Tanking coming to an end?

[gfgjester]

I have a really honest question... Have any of you EVER been playing on a field in a scenario with a tank and DIDN'T know it was around you? My gosh, every time I've been within a hundred YARDS of a tank, every player on my team is yelling, "TANK! TANK! Take Cover!" Granted, this is MY experience, but for anyone to "not know" a tank is there shooting twin A-5's at 20 BBS and run out and get hit/run over by it is so ludicrous that it would shock the realms of all common sense! But then again, you did say insurance and attorneys. Two words that strike fear in the hearts of legitimate businessmen everywhere. (Sorry Bobio! NOT you. And I was a Multi Line Claims Adjuster for 20 plus years...)

But where does the tank/player relationship go? Is the tank a truly dangerous instrumentality, as it is being touted? Dangerous instrumentality is best explained as the guy keeping a Bengal Tiger in a cage in his suburban back yard. NOTHING he does will excuse him from ANYTHING that animal does. Does the tank fit into this mold that they're trying to place it in?

OR does the player automatically assume the risk? Compare the race car driver. He straps in the car and goes several hundred miles an hour on an asphalt track. If another driver hits him, causing injury and vehicle damage, does he get an attorney and sue? Of course not. It's all "part of the game". Should that be the case in tanking & paintball? A player assumes the risk when he steps on the field. Most paintball liability cases are found in favor of the field owners because of this factor when there is a related injury. The burden of proof falls on the plaintiffs to prove that there was negligence on the part of the FO. Improperly maintained equipment, failure to give a safety briefing, inadequate number of refs, etc. etc. ad nauseum...

The insurance "companies" that handle paintball are merely glorified brokers who shop the risk out to underwriters who will write the paper on that risk. Depending on the climate at the time, companies may want higher premium. Sometimes they don't. Some establish a premium scale and leave it like that until something happens to change the status quo.

Players AND tankers, (AND field owners) need to be razor vigilant when playing with tanks to make sure nothing happens to make that status quo change. We need to watch that Junior doesn't run and slide a foot from the front wheels to plant that satchel charge in hero mode. Make sure everyone around you KNOWS a tank is in the area. Just plain common sense. Never assume anything when it comes to safety.

Just my two...

[drewcif]

Originally Posted by gfgjester

I have a really honest question... Have any of you EVER been playing on a field in a scenario with a tank and DIDN'T know it was around you?

"Ninja Tank"- PBC...electric golf cart...very sneaky sneaky.

If it hit me, it would bounce ff...but technically it has sneaked quite a bit

[Saludapaintballer]

I agree with you drew....we have an electric golf cart here at the camp and I have driven within 20 yards of deer and turkey before they saw me. (notice I said saw me...didnt hear me)...

I agree with you also DBD...Anytime a tank comes around a corner people start running and screaming like mad...

There was an instance one time though. Even with my loud mower based tank I rolled up behind the open side of a house in the village at PBC and the guy inside didnt know I was there until he turned around to run...The look on his face was priceless........I guess that even with the noice of my tank he didnt hear me with everything going on around him......

Originally Posted by drewcif

"Ninja Tank"- PBC...electric golf cart...very sneaky sneaky.

If it hit me, it would bounce ff...but technically it has sneaked quite a bit

[FIREBUG]

Yes, there are some tanks out there that are very quiet. Also, when the sit at a corner, you may not here them. I personaly have only done a couple of games w/ tanks and I have found them more of a bother then anything. Give me a crew w/ a couple of LAW's that know how to use them!!

[Brain]

Originally Posted by FIREBUG

I personally have only done a couple of games w/ tanks and I have found them more of a bother then anything. Give me a crew w/ a couple of LAW's that know how to use them!!

Exactly. Tanks are not a necessity for games but they do add another element into the game. Some people look at them with distaste, others with envy, and some with love. I enjoy building and using tanks, I am also a field owner. Insurance companies care for none of the above, simply the $$ therefore they make the rules and none of us can do anything about it.

BTW waivers are completely legal and when you sign one you acknowledge the risk involved with the sport and it can be used against you in court. it has to be proven that you were negligent (sp) to make a waiver useless. Iron Mike is a trial attorney and I believe he knows this well...

[CamoJester]

I hope not. I really like the spice that they add. They can be a pain on the field. I would not want to see them go away. If you sign a waver should that not cover every thing to do with the game?
On the flip side if there were not tanks I know of a tree & a patch jacket that would still be around.

[Bobio]

Originally Posted by CamoJester

I hope not. I really like the spice that they add. They can be a pain on the field. I would not want to see them go away. If you sign a waver should that not cover every thing to do with the game?
On the flip side if there were not tanks I know of a tree & a patch jacket that would still be around.

I KNOW you ain't talking about me or Castro!! Jester, PM me.

As long as the tankers and the players adhere to the most basic of rules there will not be a problem with tanks. Keep the tanks at walking speed (Brain, that wes Scott, not me driving that day) and strictly enforce the 10/20 foot rule and there will be no problems.

[D.B. Daddy]

Originally Posted by Bobio

I KNOW you ain't talking about me or Castro!! Jester, PM me.

As long as the tankers and the players adhere to the most basic of rules there will not be a problem with tanks. Keep the tanks at walking speed (Brain, that was Scott, not me driving that day) and strictly enforce the 10/20 foot rule and there will be no problems.

Wasn't me. He's old and senile.

[Brain]

For our game in November we will be enforcing the tanks to have a ground guide. This person will be required to guide the tank in whichever direction it goes. This person will also be supplied by the tank crew...

[MrWizard]

Like walking with or in front?