idea on introducing newbies to "the pain"

[Jotsy]

a while back while my freinds and I were playing at our field (literally our field, we own and run it) with a couple of newbies. it was their first time playing paintball ever and they were just kids so we turned the velocity limit down for the day and of course went through the whole "keep your masks on" lecture.

despite that tho, after getting shot, one of them still jumped up and pulled his mask off claiming he couldn't breathe. we immediately stopped the game and made everybody go safe, but since we were playing speedball, there were quite a lot of balls flying through the air and i swear, that couple of seconds between him pulling off his mask and everybody realizing it and stop shooting were the longest couple of seconds i've had in a while. he sat out the rest of the day and we concluded that he just couldn't take the pain.

which brings me to the point of this thread. since that incident, i've been toying with the idea of making every newbie to the field take a shot before playing in a real game. i'm talking about a single shot into the chest or thigh (i find that thigh shots hurt more often than others), with a mask on (of course). i know it sounds cruel, but the idea is to give them an idea of the kind of pain a paintball hit is like, and i'd rather them feel it in a controlled environment rather than on the field during a game against someone with an itchy trigger finger.

what do you guys think?

[CKY_Alliance]

When i got my first paintball gun i had my stepd-dad shoot me from about 15 +- feet away right in the thigh where its nice and tender, ever since then it hasnt really hurt, but of course in game there is adrenaline pumping so it hurts even less then standing there aticipating a hit...it could work because they will know what to expect and it wont shock them, then again it could scare them..now that i think about it this is what i did with my cousin who is probably one of the wussiest(?) kids ever and he still wanted to play.ehh i dun know

[mobsterboy]

Tell them that if they do just so happen to rip their masks off, they will be running the line right after the game is concluded, or paying a ridiculous amount of money as a fine. I might joke around when playing, but a lack of respect for safety is my pet peeve. Everyone that plays with me, on field or outlaw, knows that if you rip off your mask midgame, you might as well pack it up and go home cuz Im gonna chew you out so bad youll wish you had thought twice. Its not about "rule nazi"ing, its just that losing an eyeball is no laughing matter

[geekwarrior]

its hard to get noobs to keep the mask on, especially if they get goggled. We had a kid come play with us, he got goggled, and took off his mask. Walking out he took one about an inch under his eye. I yelled at him so much afterwards that he started to cry. (he was like 13) I didnt feel the least bit bad about making him cry. We had stressed at the beginning of the day to keep you mask on no matter what. Three games later he did it again. I took his gun from him (he was borrowing mine) and told him he couldnt play anymore. I will never invite the kid again, it's not worth the risk.

As for introducing noobs to the pain, what we try to do is let all the noobs play a game by themselves first, with 2 expereinced players coaching each team. That only works if you have 4 of them or so, but it eases them into the game a little.

[Dark Frost17]

i like the idea of having a game just for the new people with experienced people helping coaching and what ever....
or put them in a game with a bunch of pump players....
I am 1 of those people who loves to help the newbies and get shot a lot while doing so....but they learn....as long as they follow the rules and keep there mask on i don't yell....

[minimag03]

I don't see anything wrong with offering to shoot a first timer before they pay. Don't take their money, shoot them in the leg, and make them hobble away.

[bleachit]

I made my sister go into our back yard with her mask on.. she put several layers of clothes on, then I got my PGP and emptied it on her as she ran around the backyard. not only was it awesome to watch my sister run around in pain as I shot her... it helped her to get in the game..


great idea to get them the introduction.

[Dark Frost17]

I made my sister go into our back yard with her mask on.. she put several layers of clothes on, then I got my PGP and emptied it on her as she ran around the backyard. not only was it awesome to watch my sister run around in pain as I shot her... it helped her to get in the game..


great idea to get them the introduction.

to funny

[bleachit]

she was asking for it since she was 2 years old...

[Maggot6]

That is what I do with people wanting to go paintballing with me, put 'em in my backyard, a good 30 feet away and shoot them once in the chest / body area... I think you'd be doing the kids who go to your place a favour if you asked them to sign a wee waver before paying the money saying "I'm gonna get shot once from XX feet away before I pay" and then do it.

[Lohman446]

I can remember thinking the first game of the season a year ago as I hear the balls whipping by me. "This is going to hurt, why do I play this stupid game" Its not like I was new at the time either.

[warbeak2099]

I think it;s a good idea. Let them know what it feels like so they aren't surprised and disoriented when they get hit on the field. I wish someone ahd done it for me. No one would agree to do it though. I had to wait till I was on the field.

[punkncat]

Before I considered actually playing I walked about 15 foot from a friend and had him shoot me in the back. I wanted to know what it felt like first.

If not that....which is not an entirely bad idea...what we do is ask that a guardian be with the player the first game or two. Not only a family member, but another experianced player to stand with the first timer and be sure they follow the safety rules and don't get torn up.

[Jonno06]

Definitly a good idea, although ive NEVER seen someone actually rip off their mask during a game because they couldnt take the pain though.



That kid better never get in a fight, he'd die.

[SpitFire1299]

I dont think they should take a shot before they play because then they wont move up and will be scared to get hit. If on the first game they move up, etc. then they understand more about "I dont get hit if i hit you" kind of thing.