How to know you're an "Old School" player

[rabidchihauhau]

whew - LOTS of cool stuff to remember

Here's a personal/local one:

attending (yet another) Top Gun Paintball Grand Opening with Grey Ghost and 12-gram quick changer. Stepping up to the chrono line only to have some yutz in from of me start laughing and poking his buddy in the ribs; finally annoyed enough to ask what was so funny, only to be informed that 'you're gonna have trouble chroning that gun without a tank bud...' laughing back as I explained 12 grams...receiving the come back that 'I'm glad you're on the other team'...promising the guy that I would meet him at the 50 (didn't call it that back then) and popping out him AND his 3 snickering friends, all the while enjoying the anguished cries of 'where is he, where are we taking fire from?'

which reminds me: not worrying about paintball being illegal in Jersey cause you belonged to a 'private club'

ICS: Kieth tried to rope me in at the end there as being 'one of the only truly honest writers out there' during his brief stay at the Am Open one year. I managed to avoid him for the half day it took for him to be made to leave...

What paintball publication is the only one to have featured a mug shot on its cover?

BTW - that was Dave Dehan with the silver, dual tanked gun and man, let me tell you, you haven't LIVED until you've watched him do his anti-paintball dance (and BTW - what event forced Dave to give up his trademarked black suit - and what old time player offered to have a replacement made that met rule specs for uniforms?) - I never knew a guy could move like that...

That should keep you guys going for a bit...

[Doobie]

I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but here are some of mine:

You played your first tournament with a walk on team and you had the "best gun"...a Line SI Bushmaster DLX with the Oilcan hopper.

You played the NH Wild Geese during that tournament and got waffle stomped!

You paid $70-80 for a 20 oz C02 tank.

You went to the first World Cup at Survival, NY and all the vendors fit under one tent!

You fired the proto PMI-3 and 68 Specials at that event.

Speedball was a side event for all the teams who didn't make the cut for the Semi-final round!

You reffed the speedball!

Your team wouldn't play the team "across town" because they used CA.

They made fun of your team for still using 12 grams.

You saw the price tag on the first Automag and said, "I'll never pay that much for a gun!"

Putting a 10rnd tube in backwards in the front of your 007 made the paint feed faster, eliminating the "rock and cock".

You desperately wanted a "speed wheel" for your 007.

"The longer the barrel...the more accurate"

Jessica Sparks was a Lawyer who played paintball, not a paintball-playing Lawyer.

[Tyger]

Thought on RetroBall...

Can we have a rule abut clothing? Specifically make camouflage MANDITORY?

Except for "Total Greif", the can wear purple. Hey, they used to wear purple in the woods, so I don't see a prolem letting htem go back to their "Throwback" uniforms...

-Tyger

[SMG]

Camoflage should be mandatory (tiger strip of course).

I remember when people first started showing up at fields wearing jerseys and most of the old school guys could not believe it. Even though I play on a team, I think that a lot of the clothing worn at fields now looks absolutely ridicoulous. If I wanted to wear a nlyon suit covered with red flames I would join a circus - but if I were 15 I would probably feel differently.

[WARPED1]

In my now 14 years of playing the game, 11 of those in tourney, 8 of THOSE in NPPL, I have recently quit tourney ball completely. I was sick of the whining and rampant cheating(nearly EVERY pro cheats, Salm just got caught), so off to scenario games I go again!
Camo should be required in Retro ball, and not those olive JT jersies, no jersies whatsoever!

[can'tthink of1]

When there is no longer a company to call, only a few techies.

I've played for a year, and I own a tribal.If you would of tried to call Toxic Toys in 1999 there would be no answer. I'm not really an "old school" player, just shoot an "old school" marker, well old school imo...

[Jackel411]

SMG...

See I know how you feel I just JUST broke down and bought a set of paintball pants and a jersey.. I felt silly doing major events and managing a PB store and still wearing old school camos and a black shirt...

So now I play in an all black and grey motif thanks to empire.. some of the less " QEFTSG " looking gear

[SMG]

-

Jackel411- I am in the same boat, I wear the team jersey and just ordered some pants.

I think pump games are much more interesting to watch than semi-games on tourney fields. Just watch some X Ball games on Pig TV and its hard to tell the games apart.

Anyways, you know your old school when...

-Newest gun on the field was a Puma pistol.

-You lost your gravity feed when it hit a tree as you rushed a pill box.

-You watched teamates sprawled out on the fied with every tool known to man trying to get their Budd Orr Pump to work in the middle of a game.

-You sent your SMG to Tippman for the 68 cal conversion.

[Mok_Star]

as for retro ball, this sounds great..but as far as mandatory camo...well i neered wore camo, i use to wear black concert t-shirts and jerseys ( <-- baseball style with band logos )...until smart parts started the renegade line ten i use the advantage print, still have my advantage 'unique sporting' 6 pack...but as far as the "racing" style jersey, yes, not allowed, but we should allow the renegade line and such..


also can we play with just the goggles like the old days, sign a special waiver or something

man this sounds so much fun, lets start a league, 15 man teams from each state, i bet i can get some of the BUSHWACKERS in on this

[magmonkey]

oh man this is a good post,

how about strange ordanace m69 paint greanades
mmmmm sketchy friction wicks (never trust that they were an 8 sec burn)

buying my first sheridan from pmi out of the back of popular mechanics

paying 427.90 for my first semi (a pnumatic design storm)

being shot in the ear with red on red calmag
shell, paint, BLOOD!

choosing between the jt whipper and the cool looking space helmet mask

choosing the whipper and ending up getting shot in the ear by red on red calmag

having the living crap scared out of me the first time I went on the field against mags

wearing tiger stripes
making fun of teams for wearing renagade "cammie jamies", or those LOUD colored jt jerseys


on a side note I would love to play retoball,

one idea it should be in new hampshire as close to the original location as possible


Alan
Destructive Customs

[Tyger]

I wanted one of these!!!!


Yes, I've been digging...

-Tyger

[rabidchihauhau]

MORE on RetroBall(TM)

Okay - as is usually the case, having mentioned thoughts in public is forcing me to accelerate my plans.

I've seen lots of good suggestions and I've been getting phone calls with promises of help and support. Not wanting this thing to get away from me (and not wanting it to get out of hand either - I know from the enthusiasm that lots of people want to see this happen and I'm SURE that those who do want it to happen RIGHT), I'm going to go against my better judgement and begin things now.

First and foremost, I've trademarked retro-ball (and retroball). I hold these trademarks in trust for what might become an organization in the future.

Second, my basic plan is as follows: first, solve the funding issue: while I have no intention of raping anyone on prices, events do cost - and here's why: IF you all want this thing to have any legs and gain the kind of support necessary in order to keep it happening and growing, dollars are needed for promotion, management and advertising, if for nothing else. (Even if paint were free, the venue were free and good experienced refs volunteered, there would still be a need for those things mentioned.)

I have several good ideas on solving the funding issue, but it will take a little time to develop them.

Third: I never have been nor will I ever be about a "short term return". This puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with people who ARE about making short term dollars. Why? Because they conceal their real motiviations, promise you the world and end up controlling the dollars, so that even when you do see through their line of BS, its too late to do anything about it.

When I started NPPL in 1992, it was about long-term growth. I put a 5 YEAR plan on the table that was achievable and affordable and designed to grow the sport; its 11 years later and we're still not there. Within two years of starting, the 'promoters' were back in control - so much so that the NPPL never received a single entry fee check - it all went to the promoters first, who then decided how much, if any, to give back to the organization.

Imagine trying to effect meaningful change when the people you need to make all the changes control all the money...

How did they accomplish that? They promised the teams (who were members) that they would make money through shareholder dividend checks at the end of each year. I call it 'waving the shiny object in front of their faces' - and, unfortunately, shiny objects tend to distract and confuse most intelligent people.

This current effort (Retro-ball) will ONLY turn in to what you all are indicating you want IF you support the long term development and the concept that building something right comes FIRST; if you build it right, the $ will be there in the end.

Forget about the dollars: costs and etc for what I am agreeing to do will be totally transparent for all to see, inspect and question - but I have GOT to have your support in building this thing the right way, without having to worry about anyone being distracted by bright, shiny objects.

Be vigilant, be wary and always ask where the money is going and where it is coming from if someone else starts making loud noises about what we are doing and how they can do it better/faster/cheaper.

Fourth, this is not about ME - its about YOU all being able to tap into the experience and contacts that I have built up over the years. That means I need ACTIVE help and support - starting with the following:

A. I really liked the idea of a 'team from each state' that Mok_star posted.

We may not be able to achieve that goal, but its a good way to kick off the creation of teams, support regional efforts and have this mean something on a national level, so - will people who are interested in forming their state's team please get in touch, either through this board or via email to [email protected]

I'm looking for motivated people who have good field and player contacts, who can put a few hours a week into this (just a few hours a week): you'll be responsible for gathering the names and contact info of pump players/interested players and/or teams from your state, and working on local support for their efforts.

B. Lee has offered to help with reffing. I'm sure we all want to AVOID the whole 'teams reffing teams' thing; this means either find experienced woods refs who are willing to work cheap (at first), or developing a program for quickly training good woods reffing skills (say over a weekend or two); more than likely, the final solution will be a combination of the two. So, I'm asking Lee if he will head up this beginning effort and for anyone who has an interest in volunteering to ref to get in touch with him.

C. Any manufacturers who have been reading this and wish to work on it, please get in touch with me at the hotmail address listed previously.

D. Same for fields; I love the idea of using a virgin locale - but on the other hand, its difficult to tell how unplayed woods fields break out until after they've been used for a bit, so its probably smarter to use an existing field. Fields, particularly those located in the center of the country, if you are interested in hosting an event, and think you have the facilities to do so, get in touch.

E. Finally; we should ALL make a strong committment to having no tolerance for unfair, cheating play. I remember the first NPPL tournament, when I watched winners AND losers - and players who had major rivalries with each other, all walk off the fields with smiles on their faces, because they knew that they had played in good, clean, fair games. I'm not looking for an oath or anything like that, but I do want to establish, from the beginning, that what we are building will not tolerate cheating play and that the organization itself will stand behind a committment to fair and honest play.

Ok. I've now stuck my head in the noose, so its now time for anyone who wants to start trying to tear things down, to attack me, to bring politics into it and to try and muddy the waters to do so. Do us the courtesy of getting it out in the open now so we can address your issues and then move on with the real tasks at hand.

Retro-Ball - Going Back to the Future of Paintball

[Jackel411]

Tyger that mask almost looks like a Dye Invision... hmmmmmmm


RetroBall.... Hell..

Count Wild Geese and ECA in

[emanjamin]

Man, those are hilarious! Keep them coming...I remember some of those too.

[SMG]

masks

I had the giant frankenstein looking mask with the neck protector drape in the front - it would start fogging before you even put it on. I loved the small JT masks.

For all the time we only wore goggles, I do not remember people getting shot in the face very often.