Building & collecting vs playing

[Psycho91]

Ok so this has been on my mind for some time now, I got back into PB after about 5 years hiatus and have been building my collection for the past year getting gear together but idk when or if I'll ever be able to play again and it's really getting to me, how many of yall just collect and build guns instead of actually getting to play, kinda hoping someone in the family will hold onto all of this when my time comes who knows PB may not even be a thing eventually, been in the sport 20 years and I just can't seem to give it up but I'm dying to play and just don't have the time right now

[Mjlynnjr]

I’m in the same boat as you to a degree. I’ve been playing for close to 30 years now and mostly just collect and build guns now. I did get a chance to play the other day for a few hours with my 9 year old son. It was his first time actually playing the game vs the usual shooting them in the backyard for entertainment. We had a blast and it reminded me of how fun this game really is. I’m hoping to get out again once the heat wave dies down and get some more play time in with him at the local field. I’m am realizing that I need to sell off some of my high end guns and get the collection down to just a few that I really enjoy using. I’ve got close to 20 markers and enough Airgun design parts to build a few more. Now a days, with my limited time to play, I really enjoy magfed, pump, and single trigger mechanicals. Nothing quite like running and gunning with a phantom from the back in the day.

I think we just need to make a hard attempt at getting out a few times a year to remind ourselves how much this sport meant/means to us and how fun it really is. Collecting and toying with the gear is always a good time, but the real prize to be had is the experience of the game itself. And hopefully an experience with our family and close friends.

Just thoughts….glad to hear there is another out there in my similar situation!

-Mike

[shrompman420]

hey man i took off about 18 years and just now have been going and playing, i spent about 5 months looking and getting stuff. you have to make some time, we all got things we should be doing. carve out just a little paintball time. its worth it, 1 time a year, 75 times a year just go play

[pintbuster]

I play with the guns I wanted when I was a kid, and rip hot shit plays down the tapeline against guys I call friends.
I play to have fun, and I need fun in my life, so I make it a priority.

[KMDPB]

I believe paintball is a multifaceted hobby, only one side being actually playing the game. If you compare it to the firearm world there are roughly 8 million avid collectors In the US and the majority of which live in areas where they can't easily shoot their guns and rarely make it to a range to shoot, but hey they just like guns. I play a maybe 6 times a year and I'd love to play more but hey that's life. I won't abandon paintball because it brings me joy in other ways than just playing and I know when the kids are grown and life slows down I'll be able to play more!

[Fossilhead]

One of these years when I can, I'm gonna hit some of these big games I only read about on these pages.

[Jonnydread]

I enjoy collecting and tinkering to a degree, but I will always be a player first. I am willing to drive a bit farther and shift my home life around as needed to get my paintball fix. Fortunately, my wife supports this, as I can be kind of dicky when I don’t get to play.

[scottieb]

It's true. Before paintball and MCB came around Jonny's internet username was Jonnydicky.

[Cdn_Cuda]

The joys of paintball is it’s a multifaceted hobby. I started playing, then as life got busy, kids etc I rarely played, but I got into fixing and repairing paintball markers. This led to having a budget to buy some nice markers and start collecting a little. The majority of paintball for me in the last 10 years has been tinkering/fixing/buyi by/selling. I spend a few years playing once or twice a year if I was lucky. This is the first year I’ve played more than I have for years combined. Evening going to play tomorrow again with a bunch of extended family.

Both are valid ways to enjoy paintball. And really, I’ve made more friends on this forum than I have at my local field. Funny enough, I’ve sold a bunch of markers to some of the local players who remembered me. I enjoy being able to tinker, work on and sometimes even get things to work. I also enjoy getting exercise and releasing some stress.

[iamthelazerviking]

I'm currently in a similar position due to choosing to wait for the heat to go away plus waiting for a sniper project to finish plus being between jobs all of a sudden. What makes it harder is having to drive over an hour to the nearest field, which wouldn't be a big deal if I didn't have a wife and two young daughters. I'll bounce back though, I will never fully give it up.

[Cdn_Cuda]

I’m in the wife and two daughters boat as well. Life gets really busy, especially in the fall when I coach both of them. Summer I have a little more freedom.

Both are interested in playing. My oldest just turned 10 so 2 more years. My youngest likes to help where she can and clean markers and use tools. They like it because I like it, of course, but something to share with them.

[markdem]

I enjoy building guns just as much i do playing with them - maybe even more. Youre not alone.

[RuleOfSines]

I basically only collect and build now, over 200 markers in my pile at this point. My main attraction is all the cool (and sometimes stupid) ways people found to send paint down range.

I think there was nascar/racing quote that fits well, some people are drivers, others are mechanics.

[latches109]

I'm experimenter, collector, and builder as I have time. I enjoy building and playing with those builds. If playing was more convenient I would go more often.

[glaman5266]

I would love to be a player first, but that’s not feasible most of the time. But stuff has a tendency to come across my work bench, so if that’s something I can do to fill the gaps between play days I’ll do it. Take what I can get.

[Grendel]

I enjoy playing the most, then building markers/collecting paintball stuff for builds. I try to play monthly but the places I go are all about an hour and a half away so traveling to play gets old. Do you have anyplace around us that you play? All the fields seem to be closed.

[Nish]

PBC Greenville is catering pretty exclusively to speedball. Red Fox is still open but under new management, same owner. I haven't been there since the new manager took over. From what I hear what was already pretty lax safety has gotten to the point that it's down right sketchy. We have a crew in this area that has been trying to make it u PTO Wolverine every couple of weeks.

[Slapshot Vrref]

There's a patch I've not seen in a LONG TIME !! Scenario Brotherhood !! I also am a member from Bearclaw !!

[Grendel]

I have been to Bearclaw several times for scenarios and SPPL tournaments when they were a thing. Scott still running things over there?

[NONOBLITUS]

You only live once , play play play. Remember why you started tinkering, so you could have a marker to play with. To each his own, but don’t understand why building and not playing.

[Jonnydread]

Well said brother

[Cdn_Cuda]

Largely spare time and life get in the way, at least of me. Kids take priority. Building is like a puzzle. Gives me a goal, I can work toward, problem solve and hopefully complete. Can be a great escape from the pressures of life. Turn on some tunes, break out the tools and just relax. I can tinker in the evening when I have time like after the kids go to bed etc.