So, not that I'm done being distracted by my own wittiness, shall we continue?
Ok, here we go, so those suffering from the aforementioned affliction often lose interest in certain types of fields. This disinterest can cause them to miss games for the simple fact that a particular style of game play has lost its edge. To some extent I can understand this type of reasoning but despite repetition in environments, there is one thing that is in constant change... the opfor.
Name one game you have been to where the opfor had the exact same strategy or movement it had the last time you played at that field. You can't! The constantly changing opfor brings one thing to airsoft that nothing else can, continually changing dynamics.
Have you ever heard of the chaos theory?
Small differences in initial conditions (such as those due to rounding errors in numerical computation) yield widely diverging outcomes for chaotic systems, rendering long-term prediction impossible in general.
For those of you who may not comprehend this definition (considering this is an airsoft blog, probably everyone reading this), it means the same thing is never going to happen twice. There are only two certainties in life, stasis and change. The opfor provides that unique type of change that that is a vitally important part of creating a wonderfully tactical airsoft experience.
"Geez Kirby, you’re so smart you should be on the debate team!" Well when you're right, you're right but beautiful women don't go out with guys on the debate team so what's the point. However, if I am wrong and you are on the debate team and have a beautiful girlfriend, please post multiple pictures of her on here immediately so I can be proven wrong.
No two firefights, strategies or aggression levels are ever the same. Unlike a video game that provides a linear story line and experience, airsoft is constantly changing game play dynamics. That's one of the reasons people keep coming back. Whoa, relax I said one of the reasons not the only reason. Looking sexy and embarrassing people is still important.
So, if you find yourself agreeing with me and my point of view, can we agree to classify this as an airsoft related disease? ABSOLUTELY
I am sorry to say there is no cure for this affliction. I would like to say that reasoning and accountability can play a part in rectifying the hurts caused by arrogance, but sadly this is not the case. These people have ADD, there probably not even listening and if they are, they’re not even going to remember what you're saying five minutes from now. "So what do we do Kirby? We want our battle buddies back!"
Well, there is a suggestion I would like to make, but I cannot openly condone violence, torture or embarrassment. However, I will say this... we are grown men, and as such it is ok to admit you love your teammates like your brother. That being the case, it is important to remember that sometimes love hurts.
Time to get sidetracked again...
However bad we might find this, it pales in comparison t the most destructive airsoft related disease... ARROGANCE.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Airsoft ADD and Why You Need To Slap It Out Of Your Buddy
So you’re probably thinking, “Airsoft ADD what’s that? I know airsoft, I look at it online when I should be spending time with my family, but I have no idea what this intelligently hilarious fellow is talking about?”
Let me begin by breaking it down for you. You know that Aunt you have who drinks way too much and is always rude on holidays, because her 8 year old never listens to anything she says and can’t sit still for five seconds? It’s something like that.
Let’s dig a little deeper shall we?
Airsoft ADD- When an airsofter is constantly losing interest in particular styles of game play. I.E. Field, CQB and MOUT.
Ah, starting to make sense right?
Well I’m glad, because for those of you who have teammates or buddies who suffer from this terrible affliction, you know this is more than just an irritation, it's more like a severe form of rectal trauma… ouch! This has the potential to be an obstacle in your tactical effort to ruin someone else’s day!
Let’s talk about truth, and I don’t mean the sugar coated “I’m going to make you feel good because I love you “truth. I’m talking about the “ Listen bro I just started dating your ex-wife because she is super hot and is easy when she’s drunk” truth. See where I’m going with this? Good.
So let’s begin an airsofter’s two favorite things about airsoft. Shooting people and looking cool while doing it. Alright, go ahead say milsim, guns and gear but the only reason you like these things so much is so you can shoot people and look cool while you’re doing it. 3...2…1 and the revelation begins.
Kirby, you just opened my eyes to understanding my true self!” I know buddy, hey that’s what I do. No need to thanks me because your sister thanked me yesterday… zing. Ha-ha just kidding... but seriously she did. Now that you’re going to be doing all this self reflection, can you do me a favor? Quit pretending that you wife/girlfriend, family and job are more important than airsoft. Your wife/girlfriend/ family are going to find out eventually. Hey the truth hurts but your kids will learn to understand. Mine did and that’s why they call me by my first name now and never look me in the eyes.
I know, I know, I get sidetracked. I think this is good for now, in part two we will begin by actually talking about airsoft ADD. I would love to keep blowing your mind with my insightful and witty remarks but I have to get ready to go on a train to a train museum tomorrow. A train museum! Who the hell does stuff like this! I hope there is an AEX nearby otherwise I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Radio Chatter Part 2: The Art of Keeping Your Mouth Shut Unless It's Important
So while I was at work today at my desk looking at Arnie’s Airsoft Forum for some tactically delicious treats, I decided that perhaps my time would be better spent doing work. Then I went to the bathroom, grabbed a soda, talked to the extremely good looking new girl (who I plan on mentoring), looked at some airsoft guns and decided it was more important to spend my time making this list of acceptable and unacceptable circumstances for radio chatter...
Request for a Sitrep-
Sitreps (situational reports) are an established form of communicating relevant information. In order to maintain radio discipline, sitreps should be communicated and requested by captains and squad leaders. This means your chain of command should be established and maintained prior and during game play. Situation reports should be clear and concise only relaying information relevant to the effectiveness of your team’s pre-determined strategy. Providing others with a clear picture of your squad’s situation, helps captains plan strategic movement according to the key factors presented in your sitrep.
Significant Strategic Movement-
"Hey we just crested a hill" and "Were going the long way around", does not constitute relevant strategic movement. What hill? Which long way around? If vagueness is something your into perhaps you should get into a new hobby, like a sowing circle or online dating. Strategic movement consists of your squad’s movement in relation to the enemy’s position. This includes...
Relaying the enemy’s movement or position does not consist of information such as, "C2 the enemy is coming" or"C4 we see the enemy". Bland, irrelevant information such as that is best left for in-laws and family reunions. By relaying this junk you are creating more questions than you are providing answers. Information that you plan on providing should include...
Here is a tip, when deciding whether or not to transmit information, ask your self two questions...
Is what I'm going to say affect my teams strategy?
Is it significant to our overall objective?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, then do everyone a favor and keep a lid on it.
Request for a Sitrep-
Sitreps (situational reports) are an established form of communicating relevant information. In order to maintain radio discipline, sitreps should be communicated and requested by captains and squad leaders. This means your chain of command should be established and maintained prior and during game play. Situation reports should be clear and concise only relaying information relevant to the effectiveness of your team’s pre-determined strategy. Providing others with a clear picture of your squad’s situation, helps captains plan strategic movement according to the key factors presented in your sitrep.
Significant Strategic Movement-
"Hey we just crested a hill" and "Were going the long way around", does not constitute relevant strategic movement. What hill? Which long way around? If vagueness is something your into perhaps you should get into a new hobby, like a sowing circle or online dating. Strategic movement consists of your squad’s movement in relation to the enemy’s position. This includes...
- Distance to objectives
- Obstacles in the way of forward movement
- Alterations to your teams strategy
Relaying the enemy’s movement or position does not consist of information such as, "C2 the enemy is coming" or"C4 we see the enemy". Bland, irrelevant information such as that is best left for in-laws and family reunions. By relaying this junk you are creating more questions than you are providing answers. Information that you plan on providing should include...
- Location: Is the opfor moving from the north, east, west or south of your position.
- Intention: Does the opfor plan on defending its current position, overrunning your position or going around you to complete an alternate objective.
- Numbers: How many guns in the opfor's squad, do they have any DM's or snipers, does the squad include any support weapons.
Here is a tip, when deciding whether or not to transmit information, ask your self two questions...
Is what I'm going to say affect my teams strategy?
Is it significant to our overall objective?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, then do everyone a favor and keep a lid on it.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Radio Chatter: Effective or Irritation
There are two things that don't bode well with most airsofters, stupidity and confusion. Both have the potential to piss off captains, disrupt strategy and make you look foolish. Yet it's astonishing how often they play a large role in our communities. Well maybe not astonishing, I mean look at some of these guys, but at least it's significant. Whether on the field, on a forum or in everyday airsoft related conversation, they run rampant, like noobs fleeing an overwhelming opfor. Nowhere are these presentations of an airsofter's limited brain capacity more apparent that in radio chatter.
For those who are part of an organized team, staying in contact is essential in order to maintain strategic effectiveness. Having experience and the ability to work together cohesively helps keep radio chatter to a minimum, leaving channels open to relay important and relevant information. However, in games consisting of more than a few people, participants are often pooled together in mismatched groups. Guess what...your ability to work cohesively and stay effective just decreased as unfamiliar elements have entered the picture.
Under usual conditions, these elements must be quickly amalgamated into a hierarchical structure, otherwise anarchy will reign, tensions will rise and the opfor will win.
Radios become a key facet in game play in order to maintain consistency and familiarity with the movements and locations of each element of your team, as well as the opfor. This consistency cannot be attained unless certain guidelines are established in the form of acceptable radio chatter.
In Part 2 we will discuss the nature of these previously mentioned forms of radio chatter with much more hilarity and much less seriousness...
For those who are part of an organized team, staying in contact is essential in order to maintain strategic effectiveness. Having experience and the ability to work together cohesively helps keep radio chatter to a minimum, leaving channels open to relay important and relevant information. However, in games consisting of more than a few people, participants are often pooled together in mismatched groups. Guess what...your ability to work cohesively and stay effective just decreased as unfamiliar elements have entered the picture.
Under usual conditions, these elements must be quickly amalgamated into a hierarchical structure, otherwise anarchy will reign, tensions will rise and the opfor will win.
Radios become a key facet in game play in order to maintain consistency and familiarity with the movements and locations of each element of your team, as well as the opfor. This consistency cannot be attained unless certain guidelines are established in the form of acceptable radio chatter.
In Part 2 we will discuss the nature of these previously mentioned forms of radio chatter with much more hilarity and much less seriousness...
Friday, January 28, 2011
More Baby Punching Airsoft Related Fiascos
Apprehensiveness-
There's a reason it's called a recon team, because were going into enemy territory! Get your head out of your @ss, guns up and aggression level 10! You want to hide and be timid? I hear the parking lot is a safe place, why don't you go there for some R&R while the rest of us overrun the opfors base camp.
Let's be honest, most guys play airsoft for three reasons, either their wives drive them crazy, they love Black Hawk Down, or they think they can play airsoft as well as they play Call of Duty. Hey don't get upset its cool, I'm a poser too. My reasons for playing airsoft are just as superficial as yours. However, the difference is when I see the opfor the wild beast inside me is released from his cage. When you see the opfor the butterfly is put back into his habitat.
Oh I'm sorry did I offend you? Well you offended me, when you pissed all over my brilliant plan to overwhelm the opfor's position. Sucks doesn't it? You know what helps with that? Growing a pair and chasing down the opfor like you’re trying to eliminate their species from the planet.
Excuse the rant but facts are facts. So let's be the man your mom always wanted you to be and go kill some bad guys? What do you say?
Spray & Pray-
What about this guy, right? Apparently the stroke you just had caused your finger get stuck holding down the trigger, or you've never heard of trigger discipline, either way this stuff is getting old. Good news though, you didn't hit anything and you went through a bag of bb's. The bad news, your position is about to get overrun by me and my squad.
I think it's safe to say that a majority of airsofters come to this sport for the milsim experience it provides. Milsim, meaning just like real life but not exactly. If that's the case then semi-auto or burst should be used right? Not full auto like some third world rebel trying to pull a coup de grace on the currently entrenched government. Praying and spraying in airsoft does not have the same effect as it does in your favorite video game. Your kill/death ratio will not increase and you will not rise to the top of the leader board standings.
It takes more focus and skill to eliminate tangos using semi-auto than it does running through your mag in five seconds. In airsoft as in real life, skill leads to satisfaction and knowing you accomplished your mission through skill and tenacity rather than spraying and praying is about as good as it gets.
Conclusion
To sum it up, airsoft isn't perfect but it's all we got. Hey I'm not perfect, but who is? If we were then we wouldn't need airsoft. For some of us guns, gear and battle buddies are what make life bearable. So I think it's fair to say that for all the time and money we put into our hobby, a fun time and a tactically enjoyable experience aren't too much to ask for, are they? No they're not, so if you are one of these guys or know one, tell him to stop raining on our parade. If you don't knock it off I'm going to lose interest and start spending more time with my wife and kids.
Do you really want to put me in that position?... I hope not.
There's a reason it's called a recon team, because were going into enemy territory! Get your head out of your @ss, guns up and aggression level 10! You want to hide and be timid? I hear the parking lot is a safe place, why don't you go there for some R&R while the rest of us overrun the opfors base camp.
Let's be honest, most guys play airsoft for three reasons, either their wives drive them crazy, they love Black Hawk Down, or they think they can play airsoft as well as they play Call of Duty. Hey don't get upset its cool, I'm a poser too. My reasons for playing airsoft are just as superficial as yours. However, the difference is when I see the opfor the wild beast inside me is released from his cage. When you see the opfor the butterfly is put back into his habitat.
Oh I'm sorry did I offend you? Well you offended me, when you pissed all over my brilliant plan to overwhelm the opfor's position. Sucks doesn't it? You know what helps with that? Growing a pair and chasing down the opfor like you’re trying to eliminate their species from the planet.
Excuse the rant but facts are facts. So let's be the man your mom always wanted you to be and go kill some bad guys? What do you say?
Spray & Pray-
What about this guy, right? Apparently the stroke you just had caused your finger get stuck holding down the trigger, or you've never heard of trigger discipline, either way this stuff is getting old. Good news though, you didn't hit anything and you went through a bag of bb's. The bad news, your position is about to get overrun by me and my squad.
I think it's safe to say that a majority of airsofters come to this sport for the milsim experience it provides. Milsim, meaning just like real life but not exactly. If that's the case then semi-auto or burst should be used right? Not full auto like some third world rebel trying to pull a coup de grace on the currently entrenched government. Praying and spraying in airsoft does not have the same effect as it does in your favorite video game. Your kill/death ratio will not increase and you will not rise to the top of the leader board standings.
It takes more focus and skill to eliminate tangos using semi-auto than it does running through your mag in five seconds. In airsoft as in real life, skill leads to satisfaction and knowing you accomplished your mission through skill and tenacity rather than spraying and praying is about as good as it gets.
Conclusion
To sum it up, airsoft isn't perfect but it's all we got. Hey I'm not perfect, but who is? If we were then we wouldn't need airsoft. For some of us guns, gear and battle buddies are what make life bearable. So I think it's fair to say that for all the time and money we put into our hobby, a fun time and a tactically enjoyable experience aren't too much to ask for, are they? No they're not, so if you are one of these guys or know one, tell him to stop raining on our parade. If you don't knock it off I'm going to lose interest and start spending more time with my wife and kids.
Do you really want to put me in that position?... I hope not.
Guys Who Don't Call Their Hits and Other Things That Make You Want To Punch a Baby
As you probably know from previous posts, I LOVE airsoft. I consider airsoft my Cleopatra; it is simultaneously my love, my obsession and my inevitable downfall. Being the guy that I am, I've come to terms with this and look forward to my ruin. However, just like Cleopatra, there are things in airsoft that piss me off to no end and to rectify them I would bring down an empire. However, I am not Mark Antony and rectifying them is not in my power. The only thing that is in my power is to change myself, but why would I want to do that, I'm awesome! I'm definitely God's gift to something. Therefore, I'll have to live with life's little irritations until I learn to bend others to my will instead of beating them into submission.
Back on topic:
Things that piss me off, piss you off and piss your buddy off...
Hit Calling-
Umm yeah, you flinched for a reason, because I HIT YOU! I know people always talk about honor and integrity but I'm sure most of them don't even know how to spell it. If you did then maybe you would call your hits. These guys are the worst and unfortunately they are everywhere. I know winning is fun and I know mowing down tangos is fun, but do you know what's more fun? Playing by the rules. I sound like a square you say? Uhh yeah, that's because you're the guy not calling his hits.
More than anything this guy the ability to ruin someone's day. Not only that, but if this is common and flagrant it can bring down a field. Nobody wants to go to a field that has a reputation of having players who don't call their hits. Attendance can take a hit as quality players will avoid this type of field like the plague. 13th centuryEngland
Laggers-
Why can't you be ready on time! We both know you don't have a girlfriend! Is it because you stayed up all night playing Call of Duty with your buddies who also don't have girlfriends? Listen, there are three things you should be done prior to game time, load your mags, charge your batteries and unf*ck your gear! It's not the SAT's genius, so why are failing it just like you did that test!?! Hmm, I see community college and losing to the opfor in your future. But seriously, why can't these guys be ready on time? Brief starts at 9am, we came ready and prepared to roll over the opfor, its 10:30 and were still waiting for you because your battery died and you have to find someone to loan you one.
Shared a similar experience? Of course you have, this is one of the most common situations in airsoft today. No field is safe from it, these guys are everywhere. Like my dog's fleas, where there's one there's a hundred and they have the potential to kill our vibe and decrease our playing time, two things we could live with out.
Makes sense right? Of course it does, that's why I'm writing this blog and not you.
Back on topic:
Things that piss me off, piss you off and piss your buddy off...
Hit Calling-
Umm yeah, you flinched for a reason, because I HIT YOU! I know people always talk about honor and integrity but I'm sure most of them don't even know how to spell it. If you did then maybe you would call your hits. These guys are the worst and unfortunately they are everywhere. I know winning is fun and I know mowing down tangos is fun, but do you know what's more fun? Playing by the rules. I sound like a square you say? Uhh yeah, that's because you're the guy not calling his hits.
More than anything this guy the ability to ruin someone's day. Not only that, but if this is common and flagrant it can bring down a field. Nobody wants to go to a field that has a reputation of having players who don't call their hits. Attendance can take a hit as quality players will avoid this type of field like the plague. 13th century
Laggers-
Why can't you be ready on time! We both know you don't have a girlfriend! Is it because you stayed up all night playing Call of Duty with your buddies who also don't have girlfriends? Listen, there are three things you should be done prior to game time, load your mags, charge your batteries and unf*ck your gear! It's not the SAT's genius, so why are failing it just like you did that test!?! Hmm, I see community college and losing to the opfor in your future. But seriously, why can't these guys be ready on time? Brief starts at 9am, we came ready and prepared to roll over the opfor, its 10:30 and were still waiting for you because your battery died and you have to find someone to loan you one.
Shared a similar experience? Of course you have, this is one of the most common situations in airsoft today. No field is safe from it, these guys are everywhere. Like my dog's fleas, where there's one there's a hundred and they have the potential to kill our vibe and decrease our playing time, two things we could live with out.
Makes sense right? Of course it does, that's why I'm writing this blog and not you.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Medics... Your Squad's Worst Enemy
Let's begin by breaking it down a bit...
The two most complicated aspects of airsoft, overly detailed scenarios and medic rules. For many in our sport medic rules have become more of nuisance and irritation than an effective part of game play. Overwrought gimmicks like have turned what was supposed to be an integral part of the milsim experience into an tactical mess that has the ability to frustrate players and delay game play.
In a perfect airsoft world medic rules would be an effective and enjoyable part of game play. However, airsoft isn't perfect. Scenarios, teams and squads are prone to dysfunction. Hey that's life, adapting to your environment although difficult is the key to making things work in our world. Perhaps you think I'm being unfair or biased in my point of view? Maybe you're thinking just because I've been soured by my experiences with medic rules I am generalizing? Well you're right, I am generalizing and the reason I am doing so is because the logic behind my reasoning is universal. Whether you play in a different state or a different continent we all suffer from similar problems.
For the skeptics to my theory, here is a breakdown of my logic, one problem at a time...
Unfamiliarity- Being on a team is cool, having familiarity with each other and effective tactics based game play is even better. Unfamiliar teammates often decreases your ability to uses tactics against the opfor. But as many of you know more often than not you are placed on team that not only included your squad but a group of guys you don't know. Many times, due to this unfamiliarity squad based tactics are thrown out the window. Maybe you're stuck with a bunch of guys who don't listen and just want to assault hunting down every tango in sight. Maybe you're stuck with guys who are timid and all they want to do is defend. Either way you look at it your potential of being screwed is multiplied. Whether you pick a medic you are familiar with and can trust or a guy who said he wants it because he is the fastest, his chances of staying effective are slim.
Why?
What if you have a group of guys who don't listen because they think their tier one assassins and are running in different directions because they have different ideas on what it's going to take to win. How is a medic cover all that? They can't! Chances are the medic is going to stay with the most stable group of guys and those guys are the ones who are going to be respawning back in again and again. Where are the rest of the guys? They are hundred yards down the field calling for a medic on comms or yelling for one at the top of their lungs while the opfor over runs their position. There is no way your sending your medic to save that guy, and because of that your chances of winning the game just decreased by one gun.
# of medics- How many medics does it take to stay effective? At minimum one per squad, realistically you'll probably only have one or two depending on your teams size. There in lies the problem, if you are at a quality field who's admins run objective based scenarios one or two medics isn't going to cut it. As is often seen this type of field will run a scenario with multiple objectives and a time limit in which to complete them. In these situations the only choice maybe be to break up your team into even smaller groups to either beat the other team to the objective or complete each objective within the allotted time. So the question is, which squad do you send the medic with? There is no way to tell which squad has the greater chance of success in completing their mission. It's a toss up there is know right answer. So it may turn out that having to assign medics can be an unwinnable situation.
Comms- For more experienced airsofters, it's common knowledge that at any game you attend only 30%-60% of those involved will be running with comms. There lies the problem, in a good size field how can medics be expected to help others when the dead player has no way to contact anyone? They can't, so that means if your on a team where 60% of your guys aren't' running comms and they are have no other way to contact the medic, along with your assigned mission you just added the potential to lose 60% of your force. For anyone who has experienced similar situations, you know it can piss you off more than the opfor not calling their hits.
Solutions
There are multiple solutions to this problem. For my part, I am partial to the timed spawn in place rule, with the option to move depending on the position of the opfor or the spawn at a predesignated location rule. These are simple and they work, two important factors in developing medic rules. Some work better than others, effectiveness depends on the strength of your admins, your ability to simplify, the environment and the participants involved. This means that there is no perfect solution, with adaptability comes trial and error. Creating the perfect airsoft experience doesn't come easy, ask those who run games.
Thomas Edison, when asked if he was frustrated at attempting 1,000 different ways to build a light bulb before he succeeding said, "No, we now know a 1,000 different ways not to build light bulb."
Food for thought...
The two most complicated aspects of airsoft, overly detailed scenarios and medic rules. For many in our sport medic rules have become more of nuisance and irritation than an effective part of game play. Overwrought gimmicks like have turned what was supposed to be an integral part of the milsim experience into an tactical mess that has the ability to frustrate players and delay game play.
In a perfect airsoft world medic rules would be an effective and enjoyable part of game play. However, airsoft isn't perfect. Scenarios, teams and squads are prone to dysfunction. Hey that's life, adapting to your environment although difficult is the key to making things work in our world. Perhaps you think I'm being unfair or biased in my point of view? Maybe you're thinking just because I've been soured by my experiences with medic rules I am generalizing? Well you're right, I am generalizing and the reason I am doing so is because the logic behind my reasoning is universal. Whether you play in a different state or a different continent we all suffer from similar problems.
For the skeptics to my theory, here is a breakdown of my logic, one problem at a time...
Unfamiliarity- Being on a team is cool, having familiarity with each other and effective tactics based game play is even better. Unfamiliar teammates often decreases your ability to uses tactics against the opfor. But as many of you know more often than not you are placed on team that not only included your squad but a group of guys you don't know. Many times, due to this unfamiliarity squad based tactics are thrown out the window. Maybe you're stuck with a bunch of guys who don't listen and just want to assault hunting down every tango in sight. Maybe you're stuck with guys who are timid and all they want to do is defend. Either way you look at it your potential of being screwed is multiplied. Whether you pick a medic you are familiar with and can trust or a guy who said he wants it because he is the fastest, his chances of staying effective are slim.
Why?
What if you have a group of guys who don't listen because they think their tier one assassins and are running in different directions because they have different ideas on what it's going to take to win. How is a medic cover all that? They can't! Chances are the medic is going to stay with the most stable group of guys and those guys are the ones who are going to be respawning back in again and again. Where are the rest of the guys? They are hundred yards down the field calling for a medic on comms or yelling for one at the top of their lungs while the opfor over runs their position. There is no way your sending your medic to save that guy, and because of that your chances of winning the game just decreased by one gun.
# of medics- How many medics does it take to stay effective? At minimum one per squad, realistically you'll probably only have one or two depending on your teams size. There in lies the problem, if you are at a quality field who's admins run objective based scenarios one or two medics isn't going to cut it. As is often seen this type of field will run a scenario with multiple objectives and a time limit in which to complete them. In these situations the only choice maybe be to break up your team into even smaller groups to either beat the other team to the objective or complete each objective within the allotted time. So the question is, which squad do you send the medic with? There is no way to tell which squad has the greater chance of success in completing their mission. It's a toss up there is know right answer. So it may turn out that having to assign medics can be an unwinnable situation.
Comms- For more experienced airsofters, it's common knowledge that at any game you attend only 30%-60% of those involved will be running with comms. There lies the problem, in a good size field how can medics be expected to help others when the dead player has no way to contact anyone? They can't, so that means if your on a team where 60% of your guys aren't' running comms and they are have no other way to contact the medic, along with your assigned mission you just added the potential to lose 60% of your force. For anyone who has experienced similar situations, you know it can piss you off more than the opfor not calling their hits.
Solutions
There are multiple solutions to this problem. For my part, I am partial to the timed spawn in place rule, with the option to move depending on the position of the opfor or the spawn at a predesignated location rule. These are simple and they work, two important factors in developing medic rules. Some work better than others, effectiveness depends on the strength of your admins, your ability to simplify, the environment and the participants involved. This means that there is no perfect solution, with adaptability comes trial and error. Creating the perfect airsoft experience doesn't come easy, ask those who run games.
Thomas Edison, when asked if he was frustrated at attempting 1,000 different ways to build a light bulb before he succeeding said, "No, we now know a 1,000 different ways not to build light bulb."
Food for thought...
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