Dreamworld

7-man is dead. Long live 7-man. In a move that shouldn't really surprise anyone another effort is being made to revive the format on a national scale. At this rate I'm gonna run out of fingers to keep count. The GPL jumped in looking to fill the void with a plan to promote (and encourage) a unified series of competing regionals under their banner. Then the WCPPL (That's right, isn't it? I'm too lazy to check.) leaped into the breach in order to save 7-man for the left coasters and incidentally help support the two pro teams behind the effort; Aftermath (Hinman) & XSV (Telford.) Almost from the moment of Pacific's bankruptcy announcement there's been what governmental press liaisons like to call chatter flying around paintball's back channels. The latest from PBReserve puts Tom Fore (Arsenal) and Chuck Hendsch (Spyder) behind this move. They aren't alone but it's far from a done deal.
Don't let the post title give you the wrong impression. Or the music video. I'm not opposed to a new national 7-man league. I'm part of a team that is officially accounted among the "interested" if uncommitted. (Not unlike most everybody else who wants to sit on the fence for a while until they see how things are likely to shake out. Which, among other things, leads to a protracted shaking out period.) I liked having two leagues before and thought the competition was a good thing. (I didn't account however for nobody actually learning much of anything in the process. Oops.) I just don't think it's gonna happen. Or if it does I don't think it's gonna last. I don't think that at the moment it is being looked at with real hard-headed objectivity. In fact I'm very nearly positive it isn't. Pure Promotions lost its shirt. Pacific filed for bankruptcy but never fear, the new guys will avoid the pitfalls of the past.
[For the future NPL partners: Gentlemen, in the line item tentatively filled in to six places projecting industry support/sponsorship how 'bout you put together a worst case scenario that leaves that out of the computation altogether and see where it leaves you. I'm not saying you won't get anything but given your past experiences as team captains and owners you should have learned a little something about promises and reality much less wishful thinking. Just saying.]
What you've got is a number of former NPPL pro teams suddenly being pulled between 7-man pro and PSP semi-pro xball. (Because a goodly number, perhaps even most, will have to pick one or the other unable to commit to both.) I understand the appeal of their preferred format and applaud the conception behind it but can it get off the ground, much less last? And in the meantime it puts the PSP in a straight jacket with regards to filling out the semi-pro division and confidently moving forward based on their plans for '09. Can their restructuring withstand a depleted semi-pro? (It will alter the economies of the pro field and refs, etc. for a start given what was in the works.) Are we going to try and divide industry (again) and will industry be divided (again)? In what bizzaro universe does that make any sense after all the whimpering and hand-wringing from industry over the last couple of years? And what about Mary? (Okay, that's got nothing to do with anything. I just got carried away.)
What you've also got is what I assume to be some cross purposes particularly with the WCPPL. Will the west coast support a regional 7-man league and 2 major 7-man events? Aren't Hinman and Telford counting on the WCPPL to support their teams? Maybe they aren't or maybe everybody thinks starting two new 7-man leagues is no big deal and if you build it they will come. It's always worked before, right?

But enough will all the negativity. I think I can help. Why compete against each other when there's a possibility of working together? Check out the Pro Circuit. (Yes, I'm flogging this idea again.) Got that? Good.
What some of the pro teams want is the format. What all of them are interested in is greater say in the process and having some control over their own destiny. (Remember the old dream of the original NPPL?) Here's how it might work. The WCPPL continues to lay the groundwork for their regional league. The principles behind the putative NPL start talking to the GPL towards the end of seeing if an agreement can be reached that serves the primary interests of both sides. Let the GPL be the umbrella organization that oversees and helps build the regional series and incorporate the WCPPL into their structure. And if the NPL can work a deal with the GPL along the lines of running a pro circuit tied to GPL sanctioned regional events (and series) the GPL now has a big carrot to dangle in front of possible regional operators. Call me crazy, call me an optimistic fool but if it's possible for the various 7-man factions to work together I can't help but think there would be a much better chance for success. Of course it would probably shelve the Return of HB but we can't have everything we want, can we?

The Conventional Wisdom

This isn't the first draft of this post. Or the second. In fact this post isn't anything like what I thought I wanted to say. The easy part was starting. It's been a lot tougher finding my way through to any sort of conclusion but the mighty maw of the blogosphere doesn't long tolerate deliberation. (Much like my absurdly low threshold for boredom.) Truth is I've left out most of my conclusions, mostly so you can draw your own. I don't know if there's a meal here or only table scraps. You decide.
One long-standing, grey-bearded item of conventional wisdom in paintball states: Tourney ballers (and tournament paintball) are in the minority and it's not even close. No doubt you've heard that one. May even have repeated it yourself. Me too. If it's true (and it has to be, doesn't it?) then tournament paintball has been the tail that wags the dog. How did that come about? The industry has for a long time (in paintball years) marketed paintball via the tourney game and players. The media (when it existed) focused on tournament paintball. Tourney ball drove the tech developments and the notion of paintball as sport motivated many and inspired the push for mainstream acceptance and TV. I know how this looks but don't be too hasty about drawing any conclusions just yet. Is there a danger of the pendulum swinging too far the other way? What doesn't the conventional wisdom tell us that we need to know?
Here's some Old Skool conventional wisdom: Moving paintball out of the woods was a, and perhaps even the, critical step in the development of competitive paintball. (Ever notice how certain bits of conventional wisdom don't seem to fit with other bits of conventional wisdom and yet it doesn't seem to matter. I wonder why that is? /end Andy Rooney riff) Who can argue with that? But tell me how much impact moving out of the woods had, if any, on the player explosion of a few years ago. Are they related? If they are related is there any disconnect between the notion that the vast majority of players are rec/woods/scenario players? I'm just asking but with what little hard data there seems to be it looks like a case could be made that moving out of the woods also broadened paintball's appeal across the board. I realize that in some quarters that's sacrilege and I also think that some measure of paintballers preferences are regional but does the idea put a different face on the "typical" rec player? What else could have moved the majority of local fields to invest in some brand of airball or other? You know, given the conventional wisdom about the limited number of tourney ballers and all. I'm beginning to wonder about the utility of conventional wisdom in general.
How about another piece of classic conventional wisdom? The transition to xball happened because 10-man was dying out. Is that really what happened? Not according to the numbers. The last year that 10-man was the featured event ('02) was also the largest WC 10-man turn out ever and the Chicago event that year featured more 10-man teams than the WC of only two years earlier. In terms of numbers of teams xball has yet to match the 10-man numbers of WC '01. So what precipitated the sharp rise in 10-man participation? And what was the cause of the switch to xball? And if you really want to make yourself crazy figure out which years were the fat years for industry and try and relate those to event turnout. And if you can't does that make our first item of conventional wisdom seem all the more correct? Or are things becoming so complicated it's hard to know what to think?
Here's another bit of more current conventional wisdom: irresponsible punks and their high ROF guns are destroying paintball. Hard to argue with this one, right? I mean the signs are everywhere. PBIndustry is reputed to be in serious trouble. Sponsorships are definitely shrinking. The number of peeps playing paintball is on the decline, or so it's said. The NPPL is gone and if folks are to be believed some of the paint giants are struggling to survive. Nobody seems to know how tourney participation will shake out this coming season but plenty of peeps are worried. Local fields and stores are struggling too and some are closing. All true as far as it goes.
Except there's a problem. One problem with conventional wisdom is that it's not always true. Another problem is it can be an easy shortcut that appeals to Paintball's herd mentality. (You know, the one where everybody agrees instead of thinking.) In this case the problem is the disconnect between the legitimate trials facing Paintball and the purported cause. Irresponsible punks and their high ROF guns. How did the industry get into trouble? Are there more or less people playing paintball today than 10 years ago? If the answer is more, and it certainly appears to be, then were the paint companies even worse off 10 years ago? How did industry survive at all? On the local level is it numbers of players or gross sales that are the real issue? How does the current economy figure into the equations?
How many irresponsible punks with high ROF guns does it take to collapse an industry?
And if they all disappeared overnight would all of Paintball's problems go with them?

Dropping Faster Than The ROF

I am of course referring to the I.Q. of those foolish enough to be reading and/or participating in the various threads over at PBN regarding the future ROF in the PSP. If paintball forums are any indication literacy is at greater risk than the future of competitive paintball. It's one thing to not be the sharpest tool in the drawer and another altogether to proudly, loudly and repeatedly proclaim how dull you are.
Even so, there are a couple of interesting aspects of this whole ROF brouhaha that weren't addressed in the previous posts on the topic. Will the lower division teams that could benefit actually benefit from a lowered ROF? It seems to me (with no supporting evidence or any attempt at real analysis) that the better lower division teams are those that already play the game the "right way." That is, they know and understand the fundamentals and do their best to implement them. The lower ROF should unleash those teams. As for some percentage of the rest they have been competing on the basis of their firepower and less on their knowledge and skill and this change will be a serious wake-up call for them. The question is: How will they respond? Short term within the divisions I think we will see a suddenly wider gap between the good teams and the not-so-good teams. Hopefully it will prove to be more instructive than it is demoralizing. Longer term, assuming some degree of continuity, it will make more players better players. (By my definition of better, anyway.) [And a related question: How do players and teams actually learn and improve? The lower ROF will provide a more conducive environment but ... ]
Another marginally interesting item is how graduated rates of fire might impact practices. There is apparently some concern from the Big Love families of teams because they have teams operating across multiple divisions and some lesser measure of concern from lower division teams perhaps wondering what happens when practicing higher division teams. My experience with this situation is limited to pro team(s) practicing with D1 sister team(s) so I won't speak to how it might affect the lower divisions & mixed ROF, which is a looming complication. Beyond that, as a general rule I do not approve of scheduled practice time being used scrimmaging (or even running interactive drills) against lower division opponents. As a rule it is insufficiently productive given the limited amount of practice time available and it is important to actively limit the deleterious effects. But in the case where it's a necessity (my experience) the greater risk is to the higher level team. The lower level team risks mental fatigue and discouragement but is pushed to build a competitive skill level. The higher level teams risks losing precision and focus. Every team's personality is different and so poses different challenges but my point, such as it is, is that there are perhaps bigger issues to mixed division practice than ROF and maybe this will push those who need to, to reconsider how they prepare. (Or not.)
Lastly, there is the curious position this puts some of the aftermarket manufacturers in. What purpose does a sophisticated software package serve when nearly any level marker can perform to international tourney standards? I mention it because if I don't somebody will. Of course the same could be said of high end guns, too. I'm not suggesting a particular nook in the industry deserves to survive simply because it exists--only that the measures taken that may harm it are being taken by folks with so many diverse (and possibly conflicting) interests that that narrative will resonate in some quarters. Just saying.

UPDATE: Special instant VFTD translation: When a league, predominantly owned by big hitters in PBIndustry, makes decisions that could hammer smaller members of the industry it doesn't look good and could be seen as an abuse of power. (Particularly if the PSTA turns out to be an exclusive club.) Just saying.

For future reference VFTD will be welcoming new enlistments to the Deadbox Puppet Army on Fridays only. With the numbers changing almost daily lately I am concerned about publishing too many posts that are not necessarily of general interest and I don't want the blog to become cluttered. Fortuitously today is Friday so I'm allowed to offer a greeting to sf5c (Bilgisayar) who joins the DPA from Ankara, Turkey. (hmm, turkey)

The Return of Mr. Curious

Having spoken recently with VFTD's eastern European correspondent I find myself in the awkward position of not having a definite opinion. While our correspondent defaults to the rational explanation--"that doesn't make sense because ..."--I tend to default in the direction of pride, avarice and the irrational when trying to understand what's going on. Ask yourself how many decisions you are aware of in paintball's history that have been made on a purely rational basis? I rest my case.
The bone of contention has to do with the intentions of the new European Paintball Championship (formerly the Centurio & European Central Series). I suggested the new series presented a challenge to the MS and our correspondent didn't think so. (I didn't say it presented a threat but who knows?) His reasons are as follows: travel distances are too far for most western Eurokids. The potential for visa and border issues in some places is a negative. Costs other than entries unlikely to be much different. Scale, professionalism and support of events not on a par with MS. The principle agents behind much of the ECS in the past were/are regional reps for one of the big PBIndustry players. And lastly our correspondent says that Eurorefs is the group the MS uses under the leadership of Ulrich Stahr (one of the only men in Europe with a worse reputation than George W. Bush--or so it's said.)
It's hard not to take his point of view seriously and I do but that's not nearly as much fun as fomenting some chaos or watching a clash of would-be titans. Oh, well.
The alternative theory then becomes that the EPC is positioning itself to control Eastern Europe, cooperate in some respects and align its format, etc. in such a way as to be a viable future party to this mythical New World Odor, er, Order. Which makes perfectly good sense. But doesn't mean it's correct.
So what is the real deal? Mr. Curious needs to know. Will the EPC draw off MS teams even if it isn't trying to? Where will they come from? Does the EPC have any behind the scenes industry sanction? To do what? How will their events turn out?
Help Mr. Curious out. Drop me a line or post a comment.

For all the American readers who feel cheated: I know, you've just wasted a minute of your life--or in some cases 5 or 10 minutes. (Yeah, I saw your lips moving.) Stay in school, kids. And try to remember there's a big wide world out there full of paintball that doesn't revolve around your whining about the uncertain future ROF for a league you've never played before. Or something like that.

About the whole New World Odor thing, it was just a childish joke. It had absolutely nothing to do with my aversion to centralized authority or my mistrust of those in power. Honest. Just a joke.

Mr. Miller, is that you?

VFTD would like to give a Christmas eve shout out to the latest recruit, Renick. If this is indeed Mr. Renick Miller, paintball legend, it is an honor to count you among the DPA. And if it isn't VFTD is pleased to welcome 'another' Renick. After all, we's all brothers behind the goggles, right?

Something Paintball This Way Comes

The PSP's Top 12 have received official notification of what to expect by way of basic changes for the coming season. The bulk of the notice relates to entry fees and payment schedules. Do you recall that PSP Phoenix last year was a race to 7 in the NXL (changed thereafter to 9)? [Here's where I toss you a tiny piece of raw meat.] The formerly NXL, now PSP Pro (or whatever) will be racing once again to 7. I suspect the rest of this info will be out very soon so you won't have long to wait for the rest. And the majority of new info as it relates to divisional play will probably be released soon. (I know, I know, I keep saying that but it'll be true one of these times.) One curiosity is that Commish Tony M. was the principle source of league info and communication with the pro teams before but this came straight from Lane. Is it meaningful?

UPDATE: Tony will continue his role as Commish and chief whipping boy (a role he handles with dignity, a lot of jaw-clenching and this odd tic at the corner of his left eye)--for which I am personally grateful this holiday season as giving Tony grief is one of life's small pleasures.

WELT #8

Hit the cyberstands today. If you haven't subscribed there is no time like right NOW to hit the title link and get it done. The price is right for the average baller too--it's FREE! So give yourself a gift this holiday season, one that will keep on giving throughout the year. And check out my modest contribution and let me know what you think. Am I a hater, or what?

New Recruits

Joining the ranks are Chris Remuzzi, longtime pro baller who keeps some Bad Company. Check out Chris's blog, Chronicles of Muzz, in the paintblogs list. And, Leon, our latest French recruit. At this rate VFTD will soon have to open a branch of the Foreign Legion. Welcome.

UPDATE: Bronc decided to make the leap today, too. Greetings from VFTD. Bronc is also launching an aptly named blog. It's in the list. And he's working in the industry.

The numbers suggest there are lots of new visitors to our happy little blog so I thought I'd take a moment to explain the Deadbox Puppet Army for the uninitiated. The DPA is intended--given my warped sense of humor--to be an ironic poke at paintball's penchant for generating lookalike armies and the impulse for everybody to be individuals in large groups. (Can you say, agg?) If you were hoping to park your brain at the door and march in lockstep with your fellow puppets I'm afraid you will be disappointed. There won't be any of that here. We are all just simple victims of paintball, friends with a shared insanity--no strings attached.

Robots versus Ninjas, Part 2

Given that the most recent related post, Robots vs. Ninjas (Part 1) is a month old already here's a linked list of the related posts in chronological order; Saving Xball, Defining the Game, An Informal Survey, Robots vs. Ninjas, Part 1 if you'd like to catch up or refresh your memory. If not I'll be happy, no thrilled, to summarize the previous posts for all you lazy slackers. Like hell I will. Exercise your finger and click your mouse.

Robots vs. Ninjas, Part 1 puts the differences between the two dominant formats into perspective–though with the bankruptcy of Pacific Paintball the differences, both real and apparent, are rather a moot point. Xball, of one sort or another, is the competitive paintball format for the foreseeable future. The issue now becomes if Xball promotes a certain kind of player–and, broadly defined, I think it does–is it the kind of player we want? And if it isn't what can be done about it? In one sense the robots vs. ninjas debate is resistance from the traditionalists to what they perceive as a diminished game or a less desirable game than the one they played. Without arguing the merits it is important in moving forward to define what the game should be and then what are the skills and abilities required to compete effectively. Or perhaps vice versa. Start with the play of the game as players and go from there in building the game around the desired skills and abilities.
Let's take a brief look at the Russian Legion as their example is instructive. The Legion burst onto the international pro scene on the basis of a new-to-paintball method of training players. It inspired imitation (to varying degrees) and has had a significant impact on competitive paintball. Their methodology also is (was) clearly better suited to the Xball format than to 7-man. The abbreviated reason for this is in Xball it is possible to prepare for, and exert some influence over, more aspects of the actual play of the game than in 7-man. (It is the element of relative unpredictability (more or less) in 7-man that is the missing element for many of the traditionalists because within the window of unpredictability there exists more time and more freedom to make individual play of the game decisions.) For the Legion then the status quo would seem to be ideal yet in recent seasons they have moved to a roster mix that is nearly evenly split between U.S.-based players and Russians.
So what do we want? What should separate the best from the rest? Is it purely gun skills? Physical tools? Something else? Something more? If we can't define the skill set(s), both physical and mental, that comprise the ideal player the players will still be subject to forces that shape their development. Those forces are our training routines and the rules of the game we play.
Paintball has been developing more sophisticated training methods but still relies heavily on scrimmaging. This isn't unreasonable but it is inefficient. Scrimmaging is a necessary element but it is very paint intensive and is only a valuable learning tool when conducted by knowledgeable players and/or coaches focused on learning and improving. It easily reduces to just playing paintball, which is more fun but not always very productive.
Right now in the U.S. there is a bias toward scrimmaging regardless of other factors. In part that is because that is how it's 'always' been done. And among the pros the growing scarcity of resources and time for practice forces hard decisions and tends to push teams toward the familiar. And finally the early release of competition layouts makes the scrimmage imperative. No team would willingly cede practical knowledge of and familiarity with the competition layout when they are convinced their competition will have that knowledge and familiarity. If the layout is available it must be played.
In the short term the only viable way to have a dramatic impact in shaping the ideal player is to not release the layouts in advance. (Here I'm really focusing on the pro–and new semi-pro–division where the impact would be the greatest.) This is so because we are in an era of mostly very limited resources and as a consequence less time to prepare. And until (if ever) paintball can boast real professionals the time, resources and commitment will always be an issue. The non-release would free up the teams to develop different training regimes that would focus on a player's adaptability and capacity to read the changing field and react on the fly. The physical skills would remain the same but this change would dramatically alter the mental game and it's application to the Xball format. The result would be a much more demanding and intense game given the speed Xball tends to promote. (You'd eventually have better players and a better game. IM not very HO, of course.) There would also be a variety of other, I think, positive results as well from this one change.

This post takes some shortcuts in the interest of brevity (can you believe it?) and may as a consequence be a fairly demanding read. If you have any questions or just want to be argumentative don't hesitate to post a comment.

Yes, I know what I posted on Saturday. Get off my back. It's still Saturday somewhere in the South Pacific, right? You know, the whole international dateline thing.

The Goulash Thickens & Other Miscellany

Ever heard of the Centurio Series or the European Central Series? If not it doesn't matter. (They were two, mostly eastern European paintball series with vague pretensions of competing with the Millennium Series.) It doesn't matter because now they are one larger series, the European Paintball Championship's Grand Tour, still predominantly in eastern Europe, directly challenging the Millennium Series in a number of fascinating ways. It appears they will be organizing their new league(s) in a manner consistent with the Pro Circuit concept with regional conferences for divisional play and an all-inclusive season ending Grand Tour Cup event. The challenge to the MS is the EPC's announced goal of creating a pro division and competing using the xball lite format just like the MS. If the EPC can build some sponsor support and entice a few established pro teams to compete they could, in fairly short order, pose a real threat to the MS's European dominance.
I wonder what the chances are the Russian Legion competes in the new league? And is Moscow Caste selling their Millennium spot in order to switch?

I have come to the conclusion that certain elements of the PSP occasionally tell me things as a form of retribution. I should have thought of this a long time ago as it's what I would do in their place. The upshot is VFTD is unlikely to "break" any shocking big time tourney news so if you've been expecting something, anything any moment now--stop. Just knock it off. There is however mounting pressure to finalize decisions and make announcements (or should that be pronouncements?) as the unofficially not-yet-announced first event will only be six or seven weeks out at around the first of the new year. So it really won't be long now--or else.
Last order of business before finishing up Christmas shopping--my own personal annual nightmare--(What do you mean you can't think of anything you really want? But I'm supposed to know what to get you even when you're clueless? Umm, no, I can't think of anything I really want either) is to note the inclusion into the blogroll of Jason Lineberger's Strictly Scenario and Chris Remuzzi's Chronicles of Muzz. Also, VFTD welcomes Mach as the newest member of the DPA. Postulating that Mach is attending (or recently attended) Michigan State I'm typing very slowly. Hey, Mach is the El Azteca still there just off campus? Hmmm, cheese dip. Oh yeah, and look for Mach's paintblog, 'Paintball in Michigan' in the blog roll.
Robots vs. Ninjas, Part 2 will be posted later today. I give and I give and it's never enough, is it?

Santa the Avenger

VFTD wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas with The Killers performing, 'Don't Shoot Me Santa'

Blogtastic!

My friends, and I call you my friends in order to lull you into a sense of false security so that I can take advantage of you. (No, not like that, you pervert.) In fact until I figure out how to use this manipulative power over the internet y'all are safe. Or are you?
When I started VFTD as a blog it never occurred to me to see what, if anything, other paintball bloggers were doing. In fact, it never occurred to me there were other paintball bloggers. (You might be a raging narcissist if the mere existence of other like-minded peeps never entered your mind.) In my defense I never conceived of this blog as being topic driven (even though it is) or in competition for an audience either. Mostly I wanted a place to keep doing what I've been doing for a few years now.
Anyway, enough about you, what about me?
Lately however I've been beat about the head and shoulders (figuratively of course) by all the paintball blogs springing up like mushrooms in a Mississippi basement--or at least coming to my attention--and I've decided to do something about it.
All of that was preamble to putting up a blog roll in the sidebar below the Dead Tree Archive. (What you've just read is a classic example of a big build up that fails to deliver when you find out what it's all about. Life is filled with disappointments.) I'll also be adding a sites of interest roll though I can't help but assume y'all won't see much of anything new in the list. Regarding the blog roll--it will be fairly strictly limited to actual blogs but otherwise I won't discriminate by type of paintball blog. The ones I read will be at the top of the list. [UPDATE: Not so much as it turns out. The gadget doesn't allow me to set it up that way. Instead it will cycle blogs by the most recently updated.] Blogs belonging to the DPA will also be listed and if anyone else would like theirs included just drop me a line with the site addy and I'll put it up. I'm sure it's not a big deal but I'm curious to see what happens.
Regarding sites of interest they will not, except in the broadest sense, include commercial sites. I'm thinking more along the lines of forums, news and information sites.
If I ever include commercial sites I will do it the American way and charge them for advertising.

Coming whenever I get around to it; Robots vs. Ninjas, part 2 & Restructuring the Local Tournament. Along with responses to the coming PSP announcements and whatever nonsense the MS is spouting next. In case anyone was wondering VFTD will remain a Shawn Walker free zone so don't expect any future comments. I'm not trying to be even-handed or open-minded, I just don't care.
Till next time keep an eye out for the blog roll as I'm very nearly computer literate and internet ready.

Not Plane, Nor Bird, Nor Even Frog

it's just him--little old undrdg. Welcome aboard. Now buy yourself a vowel. And see if you can get Sweet Polly Purebred to drop by. She's one fine ...

VFTD also welcomes Russ (of Russ and the UK refs). Every year during World Cup Russ can found in the evening sprawled curbside outside Son on the Beach.

UPDATE: Signing up for a tour of duty is Geoff Waterman (of the PSP) and the Great White North (eh!). If you check his avatar he's the one on the left and that thug beside him must be PSP security. Geoff also plays paintball for the world famous Blue Man Group--huh--erm--I meant Blue Gunners.

Yet Another Cynical VFTD Game

Since PBReserve has unearthed some more info it's time to play the next game. (Thanks, kids.) And for those who might be wondering--no, I didn't rat out the PSP so I could play a new game. I'm pretty sure it was Scooter Libby.
There is a tentative Pro team list for 2009. There is a hierarchical list of other pro teams and their numeric position for filling a pro spot. (It is completely irrelevant if the listing is accurate or not to the aim o' the game.)
Drum roll please.
Here's your challenge. First: name the 12 teams that will be on the field in (let's take a wild stab in the dark) Phoenix competing in the season's opening event. Second: name the 12 teams that make up the semi-pro division at the first event. Object of the game is to get as many of the 24 teams right as possible--so a 24 out of 24 would be the best score possible.
The tie-breaker is--cruel and unusual. How many teams will claim a spot in either division (pro & semi-pro) but NOT compete in the first event.
And the No Life But Paintball award will go to the no-lifer who is able to name which teams will claim a spot but not compete. Incorrect answers will be subtracted from correct answers in order to determine the Loser, er, winner so don't bother listing everybody you can think of.

Okay, since I hear playing the games aren't any fun without (real) prizes let's see what happens. I have a pair of red/black I3's with tinted lenses. If the game gets 100 entries I'll send them to the winner. If the game gets 200 entries the winner will receive an '08 Damage pro jersey. Put your thinking caps on and get to guessing. Game will remain open until 2 weeks prior to the event.

Effect of ROF on the play of the game; Part 2

Here's the set-up. 1) Honest question: [a] Will someone please tell me what the skill is when moving under higher rates of fire? [b] Is there some talent or skill players develop to get through tighter lanes of paint? [c] Isn't the whole point of the 'lane' of paint that a player CAN'T get through it?

The answer to [b] first: yes and no. The skill is in learning how to get through a controlled gap (a lane of paint) and then successfully and routinely executing, not in how to magically dodge 13 bps (which isn't what happens most of the time). You might be surprised to learn how many ways there are. [c]: No, the whole point is to try and contain/control movement in order to gain a positional advantage and this concept is a team concept not an individual player concept. [a]: it isn't a single skill, it is a diverse group of abilities; it's vision, it's timing, it's coordinated action, it's often running & shooting, it's body awareness [where you are in relation to where peeps can kill you], it's planning and preparation, it's physical tools including raw speed. There are a couple others but hopefully you get the idea. It's a rather complex interplay of game playing elements that in combinations allows movement through a zone the opposition is trying to control.

Here's the big picture answer–and the reason why ROF is important to the game play. ROF is the principle modifier of Movement. A few years ago, during the transition to semi-auto field rentals from pumps, we were playing some after hours paintball with the soon to be obsolete (then) pumps. We were playing approx. 5 on 5 on the speedball field which was mostly barrels and crossed plywood. Before one game it occurred to us that the pumps weren't capable, on that field, of containing our movement particularly if the other team played as if we all had semi-autos. The predictable result was that we ran them off the field in seconds. The proximity created by the dimensions of the modern xball field require a counterbalancing ROF in order to retain the game's complexity. Even with the old 15 bps and sideline coaches good players are still able to move and run down their opponents. If, for example, you put the pro ROF at 8 bps on a standard field layout the result would, in short order, be a brutal game of train wreck points because the ROF wouldn't be able to control movement versus the skill level of the players. The fact that pro players are capable of moving when confronted by high ROF is one of the defining characteristics of the current game. From my point of view, the ideal ROF for purposes of game play is one or two notches below being able to control the movement of the best teams. (And incidentally the reason why graduated ROF doesn't bother me at all. It should give developing players an opportunity to exercise the correct skill set with the correct priorities placed on the various demands of the game.)
When movement becomes too easy it loses value. In the modern format ROF makes movement meaningful. And meaningful movement is what makes all the great moves great.