NJ Nam '07

So the problem with waiting so long after the game to write the summary / review is that the details of the game begin to be forgotten. The Brigade play log has had my kill & death numbers posted for some time now. I usually start the write-up there and then spruce up the format and embellish when it moves here. The problem is that the Play Log composer times out if you take to long writing your entry. I timed out twice after a lengthy bit of writing and lost the will to write t over again. When I compose locally on word it just seems like forever before I get a chance to finally upload. That’s enough excuses…

Regarding this game, one thing is certain, there was certainly a lot of hype and there was much anticipation. I believe the rule about letting the hype get so stratospheric is that you HAVE to deliver. Much of the hype was centered around, what I’d call game accoutrements, non of which I’d signed up for and of which I was a little skeptical how they were going to be incorporated and effect the gameplay. The thing I did know was that I wanted to be there to see how things would play out. I had heard good things about Pyro Production’s games and this was to be my first time to one of their games.

The field (Accurate Paintball) is adjacent to an active but small municipal airport that is home to a popular Skydiving School. Spots were being reserved for skydiving insertions, helicopter insertions and plane runway insertions. I had done a tandem jump before and was not really interested in doing one with paintball equipment or wasting my paintball time with the logistics of being involved in a mock airborne insertion or heli drop, especially if it wasn’t really going to help our cause in the gameplay. Therefore, I was not disappointed when the helicopter broke down and could not make it. Nor was I disappointed when, for whatever reason, there weren’t any air jumps or plane insertions. (From what I understand there were several ‘ballers who did some tandem skydiving but it was not in an insertion scenario.)

Evidenced by the reaction on various forums, a number of players were disappointed that Pyro delivered less than was advertised during all the pre-game hype. Personally, I could only give the weekend a couple of negatives. One was that the vegetation was on the dense side for my tastes with copious servings of holly bushes, thorny vines and various prickers. The other negative was that it was extremely hot especially on Saturday (more on that in a bit). From what I understand, the brush had been cut back and grown back quicker than expected and the weather is, well…, the weather.

On Saturday there was one group of kills that I particularly enjoyed (insert evil grin and evil “muah ha ha ha” laugh). Encountering a head on battle occurring down a narrow pathway, a fellow teammate and I slipped into the brush to the left of the firefight. We crawled, pushed and squeezed our way into position. My teammate was about 20 yards ahead of me as we positioned at the edge of the trail where all the fighting was happening. As I was coming into position I could see opfor trying to advance through the brush on the opposite side of the trail. I found a shady spot next to a tree with some low-lying foliage. The opfor’s path through the brush must’ve had 2 natural and irresistible stopping points because one after another opfor filed into positions that also happened to correspond with a small but clear firing lane from my position. I racked seven kills (+7) before the escalating firefight my teammate found himself in started drawing my attention. He had found himself ON the path that was the main firing lane between our and the opposing force. I could only imagine that the woods were becoming too hot and he pushed to the path to meet the oncoming opfor.

The situation meant I could no longer enjoy increasing my elimination ratio from my concealed position. Besides, my teammate looked like he could use some support as he was out in the open at the edge of the path sending ropes of paint towards an advancing opfor. As I busted out of the brush and fast-walked my way toward the opfor, I heard my teammate call himself out. I skirted the opposite side of the path to shield myself from the bulk of the incoming paint, while three members of the opposing force ducked for cover behind a wooden structure. One of the three didn’t move quick enough. (+8) As the remaining two tried to conceal themselves, I rushed the structure knowing one or both of them would probably peek out trying to find me to. Sure enough, a mask and hopper pop out and they realized they’re losing cover with my advance. (+9) I could see +10 pop out behind the person I’ve just eliminated but, between the two of us, I’m not sure who was hit first. As I walk off, +9 and my teammate with whom I had crawled through the bush with, exchange comments on how nicely that was played. It’s good when you can see a grin from behind a mask!! I could see theirs and I know I was grinning ear-to-ear.

One of my memorable eliminations was when I took point in a 4-man team and pushed into dense brush to find a couple snipers. To make a long story short I slowly pushed my way in stopping frequently to scope the area. The density of the brush had us hunched over and crawling. As I threw a leg over a downed tree, WHAP!, right in the left ass cheek. As I spun around, I could see the sniper about twenty yards away against the downed tree I just climbed over. As I turn to find my way out, I spot the second sniper 15 yards down the opposite end of the tree! It was THAT thick in places. As I backtracked my way past my teammates, “WHAT HAPPENED?!”, they asked. “I GOT SHOT IN THE ASS!”, I blurted out before I could button my lip. Major kudos to those snipers!

I think the player count for the weekend was 1,700. Saturday’s heat was brutal. I believe 22 people needed help getting out of play due to heat exhaustion. A number of those needed an ambulance and a few had to be taken to the hospital. I personally drank about 300 oz. of water and lemonade with electrolytes. Sunday was not as hot but was still humid. I still drank about 150-200 oz of water. It did rain Sunday and the cool rain was a relief. It would have been nice if we weren’t trying to hold the closing ceremonies and prize raffles during the downpour though! There were a number of markers, HPA tanks and large gear bags given away as prizes as well as some marker specific upgrades. I don’t remember how many prizes were given out exactly, but it was more than I’ve seen before. Somehow I managed not to win anything or snatch any freebies that were tossed into the crowd. It was a fun weekend. I had a great time and have no problems going to another Pyro produced game.

There are plenty more stories to tell about this game but I am already looking forward to ION in a couple weeks. They’re expecting 5000 for that one.