To Play or Not to Play Threshold

[nak81783]

1-hour drive one way (~$20 in gas) and ~$90 for entry and a case of paint for 6 - indoor airball games. Good people but no actual friends attending/playing. Time at field is about 2.5-3 hours - check in, set up, picking teams, play time, in-between game cleanup/reloading, teardown, and pack up - to give an idea of active vs idle time. Would you play?

It's so much easier when the local outdoor field is open Spring through Fall. 25 minutes away, about the same entry and paint cost, but it can be up to an 8-hour day. Usually, I'm there for 3-4 hours at get 12+ games in on 4 different field types.

What's your threshold to play?

[Chuck E Ducky]

I travel for good paintball. The better the games the more likely I can justify the travel. I don't have a hard stop on distance. Multi day events help as well. I travel a lot for special events and get together with likeminded players. My favorite place to play is 4.5hrs away I played there more than I did at the field 45 min from my house and the field 45 min is a great place to play.

I would likely pass on playing for 6 games an outing. Wait for a pump day at my favorite place to play and know I'm getting my travels worth. We can get 30+ games in a day there. It's worth the drive for the game play, competition, atmosphere, on sight camping, bar and smash burgers. I would rather play less, but play good paintball, then a ton of meh paintball.

[$L!mBo]

not a good deal on the surface.

having leftover paint and filled tanks is nice in the offseason for tuning

imo, id send my bottles with someone who is going and pay them for their leftover paint and not actually attend myself
im not too big on indoor stuff
but ive also gone ridiculously out of my way before to attend games most would not. ymmv


Unless its a pump event. always worth it

[JohnB]

How bad you got the itch to play? I’d would probably do once a month till spring comes.

[nak81783]

I was typing up my next post as you posted this.

[nak81783]

It's a Friday night thing that scratches the itch during the winter when needed or Spring through Fall when I can't make it to the local field on Saturday or Sunday for multiple weeks in a row.

It was a lot easier to go in years past, but it's gotten increasingly more difficult the last 3 years or so. After a long week of work and kid activities, it's tough to get everything packed up and make the drive without time to unwind. Of course, come Saturday morning, I'm ready to play.

[JeepDVLZ45]

Wasn’t there a Mastercard commercial about this?

Gas money for a 1 hour drive - $20
Entry Free and a case of paint - $90
Good people to play paintball with - Priceless

You should play….game on!

[flyweightnate]

I enjoy paintball, I really do. But my go/ no-go is absolutely more about the company.

I love to find an excuse to spend the day with good people. I can't be bothered to spend the day with obnoxious people, regardless of what we're doing. So it's been a while since I've done walk on without a friend or three in tow.

[Maxwell]

I strive to play twice a week, so I have to drive to where the games are at, and I don't really live close to fields. In winter it leads to alot more driving. For a competitive pump game or tournament my limit is 6 hours one way (unlimited for a big event), for competitive gameplay I'll do up to 4, and for rec ball or drills 2 hours. Keep in mind that's one way and back-to-back days.

The idle time drives me nuts, but I don't really have a problem being "that guy" and push the pace. I find there are normally quite a few others that are eager to play. Even if it's just 2v2's or 1v1's while we wait for everyone else to get ready.

For me the driving time is my unwinding time, but that might not be the same for everyone. Monday is hell though when all the gear needs to be cleaned, work starts, and it's normally the day I need to meal prep.

[Magageddon]

I used to be spoiled with my field choices, I used to live in jersey and had a byop field 20 minutes from my house that I would hit every weekend and entry was 30 bucks a day. Also had 4 fields within an hour travel time that would always have people/regulars that would be fun to meet up with. Now I live in rural PA and have 3 fields within an hourish, but 2 are super hit or miss, I've gone to both and sometimes I'm the only one there, so that blows. The alternative I have is skirmish, always people there, but 125 bucks a case of GI 1/2 star and another 40 bucks for entry s a tough pill to swallow lol. I'll do that if I'm desperate to play, but that's not that often. I'm at the point where I travel 3-7 hours for away games, mostly pump events and thats worth it to me, playing good dudes who can actually play and get some good gun battles/feel like I have an even match is awesome and that very worth it to me. The other nice part is these away games are where we get to see each other a few times a year and hangout out for the weekend/on and off the field.

[homerj]

I’m in pretty much the same boat as you. I drive an hour one way & pay $55.00-$75.00 for a case. I don’t have friends but I’m at least acquainted with some of the regulars. We typically play 5-7 games depending on turnout & who still feels up to playing towards the end of the day. It’s either that or take a chance on the next closest field which is ~an hour & a half away & where i know absolutely nobody.

[Glovebox Operator]

It's worth it until it isn't. I have no regular friends who play, 1.5 hours to the closest field (next is over 4 hours), about $100 for a 3 hour field pass and a case (more time if the refs are cool and appreciate the help I put in with the rental players), a total crap shoot if anyone even shows up (sometimes not even the tourney players come to practice), and that's only if someone's in town to watch the baby (in-laws). So I always try. So I have to come prepared for most every situation. And the field is only open Saturdays and Sundays.

[nerdcore]

I'm too old (or feel too old) to commute. I already do that for work. Could be the greatest paintball park on earth, doesn't matter. I loathe driving, especially in this area, and i can't sit in a vehicle for too long because various body parts start to ache (although that just means i'm neglecting my PT).

30 min one-way is my limit these days. About an hour was the limit in my "youth." Anything further than that, i'm driving up a day early and getting a hotel.

[ChillswitchEngage]

Glad it's not just me and disliking long drives. For a larger (~500+) scenario game, I wouldn't mind driving ~2-3hrs. But otherwise, the ~35min one way to my home field is already at the edge of what I'd like to do.

[Cyberpyr8]

I went through a period where I would plan to go all day and only play a few hours and go home. It wasn't any one thing but I play for fun and if I wasn't having enough or wanted to go do something else versus the competition I had, I would pack up and leave. I normally play 4-6 hours but if I get a bad head shot or it's not a good day for matchups, I'll leave. I don't want to end up hating the time I get to play. Half of the day for me really is just seeing buddies and getting to pull the gear out. Playing is the bonus for me. It's all in the mentality you go into with it.

I once drove 4 hours one way to play for about 4 hours (3 day scenario and I could only play one but got hung up and didn't get to leave the night before) and then drove home. Did I hate to drive 8 hours to play, sure but I had such a good time playing in those few hours that I could justify it. Plus the guys I play with appreciated that I made the trip even though I couldn't play that long.