D.E.A./Cartel game possibly postponed

[AAA Paintball]

Hi all,

This is James Roberts from Advanced Alabama Adventures in B'ham Alabama. I'm responsible for coordinating the MOUT games at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Alabama- including the upcoming scheduled game DEA vs The Cartel

The October 28th and 29th game currently is not receiving enough entries to have this event on the scheduled date. The low registration count is due to two major factors- including a "late start" on advertising in all forms (mostly my fault), and other scenario events in the weeks prior or almost immediately following our scheduled MOUT event. I've spoken with no less than a dozen or so teams that said they'd LOVE to play this event but have already committed to other events near the time of our game.

Our last event resulted in around 100+ players participating and was viewed in some part as a bit of a "failure" to the National Guard. (this view due to the fact that our first game generated almost 400 participants) Such a "falloff" in participants can easily be viewed as a "fading" interest of the paintball community to the National Guard. Keeping the number of participants high is VERY IMPORTANT in order to keep the Guard's INTERESTS and to keep games going at such a unique venue.

If by this Sunday evening the number of participants doesn't reach a "desired amount" then the game will be postponed until May of 2007 (Memorial Day Weekend) I'll post up here on Sunday evening as to whether we will be going ahead with DEA vs The Cartel this Oct 28th and 29th.

I've already received the National Guards "blessing" to use the facility twice next year- the first, as posted above, on Memorial Day weekend in May. If the DEA vs Cartel game does not take place this October, that storyline/game will be the one used at the May 2007 game.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me this weekend at either my home 256 231-2286 or at the field 205 672-2860

James @ AAA

[sneakysnake]

ummm and if I can't make the May game then what am I supposed to do with all the DEA, stuff Etc. that I have purchased for this game? I'm assuming that if it gets postponed you will be getting in touch with the Hotel, to see they will not hold us to our room reservations?

[Junkie]

I would like to know how many registrations you have now and what the desired amount is? I would hate to see the game be cancelled but Sunday will be great to let us know.

There is another MOUT game that weekend as well if this one doesn't work out..

[OLD BALLS]

How many more people do we need. I have taken the time off from work and ordered DEA patches, shirts, and a hat for this one. It may help some of us to get more people to this game. But if It has to wait till may I will be on call for memorial day weekend, and will have to miss it. So what can we Junkies do to help see this game go on as planned?

[CamoJester]

James you know scenario player will not send there stuff in till the last minute.
I hate to say this but it will really hurt your business in the future if this game dosen't happen. The timeing was not the best, but you made the date stick with it. May is to hot to play. i know the first year was may but we had a rainny weekend that time. I still say januray is the best time. I know you said you do not want to shut your field down at that time of the year, but I know you would have far more people at that time of the year. ANY WAY. Thats my $.02

[Rembrandt]

Really sucks to hear the game possibly getting postponed for all those going. I would have loved to go but with Bearclaw the weekend before I can't afford it. I will gladly make the next one but as Camojester said May is pretty hot especially for a MOUT game.

[Junkie]

Originally Posted by CamoJester

I hate to say this but it will really hurt your business in the future if this game dosen't happen. The timeing was not the best, but you made the date stick with it.

I totally agree... Canceling this event 2 weeks prior is PISS POOR in my book.. There are way to many games being scheduled these days and even more MOUT sites becoming available for paying customers to attend without having to deal with these constant indecisions.

You can tell the National Guard/People making the decisions that the main reason "interest" has fallen off from the first game is because they made the first 400 participants hike a mile without their gear in the rain and then they made them stand in the rain for over an hour 10 feet from dry buildings.. Its decisions such as these that are the main reason for the "falloff".

The next event I went too there were some positive changes that changed the outlook however the PAINT sucked so bad the Paint supplier was buying it back if you took the time to ship it so I'm sure you lost a few more from there. Another reason (correct me if I'm wrong) was they made the one Sunday an Alabama Resident only??? I also heard the last event had horrible paint as well so you folks still haven't gotten that right. My thoughts are your not ever going to get it right so why not charge an extra $30 for registration and let us bring our own paint and you hire pros to clean the place?

[Litespeed]

Doh, i was looking forward to this, dare i say, maybe even more than BearClaw.

I've been trying to help on the Nation, just not much buzz this close.

Two more will be in by Sunday, doubt that changes much though.

[sneakysnake]

Originally Posted by Junkie

I totally agree... Canceling this event 2 weeks prior is PISS POOR in my book.. There are way to many games being scheduled these days and even more MOUT sites becoming available for paying customers to attend without having to deal with these constant indecisions.

You can tell the National Guard/People making the decisions that the main reason "interest" has fallen off from the first game is because they made the first 400 participants hike a mile without their gear in the rain and then they made them stand in the rain for over an hour 10 feet from dry buildings.. Its decisions such as these that are the main reason for the "falloff".

The next event I went too there were some positive changes that changed the outlook however the PAINT sucked so bad the Paint supplier was buying it back if you took the time to ship it so I'm sure you lost a few more from there. Another reason (correct me if I'm wrong) was they made the one Sunday an Alabama Resident only??? I also heard the last event had horrible paint as well so you folks still haven't gotten that right. My thoughts are your not ever going to get it right so why not charge an extra $30 for registration and let us bring our own paint and you hire pros to clean the place?

If this event is cancelled I'm afraid the Alabama Nation Guard is going to be stuck recruiting in the future solely from the death bunnies. Which brings me to my next point.. How many paintballers have they signed up for the guard since putting the first event on?

Not to mention at the very first event, I bought the paint that was being sold at the event, (it was blue paint) then about 11/2 hours later they came back and said NO blue paint, anyone using blue paint would be ejected from the game! I experienced all the things that Junkie said, and I was all set to give it another shot figuring the bugs had been worked out. Guys on my team have taken time off, My girlfriend has arranged for a babysitter for her kids (she plays too) I have purchased DEA patches, shirts and hats for me and her, and we have made hotel reservations..not to mention the tons of effort I have spent planning and making arrangements......Mr. Roberts I realize you want to make a good showing for the National Guard, and the powers that be, but please realize that ALOT of people have gone to alot of trouble to attend this game. It would be very unfair to cancel the game at this late notice. I don't forsee many people registering at this point, I'm sure they are thinking why would we do all that when we don't know if the game is going to happen...I really don't look for the count to go much higher now. But if you cancel this game now, I have to wonder what the numbers will look like at the next one. I know I am starting a new job before May, and my girlfriend will be graduating from college in May, so May is pretty unlikely for us at this point. I hope you change your mind, and have this game. Everyone on PBjunkie is looking forward to it.

[AAA Paintball]

Currently I have only 14 players registered for this event that aren't associated with the D.E.A. team. Scott Bolden (a.k.a. DEATH) posted the D.E.A.'s number of players at 40- which would give us only 54 players. To make this happen we'd need to reach 100 folks.




Sneakysnake- if the event is postponed, I'll check with the hotel for you and anyone else who has made reservations and see that your money is refunded. We're looking to have two events next year, so if you couldn't make the May event, you could possibly use them in the follow up game (loosely scheduled for Sept 07) which would be a continuation of the DEA vs Cartel storyline.

Junkie- you're right on about the negative aspects of the first events with the crappy paint, the hike, and the Alabama only game. I've worked at making necessary changes (within my personal control) to make these MOUT games better- and they've improved by leaps and bounds with every passing game! I really do appreiciate yours and everyone elses efforts in giving myself and the Guard that second chance.