I believe what we all should be considering here is the fact that the ROF/overshooting/etc problem is getting SO bad, that a major field owner felt it necessary to take the extreme measure of limiting his field to gravity fed hoppers. And admitting that the paintball playing public is made up of substantially more scnario/rec players than tourney players, his intentions are not off base. And, if I may say so, the difference betwixt 15 PBS and 13 PBS is really inconsequential.

What do we do as a sport to control this problem? (And it really is a problem) Do we place bracketing restrictions on recreational play? Do we totally eliminate powered loaders or do we define our play at certain levels? I don't necessarily have the answer. But I do know that he is right about more new players coming in and never coming back because of an ugly incident.

I'm eager to see more discussion on this.

gravity fed hoppers is not the proper way to limit ROF. There are more issues with gravity fed hoppers than just being slow. I've spent good money on my equipment, and I plan on using it. If they want to limit ROF, let the customers do it with electronics.. My board will let me limit my marker anywhere from 10-20 BPS. THIS is the proper solution.

This is one field I wont be going to, thats for sure.

Its called suppressive fire.

I don't see what the big deal is about overshooting. If you go to play paintball you better plan on getting shot! When I go to a game I plan on getting shot and getting shot a lot. If you get hit, yell "I'm out!", raise your marker, and get the **** out of the fire fight! Now if fields want to have limited ROF games for people who are not comfotable with high ROF thats great! But limiting everyone is a bit much.

TATER

I don't see a problem with limiting the ROF on a marker, if you don't want to have your ROF limited then just don't go. I think what they may be trying to do is keep it fair for everyone, including those who are renting, and by doing that they hope to draw more people into the sport. For a new kid to go to a field and get torn to peices by an electronic marker firing 25bps they may feel turned off to the sport by the immense cost involved in obtaining such an advanced marker.

This may have held water 5 years ago, but today, you can pickup an Ion (or other affordable electro) for around $100. capable of 17bps right out of the box. If you cant afford $100 to buy a marker, you probably shouldn't be playing paintball. I'll spend $100 on a day of paintball fairly easily.

Now for those who honestly cant afford it, or do not play enough to warrant this, I've seen many fields put together games just for such people.. All rental gear/newbie games. This is a much better option than trying to ruin the fun for those of us who dont care about being overshot. and enjoy the challenge of dodging 20bps coming at you.

It's their field, if they want to make those rules, more power to them, BUT, I am glad I don't "have" to play there.

I don't take my meds
because I like being ANGRY!

well i think its a great idea.. to allienate all the people that go to your field that have those high rof markers that buy a case of paint and go through it in a day or less. congrats on trying to send paintball back to the stone age and i hope you have a deal with tippmann or bt. cause it sounds like you want to start renting out more markers at your field.

tank@gtfpaintball.com

I agree Tank, my feeling is have enough field to have room for the modern gun types and the gravity fed or pump guns that way you can service them all. I love the fast guns at my field, the faster the better, I sell paint and Brother I sell a lot of it, but that type of play is on one of my fields only, And every body playing there knows it.

SMOKIN WAGON!!!

Good stuff Jes. There is a reason for this in KS, or they would not have changed their policy. I can appreciate the different views in this matter. IMO, Ben with MPP Games has the right outlook, "Be responsible and control your technology."

QFT...however it's the "being responsible" part that no one can control and it is that element in the sport that turns new players away and makes older players long for the days of the skills making the player not the purchased technology, and the respect that came with a more level and respectful playing field. The demographics for the sport just keep getting narrower and narrower. Paintball is fast reaching the same "bubble dynamics" the housing market is going through...it'll just affect a much, much smaller section population.