is it me?

[usagi_tetsu]

Am I just that freaking old?

Okay, so yesterday I go to play paintball (for the 3rd and final time this year... yeah, not real proud of that number, looking to improve it next year) and as always, I take 60lbs of gear: 3 markers, 4 hoppers, 2 masks, 2 HPA tanks, a CO2 tank, 2 packs w/10 pods betwixt them, and all the tools, oils, and spare parts I'm likely to need at the field. The first marker I tried to play with was the BBT 2.2 that I got from Kaos a long time ago (my very first Tribal), sold to a friend, and then bought back when he ran into serious monetary issues. Apparently I had not cleaned it as well as I thought, or the temperature shifts really got to it, 'cause the microswitch was all gunked up and wouldn't return to set half the time. So, as I'm prepared for this kind of eventuality, and yank out marker #2: Classic .68 'mag w/a lefthand powerfeed. My old reliable Tippmann M98C is in pieces as I found out the Cyclone feed is great in theory, but kinda crappy in actual usage, and would just rather go back to using my old WAS boarded Revvy.

Anyway, so out comes the 'mag, kitted out with an 88/45K on one of my big ass DZII drops, and a Ricochet Apache on top. I figure this is pretty standard fare, a little better than the Tippmanns and Wally World guns that most of the newer rec players are using, and not quite as nice as the $2K+ kits the "serious" players are toting, but still nothing as out of place as, say, a Tribal or VM-68 or any of the other really old or odd markers I have in my possession. You would think a 'mag would be fairly recognizable, right? We would both be wrong. I pull it out, take it up to get chrono'ed, and immediately the refs are all asking me what my marker is.

*sigh* I could understand it when the 12 year old kid asked me what it was, but the 20-something ref? Look folks, there was a time before Dynasty was the only team playing pro ball, when teams used MECHANICAL markers and not let the technology do all their work for them. No, Smart Parts did not come up with the single-tube marker design, that's been in use since Tippmann made their first blowback. Dear freaking Christ, can we get some brains into the players, please?!

[shiftycastro]

I have some oddball ones myself.
Rainmakers, Thundercat, VM68,..... The Palmer's really throw it off with the Blazer, Super Stocker, Nasty Houndstooth, Nasty Typhoon, & my Pug.
Not too may pump players around here.

I get the same reactions "Dude where is the other half of your barrel?", "What gun is that?", "Must really suck your barrel won't come off."..etc..etc..
Get's really annoying sometimes

[~kaos~]

U kno ur not alone..... all my Tribals get the usual questions we all hear, but I actually get just as many oddball reactions with my Cockers. Still the 2 markers that get the bigger reactions are the old Matrix and the 1/2 mill Viking.
It is sad that most players can't name or place anything much older than a sPee-on (ion). But yeah, I guess it's worse than I thought if a ref has to as you what the hell kinda gun a MAG is.....

[r a b]

That's funny. Bring back the splat masters.

[usagi_tetsu]

Lapco brought back the Grey Ghost (http://www.lapcopaintball.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=176), anything is apparently possible.

Oddly enough, the pumps are coming back into vogue with the kids. I'm guessing the slower game pace allows them to show off their expensive pants, jerseys, and goggles (don't forget the $100 goggle straps) better. Silly bastard me, I thought we were playing a game, not having a fashion show. Shows what I know.

[~kaos~]

Oddly enough, the pumps are coming back into vogue with the kids. I'm guessing the slower game pace allows them to show off their expensive pants, jerseys, and goggles (don't forget the $100 goggle straps) better. Silly bastard me, I thought we were playing a game, not having a fashion show. Shows what I know.
Guess now it's not just about winning or losing it's how AgG you can look doing it

[Spitlebug]

No one recognizes my marker when I whip out the GS Flame Bushmaster. People ask me if it's a Team Timmy.

[mustangii]

I go to the field and they know me. I usally take my x7, but if I want to save some money i'll be playing with a splatmaster ( have 2), or Phantom (2 of these, too) or p68sc ( 2 of them) or a pgp (only one). get some weird looks and what are those from the kids. I know the guys that work there and they know I like old markers, lol. I have 6 VM 68s in various designs, PMI3, vm68 magnum, 68exc, vm68 with blackain expansion chamber and Cooper-t kit, vm68 with blackrain knock off expansion chamber, and a car 68 knock off. My Tribal is still in a box in pieces, Just love the look on a kids face when I sneak up on them and take them out with one or 2 shoots from a gun that is twice as old as there are.
edm

[flyweightnate]

I showed up with a cocker I had tinkered with (replaced the whole front block), and go to chrono, and my 4-way was leaky. So, at the chrony, I start swapping it with a spare. You wouldn't believe the looks from these kids... One ref was about 16 it looked like and starts to go get the head ref (who knows his stuff, I'm happy to say) to "help" me. Within the minute I had it timed and shooting pretty well... and the kid was just amazed that a gun had more than one point of adjustment, and it wasn't the trigger.

And some other guy asked why my cocker was so much more complicated than his (trilogy) cocker.

[~kaos~]

And some other guy asked why my cocker was so much more complicated than his (trilogy) cocker.
Cocker.... complicated??? *lol*:TooFunny:

[Edwin]

YES it is you!!!

Do you really expect everyone to know Paintball History? They can be 35 years old and still not know every make and model. You have to remember some people get into paintball one season and are out the next. Take my neighbor, he started with kingman, then got a tribal, then a cocker, then an angel, then a cocker.....he joined a local team and was "ref-ing" to help pay for paint. Now he doesn't even play the sport anymore. So he was on a team, ref-ed, and owned several markers, but I bet he could name 1/2 the marker that some of you own.

Shit I couldn't name 1/2 the markers that you guys own!!!

You just have to have a desire to know more about one subject, i.e. paintball. I find myself in this problem....Jack of all trades and a master of none. :(

[usagi_tetsu]

YES it is you!!!

I thought it was my fault. Okay, I'll quit my bitchin'...





...and if you believe that, there's a lovely bridge I'd like to sell ya. =D

[~kaos~]

I don't know Edwin.... Usagi made a good point when he said the "refs" by the chrono didn't know what it was. That would be comparible to say something like the starter at a drag strip didn't know what a Corvette looked like, or the manager at the shooting range thinks an M1 Garand looks like an MP5. People who occupy a certain status (or position) within an industry should at least be able to recognize icons of said industry. I think it more a case of having some basic common sense rather than being a history student.
Or is it just me.....?? LMFAO

[LoonWulf]

Well, i dunno. I play with mostly veteran guys who recognize all of my odd ball guns. Some of the less seasoned players dont recognize any of them (i own 13 and only 2 are post 04). They run anywhere from 14 to one dude who just started (he helps ref also) at 33, who fell in love with my highlander viking while not having any clue what kinda gun it was. I think alot of folks who are new just dont have any exposer to gun like the AGDs, AKAs, or Palmers....or any of a dozen others for that mater. Ive been playing for 7 years now and i would GUESS I recognize, say 80% of the guns that have been put on the market. The first year or so tho all i knew were C98s, Angels, Mags, Cockers, Spyders (all blowbacks got grouped together). Thats what i saw adds for in the magazines i read, and thats what everybody at the field shot. I didnt know about Intimidators till the local shop ordered a dozen or so.

[Edwin]

It is just you, Kaos!!! :)

I agree with you both...but some people are just stupid and don't care to learn their trade.

Your gun analogy is kind of funny though because it is directly related to paintball markers. Take the AR/M16 line of rifles....they all look the same (just like a lot of markers), but they could be made by 30 different manufacturers (Colt, Rock River, DPMS, Bushmaster, S&W, FN, H&K, and so on). Most firearm enthusist will know the different makes just by logo recognition, and so would PB enthusist. But markers rarely have Logos, so you really need to know your stuff to name a Maker and a Model. The casual user wouldn't know....just as myself. The smart casual user like myself, just doesn't ask stupid questions, like "what kind of marker is that" I would just be quiet and listen, but if you want to become an enthusist, I guess you have to ask stupid questions to learn a lot about the subject of interest.

Sorry of the SP errors.

[Jakesak]

This coming weekend we have a "tournament" pratice. Last time we had a "tournament" pratice, I think I was the only one with a smile the entire time. I actually hopped over two snakes while saying "Weeeeeee." Yes, people on the sideline heard me. Repeatedly after one team shot all five guys, the refs, during the pratice, told the players to get to the dead box. If this were a tournament, I would be more than happy to sprint over to the dead box, but it is fucking pratice.
That is why, this time. I will be breaking out my NYX dm3 and doing a bit of boozing before the event. Oh and the winner of the "pratice" gets 10 cases of paint.

I think the entire sport has gone from having fun to god knows what. No longer are kids interested in the history of the sport. I asked a kid at our proshop if he had a revvy. He just looked at me and thought I was playing a joke on him. Hell, me and my buddies will just throw out random questions to each other just to test each other; What was the first angel to have eyes from the factory?
I even get to play with the world champs from '89, I think. Are they in any record book? Nope, hell you couldn't find anything about them now. And for the most part, they all still shoot mechs. And I have learned so much more from them, than any pro team out there now.

ehhh, young punks these days....

[bad_ass_trix]

Most fields are filled with younger kids who just want whats hott. Dont even care about the history of paintball..

When i bring my jmj viking to the field i get all kinds of stupid and crazy comments/questions.

Same thing with my shoe box shockers. One kid even asked it it was an angel...

[Spitlebug]

You just have to have a desire to know more about one subject, i.e. paintball. I find myself in this problem....Jack of all trades and a master of none. :(

I too am guilty as charged.

[Edwin]

Ain't it a shame?

We (at work) just got a new (used) ZNC EDM Machine, so I have to partially learn that too. I will never be a master, but I will figure out how to use it.

Next is a small CNC mill.

[Spitlebug]

Ain't it a shame?

We (at work) just got a new (used) ZNC EDM Machine, so I have to partially learn that too. I will never be a master, but I will figure out how to use it.

Next is a small CNC mill.

Sometimes, though it's always nice being able to understand a plethora of different items. I do believe the correct term for a "jack of all-trades" is Renaissance Man.

[~kaos~]

Sometimes, though it's always nice being able to understand a plethora of different items. I do believe the correct term for a "jack of all-trades" is Renaissance Man.
I subscribe pretty much to the same line of thought.... Guys like DaVince' were a perfect example, well versed in multiple disciplines.

[flyweightnate]

Ugh... then sometimes being well versed is the bane of my existence. I'm an ME major. Don't know crap about electronics except DC circuits I can follow the wires on. Physics: E&M was hell for me, and there's a solid chance I won't ever use it.

Paintball: Love my cocker, tribal, sterling, and PGP. Can time a cocker without an air source, still don't know how the reg and valve on a 'mag works (well, not exactly anyways), have a good idea what the new electros look like inside, but couldn't tell anyone here the difference between a VLocity and a Halo B. But, for the sake of knowing about the sport, I could tell anyone who cared about several guns that are older than I am. I was born in '88, and have a '83-ish PGP. I know kids that can't tell the difference between a Spyder and an Impulse, and have been playing longer than I have.

Some people just don't care how it works, as long as it works. And others don't care how well works, as long as it looks cool doing it. I can sympathize with the former... not the latter. But hey, I suppose the latter keeps proshops in business, while the rest of us manage to save money by doing our own work.

[Spitlebug]

^^ Now I feel old.

[shiftycastro]

Well I was dumb founded yesterday. Finally got my Viking up and running, went and played with both AKA markers with my brother-in-law.
I could not believe the ref thought they were Angels:ROTFLMAO: ... My god!!!
They look nothing like those... I do admit mine are a little different than the normal ones but c'mon.:doh:

Full mill Viking
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL818/2922435/14964360/297193757.jpg

Full mill Excalibur
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL818/2922435/14964360/297193754.jpg

The refs should have a little more common knowledge of Paintball markers.

[flyweightnate]

Oh that's a disgrace! I mean, when I was just starting out I though anything with three tubes was an Angel, too... but I didn't even know AKA existed. That's how I felt when someone asked why my "Spyder" had "things" on the frontblock.