Paintball with Chase

You usually get to know people within your area of study. Some of them aren't so pleasant, you might remember Yu, the crazed student who cut himself beside me in the middle of class. Other students aren't so crazy, such as Chase who is slowly turning me into an alcoholic. We recently went out an got me a nice bottle of scotch.

Chase also enjoys paintballing, and after months of pushing and prodding, I finally gave in and joined him.

I would have preferred to stay home and enjoy my new purchase.

There's a reason why I sit in front of a computer and shoot at virtual targets with a mouse and keyboard. Firstly, I have better aim, secondly, I don't have to risk being shot, thirdly, I don't have all that much physical endurance or stamina.

But there I was, getting outfitted with paintball gear. Chase had a bunch of his own guns gathered over the years. Apparently the rental guns are garbage so I was loaned a semi-automatic rifle that required me to wear a vest because that's how the compressed air tank needed to be carried seperately.

Also, recall that I said Chase was less crazy. Because despite everyone else using semi-automatic weaponry, he was going painballing with a compact bow.

I didn't even know that they made bows that were capable of firing paintballs.

Badass or crazy, you decide.

I quickly learned that the best place to be shot was directly in the face. This may sound counter-intuitive but this is due to the mask. The mask takes all the paint, it doesn't hurt, and if you're unlucky, maybe some of the paint will get through the airholes.

Actually, being hit with a paintball going at close to 90m/s isn't that bad. I've seen the welts that my friends have gotten and those bruises are brutal. I got hit in the ankle, shoulder, side, both elbows, and I have virtually no battle scars to speak of. Did it sting? Yes, but it wasn't as dramatic as I expected it to be.

If anything, it's my legs that are sore and uncooperative.

I've been walking like this all day.

I'm not exactly the most physically fit person, but I understand the concept of ducking behind cover, and running between cover. You do this for several hours, run up and downhill a few times while avoiding enemy fire, and before you know it, your legs are broken.

But I had a good time! It feels good to peg a person in the head with a good dose of brightly colored paint, or to duck behind a wall fast enough to hear someone waste their ammo on the wall beside you. One tactic that you can do is if you sneak up close enough to someone, you can yell MERCY. They can then give up or you can shoot them at pointblank range.

My point is, mercy kills are fun too.

Or you get a standoff situation.

Would I go again? I'm not sure. My legs still haven't forgiven me and I'm certain that I've sunburnt the back of my neck. Also, paint is kind of expensive and I'm not exactly rolling in cash.

Still, it was a good experience. And I really should get out more often.