Psychological Aspects of The game of Paintball

[Exodius]

The Psychological Aspects of the game of Paintball

By Automags Online Member Exodius

Disclaimer:

I am in no way, nor have I ever been, a psychologist.

The contents of this post are my own thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Air Gun Designs or Automags Online.

I am in no way, shape, or form, affiliated with Air Gun Designs or Automags Online.

[Exodius]

As with many sports, there are four (4) major things that affect each individual player. While this list can vary, these are the three most common. Thay are the player's playing style, financial situation, equipment, and their enviroment.

The player's equipment plays a key role in that person's playing style. While it is common knowledge that the gun does NOT make the player, that part is entirely true. Although, the player's attitude is directly affected by the quality of their equipment. This does not mean that a better gun will make a better player. The same is true in anything.

A while ago, when I first started playing, I started out with an $80 dollar Spyder. Anyhow, on my first day of playing the thing started acting funny and not working properly. At that time, two Mag users offered to assist me in finding out the problem. Once the three of us figured out the problem, one of them allowed me to use their EMag. Compared to playing with my spyder, the EMag did indeed change my attitude. At first, the trigger, being so short and light, screwed me up. After the first game though, I became more used to it. Despite the
EMag's weight, and the warp feed, which I at first thought was stupid, I was more aggressive. Now, I was still conservatively when in comparison to playing with my Spyder, but I still had a difference in attitude.
.
This same scenario has been heard a few times before, but I feel that it deserves its own attention. Now, for the bad part about that theory. When a more experienced tournament player is using different markers, the only difference to them is the amount of paint which they can fling. Other than that, in the hands of an experienced player, a marker makes almost no difference to them.

Now then, the enviroment of the player.

Most newbies tend to have a stereotype of paintball. Most think of it as a long, drawn out game in the woods. Not anymore. While woods ball is still very popular among many players, most fields find it easier to open an arenaball field enviroment. When many players arrive, they expect to play a game of sniping, a game of crawling, and a game of stealth. They come WANTING to play war. Well, now because of technological advancement, they can usually see a small, brightly colored field of inflatable "bags"(some actually refer to Sup'Air as such). THis is not what many expect to see.

What most people think is that this is caused to sell more exotic markers and more paint. I feel that the paintball companies are merely capitalizing on what the players want.

Back to the topic, this can cause fear in the player. Thus, this affects their attitude. Thus, their attitude affects their playing style.

Now, on to the playing styles.

Most newbies can be categorized into one of the following.

Some players are paintball junkies. The junkies will spend whatever they can afford each weekend to play paintball. A majority only last about 6-8 months, then they become bored and quit. Some last longer, some less.

Others can be considered conservatives, who buy lower priced equipment, use less paint, and desire to be in the sport for a substantial length of time. They are sometimes shy on the field, other times agressive, but they do become long time members of this sport.

There are many other types of playing styles, but I am just too darn lazy to list them all

Anyhow, all this factors in to how they will play on the field.

Edit - I fixed the error for our royal highness

[Exodius]

Now, what causes fear?

Fear is usually caused by seeing an opponent's equipment and thus feeling insecure on the field. An Angel will induce more fear than a Tippmann. Some people use this purposly to their advantage. Others try not to.

At a tournament I was once at there was this paintball team. Urban Legend. These were kids who were at their first tournament, a Young Guns tournament. They felt that they were surely going to win. Before they were even at the tournament they talked about what they were going to do with the prizes.

Anyhow, once they got their, they saw all the other kids had Angels, Impulses, and Shockers. They were instantly engulfed in the atmosphere and felt insecure as to how they were going to do. One of the team members went outside to their car and cried. Their dad, being a win or die type of person, shoved him back in there.

The first game came around, and one was bunkered. After that, the last two stayed in their bunkers and would not move. They were both eliminated. Anyhow, the one that was bunkered was severly overshot, and points were deducted from the opposing team. After that, the bunkered one, to be known as Bob(not real name). decided not to play the rest of the tournament, except one game. The one who had a win or die type of dad, went to the bathroom and pretended to be sick. The one who was sick shall be known as Joe(not real name.) Everyone knew Joe was pretending, so there were some pretty harsh stares directed at him.

The Captain, Tom(real name) went on to play the rest of the 3 man young guns tournament solo. Everyone was supportive of Tom, even though he had picked a horrible team. Tom and his team lost miserably, but at the end they won the sportsmanship award. Now, since Tom had gotten that for the team, everyone on the team put their paws out to get some of what was awarded. Not cash or anything, but a hat, a magazine, and a free field fee.

Anyhow, Joe was at the cafe next door for the entire length of the tournament, just sitting over there in the corner, sipping on a glass of water.

I was Tom, the captain. And I failed as a captain. I let greed engulf us to the point where fear had just ripped our hearts out.

The moral of the story is that fear can kill. It slices like a knife, but acts like a scalpal. Nothing is removed except for the heart. And in the heart is the will to play.

When you see a newbie, and he is obviously engulfed in fear, do your best to help him. Stay with him on the field for a game or two. Teach him some tricks. Cover his butt. It is a miracle what one person can do to a player. The owner of the field who ran the tournament changed the way I played, and the way I looked at the game. He was able to help me when I went out to their field the one day. He taught me things like proper technique, and proper attitude. If one could do this, what could we as a paintball community could do.

Psychology, along with skill, plays a huge part in our sport.

[Exodius]

Epilogue

Flame suit on, ready to take.

Conclusion of my paper
-Exodius

All comments would be appreciated, whether good, or bad.

[Exodius]

lol I know wat chu mean.

But I love writing and I love reading.

Just hate summarizing, so don't expect one
lol
I just can't summarize something...

[Angry Man]

No way I'm gonna read all that. And before worrying about summarizing, worry about not using the longest, most redundant terms possible..."the game of paintball" as opposed to just "paintball" and stuff. Just because it makes you sound smart, doesn't mean it adds anything....I'm sure the content is good, just no way I'm gonna read it.

[f3rr3+]

I love reading, and wrighting (if im inspired) and i read the whole thing, and damn you for taking my sunday night before school :P, and i say bravo, good work! (not a i, claudius, but very good none the less! )

[fcpchop]

wow, that all i can say, but in a good way

[Exodius]

ya know

If I wanted to make it sound "Smart" I could have doubled, or even tripled it's size. But then that truly would have been a waste of time. Besides you can always skim it.

I myself skim everything at first. To skim, it takes me maybe 3-5 minutes to read that post. Others are definitaly faster. I knew not everyone would like it. I knew I would be flamed. But, I knew that it would appeal to that select few that truly would enjoy it. No one can please everyone. We all know that. But many still try.

Just look at politicians.

And Angry Man, I did not use the longest, most redundant terms possible. A lot of people on this forum could make your head explode(along with mine, and probably many others).

I use terms which are not as common as other terms simply because of my vocabulary. I have read more books in the past 5-7 years than some will read in a life time. I read novels, but I read history. I read mechanics. I read economics. I will read anything. Now whether I enjoy it, that depends.

You spend half your life sleeping. You spend the other half doing something. Some do good things in that other half, others don't. Doing good things does not cut it. Doing great things, now that, is what separates us as a culture. You only have one chance at life. Make it diversified, and make it count.

-My former English Teacher

No way I'm gonna read all that. And before worrying about summarizing, worry about not using the longest, most redundant terms possible..."the game of paintball" as opposed to just "paintball" and stuff. Just because it makes you sound smart, doesn't mean it adds anything....I'm sure the content is good, just no way I'm gonna read it.

[wobbles82]

Mmm, good writings man. So wait, you are Tom right and this happened to you? Lol, just wanna make sure. Anyway the story and the "essay" make a lot of sense and you point out the truths of paintball. Every weekend my team plays pro teams like Redz, and whatnot and no matter what we all think were going to win. But we haven't always done this, before when I was just starting to play I STRIVED to get a hopper hit and get the hell out, lol. Fear is an aspect of the game that has to be overcome, for some reason I get it sometimes still, but I always try to help new players to get over it. Its always good to let them play with your team and say get a win, let them feel good and thrive for more. Well thats all for me, but good analysis man.

[Exodius]

ya, I am Tom

and I chose my friends because of their being my friends.

Not because of skill. Not because of will. And Not because of their ability to advance.

Just because they were, and still are, my friends

We had a great time there, just wish we all played together and one wasn't in the cafe the whole time

[GaryWV]

I liked that alot, and I too love reading. Anyway, what I liked best was that you played the tourny by yourself, it shows you have major heart.

[Exodius]

ya but wat sucked was this one team was taking it easy for some reason and I kept telling them not to. they finally got the point and whooped my butt good

that was some freaky crap, a whole load of it

[SIGSays]

reading isn't that bad.. so why not?

pretty good... i wish i could write that well..

good stuff man...

i enjoied reading it.. i learned things here and there.. that i never really thought of before

[Exodius]

lol

ya know whats funny?

I'm only 13 1/2