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TheOneNOnly Advanced Member
United States
1,937 posts Joined: Oct, 2008
Posted - 2009/11/16 : 20:27:02
So, I've been wondering.
How popular is Airsoft over in the UK? Or anywhere for that matter.
It's got ground in the United States, but it's nothing major. Loved by those gun enthusiasts (me), they're fun things to mess around with. Fully customizable (the well-made kind, not the cheap plastic ones you get at Wal-Mart), able to take apart, and fun to use all around.
Now, like I said, it isn't that big. But, I've found a group of people in my area that are into it like me (Around 30 of us), and we have skirmishes at least twice every other week (6+ hours each). All of us are into guns, obviously, and are really into History. We've all studied more then a couple wars, and what weapons they used within them.
We have our skirmishes in field/forest own by one of the members that is changed with certain things added for whatever type of game we're playing. As in, if it's based off a past war (i.e. WWII), we change how everything looks with things we've all built (custom, not crappy looking at all). And for 'modern' types battles we change it to be sort of a sniping, infantry field. With lots of cover, and equally good amounts of open space.
I know of some places in the UK that have Airsoft fields of full buildings and such. Wish we had those here.
It's a very fun hobby to have, if I say so myself. Good exercise from the running, dodging, and weaving; and I'm having fun with a bunch of people who like it for the same reasons. We all get along great, and joke around. The games take a large bit of sportsmanship to play though, which can be hard to find from new players.
Unlike Paintball, there are no physical marks left over on your gear from where you are hit. So you need to have some sportsmanship to call when you are hit, and not cheat during the game. We follow the Wounded Rule in terms of what happens as you are hurt. Though ours is modified in the sense of it take 3 minutes overall instead of 10.
Once you die you fall back to your base until that said round is over, then you join back in the game. We play from things like Capture the flag, Search and Destroy, Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, and others of the sort (Yes, Search and Destroy works like COD4).
So, does anyone else do this? It's very fun, especially if you have a love for guns. The authentic metal Airsoft guns are awesome, and worth every bit if you love the game.
Oh, and the field we play on is a closed area. It is surrounded by a fence, and no one is permitted in without a check of their gear (We don't allow certain things that are fire hazards like certain fire-smoke bombs), and the local Police Department knows of us. So we don't get in trouble with having replica weapons in view on the big field (even though they're clearly marked by the orange flash hider on the end of the barrel).
**One more thing. Please don't come in here and bash Airsoft, as I see many people who do because "Paintball is a harder game because it hurts more". The point of the game isn't to hurt the other player; it's to use authentic weapons in a controlled environment, having fun with friends, and overall just doing something with what you like.
Triquatra Moderator
United Kingdom
12,638 posts Joined: Nov, 2003
Posted - 2009/11/16 : 21:26:02
i was tempted whilst living in the US...though over here i dont think its very well heard of - i was under the impression its huge in canada. to be completely honest i dont think i would have ever really heard of it if i hadnt noticed the airsoft section in walmart
paintball and quazar/lazer quest (lazer tag) are popular over here
i wish we had a lazer tag arena here...they are stupid amounts of fun
Eufeion Senior Member
United Kingdom
435 posts Joined: Mar, 2004
Posted - 2009/11/17 : 00:21:54
Airsoft or BB Guns are now not sold on Ebay due to the whole law on weapons - even sword arnt on UK ebay anymore - you hardly find any.
I have a airsoft CZ 75 BB Gun but its quite crap.
Also I wanna import a replica of the Sword of Hyrule from Zelda you can buy on ebay US, but my luck it will get confiscated at customs.
Audio Warfare Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,047 posts Joined: Mar, 2009
Posted - 2009/11/17 : 09:28:22
It's quite popular where I am, fair few of my mates do it. I just prefer filed target shooting personally.
Used to love Quazar. :P Played it all the time when I was younger, me and my brother played for the High Wycombe team in the leagues haha. It shut down years ago now though. :( There is a lazer Quest in Oxford which is fun but not nearly as good.
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TheOneNOnly Advanced Member
United States
1,937 posts Joined: Oct, 2008
Posted - 2009/11/17 : 11:15:08
quote:Originally posted by Audio Warfare:
It's quite popular where I am, fair few of my mates do it. I just prefer filed target shooting personally.
Used to love Quazar. :P Played it all the time when I was younger, me and my brother played for the High Wycombe team in the leagues haha. It shut down years ago now though. :( There is a lazer Quest in Oxford which is fun but not nearly as good.
It's quite fun to shoot targets for the best time against others on a course. That's for sure.
Lazer tag is quite fun too though, I us\ed to play that more when I was younger with my friends in Michigan.
Also if you play with a bunch of people who can't play by the rules, then why play with them at all?
TheOneNOnly Advanced Member
United States
1,937 posts Joined: Oct, 2008
Posted - 2009/11/19 : 15:02:05
quote:Originally posted by TheReturnOfFistingPhil:
So basically you like to reenact wars in a field?
Isn't this slightly like those weirdo's who run around with swords pretending they're wizzards?
I personally don't see the difference apart from you have to hold a gun because you have a really, really, really tiny penis.
That's good to know your opinion.
But your attempts at trolling fail with me.
Everyone has their own interests, because you don't like it doesn't hurt my feelings. At the end of the day I'm still with friends, and you're sitting alone.
Excalibur Junior Member
United States
107 posts Joined: Aug, 2004
Posted - 2009/11/20 : 21:00:13
I used to collect airsoft guns when I was a kid, we would play in my gramp's body shop field. The area was perfect because there was a huge field of grass leading into a open sand field, and the whole place was covered with stacked cars and tractors that we could hide behind and climb upon, and then we would take our guns and play in the nearby abandoned warehouses.We used to pretend that we were playing Metal Gear for hours on end. Although none of that exists anymore and the collecting decent gear can set you back thousands of dollars I still remember those fond years of broken limbs, swollen bodies, and gashes.
Seriously, it was great!
TheOneNOnly Advanced Member
United States
1,937 posts Joined: Oct, 2008
Posted - 2009/11/20 : 22:54:28
quote:Originally posted by Excalibur:
I used to collect airsoft guns when I was a kid, we would play in my gramp's body shop field. The area was perfect because there was a huge field of grass leading into a open sand field, and the whole place was covered with stacked cars and tractors that we could hide behind and climb upon, and then we would take our guns and play in the nearby abandoned warehouses.We used to pretend that we were playing Metal Gear for hours on end. Although none of that exists anymore and the collecting decent gear can set you back thousands of dollars I still remember those fond years of broken limbs, swollen bodies, and gashes.
Seriously, it was great!
Haha, fun times.
And yes, set you back quite some, but they last a long time! If you take care of them.
Printer friendly
Posted - 2009/11/16 : 20:27:02
