when your team gets the hang.
But it's also about the people. You will always run into some cocky players, or people that are less than friendly, but hey, that's life.
For the most part, paintball players I have played with have been friendly helpfull people. People that will help out the newbs, share paint when you run out during that last big fire fight in a game, and sit around and listen to each others "war" stories when the day is done.
I figure I might have about 5 years left as a front man (I'm bound to slow down sooner or later, right ) But then I will start honing my back player skills so that my son (when he is old enough), can hopefully take my front man spot, and I will watch his back
Paintball is a rush, but it would get old without the people that play. That's why it's more than a passing fad, and that is why I have continued to play for the last 15 years.
Sorry about the length, but in my opinion, Paintball is the greatest sport on earth!!!

sarge

[Mango]

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AMEN!!!!!

[Blazingace]

Everything!!!! It is such a rush waiting for the "GO". Sliding in, shooting alot of paint. Getting Eliminations, seeing the balls break on the enemy. Feeling the balls hit me(Masochist I am). Team!!!! What is not to love about the game. Speedball, Rec ball and everything in between. My Minimag and Autococker Ripping mad BPS. Buying parts for and upgrading my guns. I could go on and on. Hell, being on AO with all you guys is great all by itself.

[sniper1rfa]

truth to tell, i like the guns. paintball is the only sport i have played that i can modifiy my equipment and get huge performance gains.

the main reason i play besides the guns is that im good at it. in all the other sports i am not very good because i am not very fit, and i am not coordinated enough. in this game, running and smashing in to stuff is not a huge advantage. also, I get to think about the game, and the thinking is a type i am familiar with (reasoning a players reaction to a stimulus), same reason i almost always win "rock/paper/scissors".

i like the players too. most of the people i play with arent the guys who think they are better than me at everything. there arent many machos in the sport. most are helpful and lots are major gadget freaks like me.

or we can just go by RamboPreachers saying...
Paintball is FUN!

[Clare]

I get to shoot people, what else!?

[CRiZO]

Hrm.. why does CRiZO like paintball?

-the adreniline (sp) rush that it gives you
-the beginning of a game
-dodging paintballs
-yelling at the opposition on the field
-communicating with your team
-meeting people
-showing off your gear
-drooling over others gear
-bunkering your best friends
-making the play that everyone talks about the rest of the day
-revenge is sweet
-paintball eating contests
-trade booths
-wanting what you can't have
-having something else to daydream about
-excitement of buying new toys
-waking up knowing you get to go play
-having something to look forward to
-doodling during school, sketching plays and fields
-the staging area
-the sound of bunkers being shot, especially sup air
-making a play you know was awesome
-getting and giving compliments on everything
-having something legal and clean to be passionate about
-the neato magazines
-videos, oh the videos
-getting pysched up before a game
-forming a team
-winning knowing you could of easily lost
-puttin on your jersey and other gear thinking "FEAR ME!"
-waiting for that perfect shot, and hitting it
-double bunkers
-people being impressed and not mad about being shot
-the constant evolution in the technology
-the lifestyle
-the stories, everyone has one, i have 2
-shopping online
-being able to shoot people in the face
-being able to act like an idiot and people laughing
-good refs
-having my door totally covered with paintball stuff
-looking up and seeing people eyeing my gear
-being able to drink so much gatorade
-being able to make this post
-not being able to end it
-talking about paintball for hours with total strangers
-sliding into the 50
-playing the snake
-jumping over bunkers
-capturing the flag without a gun.
-making people surrender with a barrel squeegee

No more, must eat.

[banzaimf]

I'm a sadist. I can hurt people legally here.

My other hobbies involve dressing up in medieval armour to hit my friends with large sticks.

banzaimf

[FutureMagOwner]

lol

i happen to enjoy the shower and sitting down after alot...

[dropkick1]

I'd have to agree with Cap and everyone that said that u get to shoot people, not to mention the adrenaline rush and everything.

ken

edit: i also like getting to meet new people that also enjoy something that i enjoy.

[RT_Luver]

the reason I like it. meating new ppl, getting outside and having a blast, having something to spend my money on. also the rush. where else can you experience gelatin balls field with paint flying at you 13 times a second and not be afraid of getting hit. its everything together

[grEnAlEins]

i like the adrenaline rush at the word go. i like shooting at other dudes, and talking about crazy stuff i tried to do, and weather it worked. i also like comparing welts with buddies.

[Iceman8446]

I like the rush at the begging of the game like most of you guys, I also like the people who play, the partys that Tom throws here, and I also like pantball becasue its the ultimate game of tag (whitch i loved as a kid).