Anyone else go to the field by yourself?

[bobthebot]

If I wasn't willing to go by myself I'd be able to play about once a year if lucky.

It can feel a little awkward if the regulars tend to show up in tight groups or know each other really well, but it's worth it to be able to get out there and get shot up a little.

[XEMON]

I only have old guns, and there is always someone asking me if this the newest ... (Fill in the Blanc).
But the vector seams mesmerizing ... This gun has something ...
The loudner just makes is ridiculously fun ( the loudner I have on there match the lines perfectly, looks like it's made for it ...)

You know those guns everyone is in awe when they see them?
The Vector is one of them, my Walz rifle is another, my semi PGP is another ...
(I'm so blessed to have amassed/horded cool pieces over the years )

[bobthebot]

XEMON Most of my cool old guns have never drawn much attention oddly enough. My Tippmann TMC actually gets more comments than my acid-wash phantom.

On the other hand, my old Spectras never fail to get noticed these days. I have a custom ProShield that I got in exchange for a really good sandwich a couple years before they went crazy that I take along as a conversation piece.

[Jonnydread]

"for a really good sandwich" hahahaha

[Impactfour]

Last year I got a seasons pass to my local field and tried to go every Saturday, if my fiancee joined me that was cool but otherwise I'd go regardless. I play pump and am happy to scale back my playstyle so sometimes I'd resort to joining rental Ayers other times I'd play with other walk-ons. Eventually I got to know other regulars and became an unofficial member of a big games/scenario team. I also linked up with some mcb players intentionally and unintentionally. At the end of the day if you're friendly and play at an appropriate aggression/skill level there's nothing wrong with going by yourself and making some new friends. I'd suggest it to most people in fact.

[PB_Ruckus]

I typically go to the field alone, too. I have a lifetime membership at a few fields now(got lucky with discounted prices). It's great that my local fields have figured out that holding "Open Group/Walk-on" days get better turn-outs than being "Reservations Only". The field would get 20 phone calls of someone asking if there was a group that their 1-2 person could join; the answer would be "No groups" so no one shows up....

[Falcon16]

I used to go to the field all the time by myself. Rock up and know there'd be 10-20 people ready to go. That said all but 1 field in Niagara shut down. I haven't been out to the only field left in a few years mainly become a big game a few times a year or a special events guy. The other fields in easy driving distance have paint prices that are absolutely hitting the crack pipe, even for Canada, which is saying something. I know the one field if you're a non member it's something like $50 a bag like oh hell no. Hard to want to drive 3 hours round trip not knowing what the turnout will be like too. For me it's either a 10 minute drive to the one field left locally OR drive minimum 45 minutes if I want to play airball OR an hour plus if I wanted anything else. It's sad how much the scene in this region died. I remember when I started in the early 00s there was like 8 fields in Niagara alone and EVERY SINGLE ONE had 50+ people EVERY WEEKEND. Sorry for my rant but it's just heartbreaking how much the scene in the last decade has crashed and burned to the point that without significant time and expense invested in traveling it's not something that's viable every weekend like it used to be.

[bobthebot]

It's kind of like commenting about water being wet at this point, but it was pretty jarring to see how much the game had bled players when I started playing again last year. When I had last played in 2017, a full decade had passed since the high tide mark and subsequent crash of the fad period, but it looks like the decline has just continued to be a steady trickle since then.

I wonder what the ratio of peak player numbers around the mid 2ks to current player numbers is. I wouldn't be surprised if it's declined by 95% of more.

[boarder2k7]

$50/bag?! That's absolutely insane, I wouldn't play there either. I'm not sure what I'm going to do going forwards, the best field near me sold the land to a developer during covid. Not sure about the other local ones and walk-ons.

[Falcon16]

Yea AND the field in a lot of spots is full of thistles so I was picking those out of my gear for a week. It put small runs in a jersey and a couple of frayes threads in the inner thigh area of my DBD pants. for the price and how poorly the field was maintained in terms of trimming down things like thistles I'd probably not go back. I only went at the urging of a friend to play a big game and had a good time but those issues I mentioned really kill off the idea of a return trip

[Hp_lovecraft]

Yes, the original people I played paintball with quit decades ago. Even the re-iteration of paintball buddies has changed out multiple times and faded away. If I go to play, it's just me. It's rather unfortunate in that the field I like to play the most typically doesn't get much walk on any more.

I think lots of us are in a similar situation.

I started playing in the late 80s with a core group of friends. For years, playing as a team, that was our primary social activity. But by the early 90s, people drift away. I'd find new fields, and join new teams. Fields close, people move. etc. College, job, marriage, kids, etc

Plus the ever changing landscape of paintball. Fields come and go, trends come and go.
30 years ago, I'd play AT LEAST once a week, rain or shine, year round, and could usually count on a few friends to join.
These days, I'll travel alone, usually to 1-2 big events a year..... and rarely see anyone I know.

kinda make me sad

[Jonnydread]

You're in Maine right? Where do you travel to play? We'd love to have you join us for one of our New England events.

[un2xs]

Wait.

Are you telling me that you people actually PLAY paintball?

I thought this place was just about remembering our younger selves that are always gonna be a better, faster, more skilled ideal than we actually were. A place to buy the stuff we couldn't afford back then so we could hang it on a wall. A place where we could dream a dream of what we might have been.

Or something like that..

[boarder2k7]

This is DEFINITELY saying the quiet part out loud

[Eggy Weggs]

I do play... I promise....

[Out Of Air]

I feel personally attacked

[Myrkul]

I definitely do. I almost always try to bring friends, and am constantly inviting people out to try for the first time. Sometimes they can't always make it, and some weekends (Like today!) I won't even plan on playing but then the weather is too nice and I'll just throw a gear bag in the car and go.

I always rock a Hawaiian shirt and blue jeans, so I'm not intimidating to new players and easily recognizable. The only electros I own are massive ancient bricks with no ramping. It's very easy to make friends with newer players, and I always try to give them tips, tricks, and hints. Bringing multiple setups is always a good move since the field rentals are all 98s held together with spit and duct tape that go down constantly, so I'll frequently loan out a set up to a complete stranger for the day. Today some kid forgot the barrel to his chronos so I loaned him my cassidy mag and he absolutely loved it. My collection is pretty eclectic and extensive at this point too so people are always asking me what the hell I'm shooting, and I'll offer to let them shoot it for a few rounds. It helps if you are halfway competent at tech too and can help people fix things. Swooping in and helping a player fix whatever is going wrong is a great way to make new friends.

At this point I've extremely well know by the staff, and know most of the field regulars, so it doesn't even feel like I'm going by myself anymore because whenever I head out I know I'll be surrounded by friends anyway.

[XEMON]

I always rock a Hawaiian shirt and blue jeans, so I'm not intimidating to new players and easily recognizable.

same here! 
Been doing this for years ... I still bring my jersey but haven't put it on for years 😅

[The Jayster]

I mostly go on my own. I bring a couple guns to match the crowd that shows up. Something pump for rentals, something old and cool for conversations, and something fast in case the electro kids show up.
I also tip my refs, helps to make sure they get me good games.

Same here; I've got a variety of different markers according to the type of crowd I chance upon. I go to a smaller (but high-quality) field which has a growing number of regulars but will mix in rentals. That's when my Phantom becomes really handy. I go to another field (easily one of the largest in NA) and on a slow day there's going to be a group of 50 regulars. In that case, I'll need either an electro or a fast-shooting mech.

But yeah, I've been going by myself for years now. All of my older PB buddies have quit. Yet, I don't now how to put this without sounding conceited but everywhere I go I tend to get noticed. For one thing, I'm a very social person when it come to paintball and for another, I'm a natural leader. Being nice, fair and respectful to everyone, following the rules, and helping others whenever possible also go a long way into making new PB buddies.

[The Jayster]

At this point I've extremely well know by the staff, and know most of the field regulars, so it doesn't even feel like I'm going by myself anymore because whenever I head out I know I'll be surrounded by friends anyway.

I have been in the same situation for years, going to a variety of fields. I'd drive up by myself but as soon as I'd arrive I'd be amongst familiar faces where other players and staff is concerned.