Woodsball Tactics

Hi Gang.  I'm brand new to the game.  My daughter, brother and niece played a couple months ago, and all three of them loved it.  We're taking my daughter for her birthday in a couple of weeks.

Yes, I splurged on what I consider great gear, especially for a newbie.  Did plenty of research beforehand.

On to my question(s).  I haven't seen any discussion of tactics in the forums here. 

So, is it pointless to discuss tactics, get tips, etc., other than on the field?  I'm all for cooperation/squad based movement, etc. 

The local field does a variety of games in a day, from Decimation to Capture the Flag to Attack/Defend to Protect the VIP.  Clearly, different tactics are required depending on the game. 

Still, I'm a little surprised there's no forum for discussions of this kind (at least, that I've found.)

Thanks for your patience!
Ripper

The biggest tip I can give you is to keep your communication simple. I know a lot of guys who think they're Delta Force and try to learn hand signals, code words, etc. It just bungles things up.

I'm not military, never have been, but I know what used to work for me when I was playing regular. Leapfrogging while moving is a very effective tactic.

I'll tell you this too- leave any and all ideas of being the worlds greatest paintball 'sniper' at home. Equipment limitations as well as any number of other things makes this impossible, and you'll just spend a lot of time all by yourself waiting for that textbook 'snipe' which doesn't happen.

Get in, get playing, and keep moving. If you're sneaking around trying to get the perfect longshot, your teammates who might be in the thick of it could be suffering from your desire to be Carlos Hathcock.

I'm not accusing you of perpetrating this obviously, I've just seen too many people who try this the first time  out.

Stick with your teammates. Don't go off as a one man band. you get shot like that.

I suppose though, the most important thing you can do in a tactical sense, is be adaptable. Well made plans can often fall apart if a key player gets eliminated, or the other team figures you out. Have a contingency in the back of your mind, and always be ready to fall back, regroup, and try again.


In the interest of imparting wisdom on a new player, I'll share my favorite strategy with you. I've orchestrated this to success a few times, and its a beautiful one. Its a defensive strategy, but with a little modification you could use it on the move. 

Form your team up in the shape of a very wide 'V"  Lets pretend you've got a team of 5 people. Look below to see exactly the way I had it set up when I used it.


1                                                                                                                                                                                5


                                           2                                                                                                      4

                                                                                                        3


Numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 need to be hidden. #3 is your key. He (she?) needs to be bold and move quick, while being equal parts dramatic and cautious. I'll explain. The idea is that in the beginning, number three moves nice and boldly right up the center, in line with, or even slightly beyond the line where #s 1 and 5 are. They're literally bait. They need to slink around like they're hunting the other team, but they have got to be seen. This is why they need to be cautious. Let them be seen, and even shot at. Let them trade a few shots, then get the hell out. They run straight back to their original position. #s 1, 2, 4, and 5, don't do anything yet.

Generally speaking, when a team spots someone, and manages to flush them into a run, impulse is to follow them. The idea is to draw them into the business end of that "V" your wingmen don't do anything until they've either been spotted, or the opponents gleefully chase #3 back into the hot zone.

Simple, but it really does work. If it all falls apart, you'll know it, then the rest of your team moves up (or back) to create a firing line.

Good luck.




Edited by Reb Cpl - 21 November 2010 at 8:04pm

Thanks, Reb Cpl! 

I have indeed read enough to know that sniping is problematic, at best :P 
The 'V' trap is classic, and I'm gratified to hear it works (of course, as you say, you have to be ready to react to changing circumstances.)

Who said: "No battle plan lasts beyond first contact with the enemy."?  (or words to that effect)

So, Communication, Leapfrogging, sticking together as a squad, baiting the opponent... Love it.

And, of course, as SSOK says, Learn to Shoot , Move, and (again) Communicate.

Now I'm dying to get out there...

Thanks, Ceesman.  I joined A5OG, then X7OG when I noticed it exists..

Edited by Ripper - 22 November 2010 at 8:02pm

for a large field, devide your team. take the larger bulk of average players, and have them take the enemy head on. take the two best players, and take them from behind. look for high ground. it is much easier to tkae cover on highground. and the lowground is exposed. bushed are ideal for ambushed. when on the defending team.

in general, each momber should know what they are doing, and how. dont just 'kill the enemy". know the battle, are they coming to us, we should ambush them. are we going to them, split into groups.

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 how did you do that guys.
-suspended user account for blatent disreguard for forum rules-

Edited by pepprdog - 02 December 2010 at 10:31am

The key word is co-operation, paintball is a team game which tends to have more 'individual' than team players. Fire and Maneauver is covered in many Field Manuals, one just has to have the ability to modify the tactics and techniques for the ranges of paintball.
I use and attempt to teach light infantry techniques from my era, which are differant than today's adaptations. A group of only 3, think alike, acting alike and trained alike will dominate the indviduals, even the last TWC myself and a few others seemed to be able to accomplish much, as we watched the gaggle of individuals throw themselves into impossible situations and get eliminated.

You can try manuals and books on small unit tactics. Check Amazon or Borders books for those.