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| Take Your Hits - You Swine |
I've often heard Airsoft players talking about what is fair in the game.
Virtually every skirmish I go to, somebody gets out of their pram about hit-taking.
"He is isn't taking his hits, Mr.Marshall, it's not fair".
"Take your hits, you xxxxxx xxxx"
Airsoft is largely an honesty game.
If we don't take our hits, it takes the fun out of the game. You can spend ages lying in wait or stalking the opposition, only to shoot them fair and square and have them shrug it off. Unlike real bullets, its hard to prove it. Its your word against theirs, unless a Marshall has seen them do it or has tested them by shooting the person himself.
Different sites handle it differently - from a cold indifference where its largely swept under the forest floor to a zero tolerance where cheaters are sent home at lunchtime for not taking hits.
At the end of the day, what does it matter if you get hit. Its only a game and you can usually re spawn back into the game in 5 minutes. Admittedly, on some occasions, the shooter is in error - their shots fall short and the opponent wasn't hit. Also, some players on the receiving end get hit at long range and the BB doesn't impact through thick clothing. I remember an occasion playing in heavy rain, where rain drops falling on me from tall trees made me think I was being hit, every few seconds. Sometimes, the worst offenders are those playing a skirmish for the first and last time - just an opportunistic fun game for that day only as a birthday or stag treat. We're not coming back, who cares ?
For those of us who are serious and serial players, its between us and our consciences. If we don't take our hits, how would we feel if those we shoot, did the same to us ??
However, there are other inequalities in Airsoft. How many hardened and experienced players do you hear talk about upgrades ? how much is spent on getting that sniper rifle more accurate and harder hitting ?
Is it therefore fair for a sniper with a £1000+ upgraded state of the art sniper rifle to be pitched against the rental player with a worn rental AEG using ironsights ?
Is it fair for a player using high capacity flash magazines that have 300-400 BBs in them and don't need winding to compete against a realism enthusiast using low cap magazines with only 30 BBs inside ?
Is it fair that players operating in a team and moving strategically are put up against individuals operating without fire support ?
Is it fair that magnified sights are pitched against x1 red dot sights or just guns with the basic ironsights ?
Well its their choice, I hear you shout.
To some extent, that is true, although it can also be a matter of how much disposable income the player has to spend on their Airsoft hobby.
Most Airsoft skirmishes operate with common safety rules but are largely freestyle when it comes to players being allowed any level of technology or weaponry within certain muzzle velocity limits.
Of course, wouldn't it be boring and restrictive if Airsoft were organised into classes based on what weapons and technology assistance you had and varied handicaps were applied to create a level playing field. Probably totally impractical to manage too.
Of course, you could argue that those really seeking realism and total fairness should fight in battles where everybody has the same weapon types. Can you imagine a battle where every player fights with a standard stock Garand M1 rifle - no spray and pray there !!
This post is a little tongue in cheek, designed to get people thinking.
The next time you encounter people not taking hits, remember:
All's fair in love and war....
