SPO Gear, Inc

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Webster?s defines “scenario” as: “[ It., < L.L. scenarius, pertaining to stage scenes ];” an outline of the plot of a dramatic work, event or motion picture giving particulars as to the scenes, characters and situations. For our purposes, a paintball scenario game is a whole bunch of paintballers (sometimes thousands of them at one time), having fun re-enacting an event, a book or a movie on a life-size stage--the great outdoors. It?s just like when we were kids playing war, cowboys and Indians, or cops and robbers, except on a grander scale, where you can actually shoot and be shot, and never really “die.” As I understand the history of paintball, it began as just a few friends going out to the woods and shooting at each other with single shot or pump-activated markers. Paintball has since evolved into one of the fastest growing extreme sports. Paintball fields and shops are popping up all over the world. We?ve progressed from using old tires and drums as bunkers to speedball, inflatable bunkers and tournament play of all levels. Now it seems we?ve gone full circle, back to the woods, and the vehicle is the scenario game. The differences between tournament ball and scenarios are many. Tournament play is characterized by hot fast action of a relatively short duration on a compact field with limited cover. The sport is dominated by factory sponsored, small, young, fast players with $2,000 markers shooting 20 balls per second in a game where you?re likely to get shot, at a range of three feet, by a paintball traveling 300 feet per second. And when you?re hit, you?re out. It?s a game for the elite few. Scenario is more a game for the masses. Because you can choose to participate at your own comfort level, neither age, nor size, nor speed nor conditioning really matter. It?s a game of role playing, going on “missions” and completing objectives for points. It?s intensive firefights, ambushes and sneaking through many acres of woods. It?s tanks, bazookas, RPG?s, howitzers and NVG?s, (night vision goggles.) It?s front line grunts, snipers, special ops squads, demolition experts, spies, medics and “hospitals” to heal the troops. In scenario play, if you?re hit, you simply call to your medic or go to the hospital area. Eliminated players may reenter every fifteen minutes or so. The typical 24-hour scenario game runs from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, including night play, with appropriate breaks for meals, etc. There are 12 and 48-hour games as well. Scenario can be, and often is, a family affair. Most scenario locations such as Wayne?s World in Ocala, Florida, (www.waynes-world.com) have designated camping areas or you can stay in local motels. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, they?re all here. The Trailgunners, (www.trailgunners.com) from Miami, Florida, are a good cross section of a scenario team. At “The Five Elements” scenario the Trailgunners had players from 12 years old to 55 (that would be me!). Though everyone wants to own the best, you don?t have to have a $2,000 marker for woods play. $75 mechanical semi-autos or $800 customized sniper guns are equally effective in the right hands. Camouflage is the order of the day. You will find old military woodland and jungle tiger stripe, or the latest hunting patterns and the “disappear into any bush” ghilli suit. Camouflaged markers, hoppers, guppies and boots all help to conceal the player. You can?t shoot what you can?t see. Do you know what scenario players call a ?baller in camouflage carrying a red to yellow fade chromed paintball marker? Target! There are many scenario game producers across the country, so click on www.scenariopaintballcalendar.com to see where it?s happening and when.