Invasion of Normandy 2007

I was at the ION event this weekend.  It was only my 2nd time paintballing.  My teenage son got me into it and asked that I take him to this one.  I had an excellent time there.  We were Germans (not by choice).  Now I know why the woman on the announcement was mentioning the marbles.  it didnt make sense at the time.  I know I was nailed on Sat night around 9pm in the back and still have the circular marks to prrove it.  Either the person who tagged me was shooting higher than 280 or maybe it was the marble guy.   who knows but I agree with some of you that people on both sides were shooting much higher than 280.  ALl around this was a great expierence and I look forward to next years event.  

 

question: what is a reball ???  Im new to all this terminology.  Also, does anyone know aof a site that people post pics from this event that we can look at and I also heard that they were making a dvd of the event.  how do we purchase  a copy ??

PaintballkidEPS wrote: ^^You were in the PB nation tent?. I was the kid wearing the suit on saturday, on sunday i just had my dress pants, shirt and tie. I got a hit on the privates that welted nice but there is something i need to say about the germans and their fps, there was no way that you were all shooting 280, i couldn't even reach the german lines and then they were zipping past my head, no possible way it was 280, and apparently they cought a few germans using reball's? One guy also got arrested saturday night for shooting marbles. It's people like this who make it less fun to play.

I was in the PBNation tent, I saw a group of kids wearing suits so I probably saw you. I think there was some nasty stuff going on with both sides, its impossible to ref everybody. The marble and reball stuff disgusts me personally there were alot of families out there and its just repulsive to think that people would do that. I agree totally, it sucks to think those people were my "team mates."

But I had tons of fun, did you by chance see our group pb dad, there was a PBN logo on the front of the black jerseys, and a german eagle with the german flag colors in it, we also had a tent off the main road.

PaintballkidEPS wrote: .... I was the kid wearing the suit on saturday, on sunday i just had my dress pants, shirt and tie.

I walked off the field next to somebody wearing a vest and dress pants at one point, lol. I can't remember which day it was though.

PaintballkidEPS wrote: I got a hit on the privates that welted nice but there is something i need to say about the germans and their fps, there was no way that you were all shooting 280, i couldn't even reach the german lines and then they were zipping past my head, no possible way it was 280, and apparently they cought a few germans using reball's? One guy also got arrested saturday night for shooting marbles. It's people like this who make it less fun to play.

I know exactly what you're talking about there. Were you in that big firefight near the german insertion point on sunday? I think I may have been hit by some of those reballs because I got nailed in the top of the head and my arms by something that felt like a rock. Usually you can see the paintball hit or even see it coming at that distance but this thing came so fast I saw nothing and felt quite a bit. For anything to hit like that at the distance it came from, it had to be going absurdly fast. I made it known to the ref that was standing there and he eventually got a chrono out there to check some people because it was ridiculous and many people knew as well as I did that it was dangerous. Even people with an apex or flatline couldn't get the kind of range that those guys were getting and that's saying something. I'm actually going to write skirmish an email about it requesting very severe punishments next year for repeatedly shooting well over the chrono limit and especially for the reball/marble crap. I can't even begin to tell you how much that bothers me.

Aside from that, I had a pretty good time despite missing the first hour or so of the game. I always look forward to the beach invasion but I was a little behind schedule in the morning and my friend needed to stop at the tippmann tent so we could get a drop-forward on his A5 (didn't have the tools I needed). Once that was all taken care of, the beach invasion had just ended and the fighting was in the woods but it was still pretty friggin intense so it didn't bother me that much. I was also testing out my APE board for the first time so that made up for it a little . I got to take part in a few missions and some enormous firefights so I was pretty happy. I probably should have used the flatline though since all the noobs take the good cover at the front and I get stuck in the middle or back shooting past them until they get the balls to do something.

I'll have to work like an animal so I can afford to go next year since my car is begging for some upgrades and these games aren't cheap either. I probably spent $400-500 this weekend including the goodies I bought from the vendors. I saw an 88/4500 going for $155 and I just couldn't pass that up since my 68/4500 has seen better days. I also grabbed a J&J ceramic for my 98 so I can use my M16 barrel shroud again without that terrible barrel that came with it, that was only $25, yet another good deal. Replaced my gloves for $10 as well since they like to make my hands black and slimy for a day after I use them. God I love the vendors at skirmish games.

Oh, anybody going to that game in september? Some guy was handing out those fliers for a game called "Paint the World 1944" or something like that. Sounds like it might be an interesting game.

lester98c wrote: was walking up the road and saw the tent and laughed at where they put you guys. I was playing with my orange NXT with black jt pants and a red invert jersey.I had a pretty good weekend, i fired the second shot, (i was in the New Jersey/bus before the invasion) and was the second guy to make the woods from Omaha beach.

We didn't really mind being back there, last year we had a lot of people passing through our tent, which gets annoying and the tendency for people to yank items grows.

Not to mention we were closer than alot of people.

yeah Mod, i had my tac vest on, you can't see it really in the pics

PB_dad wrote: ... My only complaints are the wiping or just not leaving when hit scenarios.  Lack or refrees.  I would not know how many is needed but knew what was there seemed sparse....

I'll second that. I nailed a guy pretty clearly at one point and he just refused to leave. I can understand not feeling a hit but this was like right in the gut and I yelled to him to make sure he knew but he still stayed and kept trying to hit me. Sadly, I ran out of paint so I couldn't enforce the "out or ouch" rule. I also agree that they could use some more refs, especially ones with chronos. It's understandable that they can't be everywhere but it did seem like there weren't many of them even at the enormous fights towards the front of the field.

EDIT: I sent skirmish an email about the weak enforcement of the rules and suggested that they set things up more like NJ 'Nam was. They give you a card and every time you broke the rules you got a punch. When you got 3 punches, you were done for the weekend. It sounds harsh but honestly, if you play honestly then you don't have to worry about a thing. I also suggested having player refs since I think it is a very good way of keeping people in line if implemented correctly. I mentioned the reballs/marbles/frozen paint stuff and the fact that people were shooting way too fast as well. Hopefully I worded it well enough that they'll actually consider my suggestions and make a significant improvement. Honestly, if they just cracked down on all the punks who are cheating then they'd have some truly excellent games.


Edited by mod98commando - 18 July 2007 at 11:02pm

I did buy it so I'll look for that when I get it. I really hope it's better than the DVD's from the past, friggin thing cost $30. Anyway, I got a response from them already:

Skirmish wrote: Thanks for the suggestions.  We were marking wristbands on offenders that we found shooting hot and the second time offenders were asked to leave the fields.  On the serious stuff like re-ball - they were gone immediately.  The only problem is it's tough finding them.  We do use and had some undercover judges but the firefights were so large and intense it was hard for them to do their job. We know now that we need more and experienced judges.  The problem is where do we find them? Thanks, Paul Fogal, owner Skirmish USA Skirmish.com

I guess, to their credit, they are making an attempt but they still need some improvement. I think I may try to set something up with them so I get to be a player ref next time. I wouldn't be able to do anything about the other team but I could at least watch over my teammates. As long as they put something on the ID to show that I do have some authority then it should be a little easier to convince people to listen. I may even try to think up a whole system for dealing with those people if I have the time. I don't even care too much about getting credit for it, I just want to see the rules followed so nobody catches a reball to the face or something. Let's hope they are serious about making a change.

mod98commando wrote: I did buy it so I'll look for that when I get it. I really hope it's better than the DVD's from the past, friggin thing cost $30. Anyway, I got a response from them already: Skirmish wrote: Thanks for the suggestions.  We were marking wristbands on offenders that we found shooting hot and the second time offenders were asked to leave the fields.  On the serious stuff like re-ball - they were gone immediately.  The only problem is it's tough finding them.  We do use and had some undercover judges but the firefights were so large and intense it was hard for them to do their job. We know now that we need more and experienced judges.  The problem is where do we find them? Thanks, Paul Fogal, owner Skirmish USA Skirmish.com I guess, to their credit, they are making an attempt but they still need some improvement. I think I may try to set something up with them so I get to be a player ref next time. I wouldn't be able to do anything about the other team but I could at least watch over my teammates. As long as they put something on the ID to show that I do have some authority then it should be a little easier to convince people to listen. I may even try to think up a whole system for dealing with those people if I have the time. I don't even care too much about getting credit for it, I just want to see the rules followed so nobody catches a reball to the face or something. Let's hope they are serious about making a change.

you are given a special tag.  But it is pretty hard to get one. Only people i know that have them are ex employees and 2 guys that were on my skirmish sponsored team.  Im hoping to get one next year also and i'll bring my own hand chrono if needed. 

Maybe ill bring a big mallet and go The Whiteboard style.

I would love to be an undercover ref. Free entry (Or at least something) and authority! Who won btw?

Hey lester, can you get me a spot as an undercover ref?

lester98c wrote: SSOK wrote: I would love to be an undercover ref. Free entry (Or at least something) and authority! Who won btw? Hey lester, can you get me a spot as an undercover ref? No.

I was kidding. Anyway, like I said earlier, who won?