I went paintballing again yesterday, this time to Swat paintball on the Wirral. The whole day was a bit bizarre really. The website is pretty naff with flash used extensively for no purpose. The buttons that link you to each individual page is a flash button (why?). The map page says "email me for location" which is not very useful at 10pm the day before you arrive. After getting directions from our organiser I was expecting signposts on the main road it was off - but there weren't any. Fortunately they had mentioned the Great American Car Wash and I turned opposite that and then went down a country lane, past a less that foot square sign, reversed and bumped over the field, down a track to the car park.I was early so I had to wait for everyone else to arrive and when they did we all got a sausage in a bun (plus points) and a cup of tea (no coffe though!) After changing into the damp (sweat or rain???) camo gear we then hung around for ages. There was a lot of waiting all day and when you are in full camo suits in the middle of an open field, the rest between games is appreciated but at the same time you want to get on with it and back to the hut for some shade.
The equipment issued was pretty good, visors that didn't actually mist up, armoured gloves (and body armour for the 3 ladies who turned up). The standard issue gun wasn't automatic, but was pump action and referred to as the ladies gun - an upgrade to a mans gun, semi automatic was given (at an extra £5 but most men took it!)
5 games were played before lunch, 3 of them in the woods. I liked the fact that the games weren't in pairs - swapping ends each time - this meant that each game was quite different to the previous one. The best one is "the hole" where the defending team have to defend a STEEP ditch in the woods. Good fun when you attacking! However, as one of the opposing team found to his dismay, if you are shot then swearing AND continuing to play is not a good idea - especially when after 5 quick shots in the same place and you are STILL swearing and playing - eventually after another 5 shots and a few more swear words he limped into the safe zone.
Some of the games you "respawned" if you had been shot - this was good fun as it meant you were playing for a lot longer - BUT you were also using up more ammo and at £6 per 100 shots - that gets very expensive. (a quick online search found 2000 balls for £35 - that would have only brought me just over a quarter that number at the rate we were being charged.)
The funniest thing was after lunch (slop and bread but it tasted good) one of the teams realised two men were missing - they were STILL defending their base having not heard the whistle being blown - much to everyones amusement. The good news for these two guys was that there was *some* food left and they also got a voucher for a free days playing (including paint!) at another time.
The end of the day everyone got a cold can of beer which is great if you like beer (I don't) and are not driving home!
Plus points for swatpaintball - lunch and the sausage roll provided, differing games (including hostage taking),good equipment/safety
Minus points - expensive, no (free)cold water drinks, cans - not cold were £1 each, lots of long waiting periods between games.
