Bront's Tips for New Players

Here is some information to get you started on the path to playing paintball and owning a marker. This is not everything, but it should be enough to get most people started.

Q: Where can I play paintball?
A: There are many fields across the US and other countries as well. Posting in the Regional forums will let you ask others where to play. You can also search for fields in your local area using resources like splatt.com or warpig.com. Some people play in the woods or parks, but don't do that without permission to do so. A field is safer due to regulations and that they usually have insurance.

Q: How do I know a good field?
A: A good field will have

• A Chronograph to test the firing speed of a marker/gun
• Insurance
• Plenty of fields to play on
• Decent and usable rental equipment
• A staging area with tables and such
• Knowledgable Refs
• An air smith or technician of some kind
• Food

Q: Do I need to own a paintball marker/gun to play?
A: No. Most fields will allow you to rent a marker first. If you have never played before, it is probably better to use rental equipment first. $20 or so to rent equipment is minimal risk, and if you don't like paintball (It's not for everyone), you're not stuck with extra equipment and you didn't waste much money finding this out.

Q: So, I've played a few times and am ready to buy. What's the most important piece of equipment?
A: A Mask/Goggle System. A comfy mask will let you play longer, and a good mask will keep you safe and let you see well. It's hard to have fun when you can't see. Remember, a good mask isn't too expensive, and isn't your vision worth the extra $20?

Q: Ok, so what is the best marker/gun for me?
A: First of all, there is no "One marker fits all". A good marker has several qualities:

• Priced well. There are different price points for different people, but you want to find a marker that gives you some good bang for the buck.
• Not too picky on paint. You can't always choose your paint, and a marker that only works with premium paint increases your cost to own it.
• Is easy to maintain. This is why the blowback style marker is the most popular entry marker, as it is simple to maintain.
• Is durable. That nice marker you got doesn't help you have fun if it's broke.
• Is upgradable. This is a bit of a preference, but it's nice to have a marker than lets you add more things to it later, even if it has some parts already.
• You like it. Remember, it's your marker, so make sure you like it, and don't worry about what anyone else says.

Q: Ok, I have my marker, so do I use CO2 or Nitro/HPA?
A: CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) vs Nitro/HPA (Nitrogen/High Pressure Air/Compressed Air) is one of the great paintball debates. CO2 is cheap for the tank, and tends to be more readily available. However, it is very temperature sensitive, and it cools down fires. HPA on the other hand, is more expensive on per tank, and isn't as readily available. However, it fires the same at any temperature, which gives you better performance.

Q: What size tank is right for me?
A: You get 50-60 shots out of a CO2 tank per oz. They tend to weigh about 1/3-1/2 pound or less per oz also. HPA you get about 10 shots / CI in a 3000 PSI tank, and 15 shots per CI in a 4500 PSI tank. Weights can vary depending on the tank type and size.

Q: Ok, I have a mask, a marker, and a tank. Is there anything else?
A: There are several things. You need a hopper/loader to feed paintballs to your marker. You may want a squeegee to clean out your barrel. A soft cloth to clean off your goggles will help as well. A harness with pods to carry around extra balls is a nessesity for some. A lot of extras are simply personal preference though. Play a few times, and see what other people use and what works well for them and you.

Q: What's the most important aspect of paintball?
A: Being safe. A safe paintball game is a fun paintball game. Accidents will happen, but you can do your best to prevent the most serious of them.

Hope this helps. Have fun and happy paintballing.