How do you choose what markers go with you?

[Shaftski]

I usually get compulsive over the other items i need and not so much the marker. Do i need sun shelter, tarp, chairs, mosquito net, table, tools, extra clothing, lunch, etc.

I focus on using one marker all day and go over everything making sure it's working perfect the night before. Then I can't sleep thinking I forgot something.

[MrBarraclough]

I'm seriously considering making a laminated checklist that I can use with a dry erase marker in order to cut down on that vague dread that I've forgotten something important.

Because my usual response to that dread is to make sure I have all the really essential stuff packed and then throw as much as the rest of my gear as will fit into the remaining space in my bags. It would be nice to not have to make 3+ trips between the car and the staging area each morning.

[Cdn_Cuda]

And do a second column to check your stuff back in at the end of the day. Lost a Proto Axis mask once because the person I lent it to returned it with rental gear.

[Cyberpyr8]

Yeah I do have a checklist on my phone in Google Keep that I run through about 5 times before I go. The dry erase and laminated card is a great idea too.

[Arthur]

For me downsizing and meticulously organizing my gear works wonders. Each gun has a case. Each barrel kit has a case. Electronics and batteries have their own case. Masks and mag/pod rigs are clipped together. Boots get immediately put in the truck lol. I segment my stuffs so its easy to grab gear I need. Its also easy to see the gear I DONT need.

The day before my event I determine what guns I'm going to bring depending on the format. I always bring at least two guns but never more than 3. If its Magfed, then I take a couple magfed guns. If its spamball, I always bring the Etha plus maybe something fun like a pump or my DAM to spice it up.

I actually stopped bringing camping supplies other than a sleeping bag and pillow. I'm popular enough now someone always has a nice trailer or big tent for me to share. My gear remains organized in my truck, locked. In the rare event I get too drunk to ask about sleeping arrangements, I sleep in the back of the tuck if its dry, I sleep on the inside if its cold or wet. I'm not a tall man so it works great. If you're a long neck bastard, that won't work for you.

The truck serves as my game day HQ. The back bed makes it all super easy.

[MrBarraclough]

My collection is small enough that usually only the one non-functional marker, my old 68 Special, stays home. It's the rest of the gear that's the trouble. What if it rains? Hmm, better throw in my old Empire Scion because it's my only hopper with a lid instead of a speed feed. What if a buddy needs a pod pack? Better bring along my old 4 x 100rd horizontal rig from the mid-90s. My old gloves? Yeah, someone might need to wear 'em. And so on. I'm usually outfitting 1 or 2 other people, and its the gear I bring for them that usually fills up the back of my Forester.

For my own personal load-out, I tend to bring at least one electro and one mech that are both in good working order. I'll tell myself that I'll try switching up during the day for variety, but usually once play starts I'll end up just sticking with my electro. "You've got a working setup going, don't screw with it" becomes my overriding thought. I think a good guiding principle is having sufficient gear to not have to fix a marker at the field. I'd rather switch to a backup if the first marker develops a problem than miss a game wrenching on it in the staging area. So depending on the reliability of the markers in your collection, I think you can get away with bringing just two, especially if you plan on shooting only one and your backup is a bulletproof mech such as an Automag. As long as you've got that one in the bag that you are confident will work if you have to use it, then all you need is it in addition to whichever marker(s) you plan on shooting primarily.

[Grendel]

Type of play dependency but I always bring either my Pyre or my Sniper II, because they always work and I'll play any game/style with either. I also like to rotate some of the less used markers in my custody to give them some love.

[imped4now]

I let my Excel spreadsheet figure it out for me.

[glaman5266]

99% of the time I take my Pro Carbine with me. Absolutely bulletproof. Also, 99% of the time I don't use it. But that one time you don't bring it...

For the rest of my gear, it depends on where I'm playing. If local I bring a pump and a mech. If for big games I bring a pump, a mech, and either a second mech or an electro... Or both, lol. These are not including the aforementioned Pro Carb.

Recently, I've been trying hard to not take so much to the field. I played a big game a couple weeks ago & I only brought 3 paintguns. Saved a ton of space in the gearbag and saved on the headaches of making sure all my stuff fits. I can Tetris it all in the day before, but doing that at the field is a pain when you just wanna get home and shower.

It also helped when I began to realize that newer paintguns are better than most anything else previously made. I don't need to bring nearly as much for tools, parts, or other stuff for the older & sometimes more finicky paintguns. I'm getting more comfortable with my Resurrection and Emek, which leads to not bringing backups for backups for backups along with the other associated stuff. Modernizing my gear selection has had a positive impact on my packing regimen.

[Tarsun2]

my main marker, which which may or may not make it through the day.

one backup and one classic grey body spyder for s n' g

[Cyberpyr8]

Ah, the joys of being a minimalist...

I take two guns to the field, my CS1 and my Trilogy. That hasn't changed in years.

Same. I take my Emek and LV and switch as needed. I went Saturday and never pulled out my LV. I'm about to get one of my old Pimps back and I am concerned about not bringing all three. I hate having guns just sit around. But I will only probably bring the Pimp out on days where I know I will use it or to show it off.

[ford]

I always grab something with a Gamma core and something else... If something else breaks or isn't doing what I want... I use the Gamma Core'd marker.

[Falcon16]

I look at the game environment and plan accordingly. It's a big game with lots of gun fighting and a high volume of paint? Probably bringing a semi with a backup. If it's a more relaxed scenario where there are less gunfights and the ones there are are ranged I'll bring a pump or something else.

[Ironnerd]

The one that is working the best, or the one I just worked on and wanna test out.