AAR: Another One Bites The Sawdust

[jedibgp]

Thanks Jason Rogers and Todd Meyer & Airsoft Battle Zone (Mrs./Mr. Armsdealer and family ;) ) for setting up a great game. For being my first CQB game is was a blast and can't wait for more. The whole "Alien" ship theme (I hope I got that right :s ) gave more twist and frag fest than I ever been in. I even got hit by a gernade (and strapnal) and put an extra effect in the game... thanks Wolf Recon. ;) Can't wait for more CQB games at Battlefield paintball II. :D

[youth in asia]

yes, it was indeed fun.:D

[Kerrik13]

The Space Marines attempting to clear out an infested derelict vessel added a very interesting and fun twist to the game. Now add in that the entire place is a big warehouse light by strobes, black lights, paintball goo covering the place, and sawdust on the floor and it really added to the atmosphere.

I got the chance to play on both sides and I began as an alien worker. My job was to take bullets (I could crawl back to a regen point and come back in when noone else could), drag wounded Alien Warriors back to be regened (kind of like a medic), and try to sneak up on and knife kill (touch attack) the marines. I had some fun with it and did some suicide jaunts directly into automatic gunfire (repeatedly) and dropped like a sack of potatoes. I didn't shoot once while on the bug side but had a blast.

I then got a chance to play on the Marines side with the rest of my team. Holy crap was it an uphill battle for the entire day. The Marines had their work cut out for them... some of the games involved only being able to kill an Alien Warrior by popping a balloon tied around their neck... add in dark lighting and makes it is really hard to see them. It was interesting taking out some aliens, getting hit, and then being infested by a larva (big strip of what looked like rubber beef jerky) and becoming an alien for that round.

As for the game itself, I commend Todd on attempting a sci-fi game with CQB airsoft. A lot of the ideas were great, but some of the problems no one could have thought about started to surface during the game but luckily were corrected or improvised quickly. For instance, the balloons on the warriors popped during testing but weren't popping too easily when shot while being worn. It all worked out in the end and I think this trial game answered a lot of questions as to what nifty things can be done to spice up an airsoft game. It gave me a lot of ideas for a possible future zombie game :) Kudos to Todd for running it, the guy who owns Battlefield Paintball, and all the players who came up and had a blast yesterday.

PS- With a game seeing 350fps and full-auto, I was suprised at just how manageable this was. I expected far worse painful shots than I sustained and I took the worst punishment on the field (suprising groups of people as a worker and getting creamed from about 10-12 feet away with full auto). I was wearing an under armor short sleeved T-shirt and BDU top (so my forearms had one layer) and still didn't take anything more than a few slightly painful shots. CQB with full auto or higher FPS isn't too bad if you dress appropriately for it (I was considering wearing another layer on top but I wanted to test it).

[A-Ron]

...
PS- With a game seeing 350fps and full-auto, I was suprised at just how manageable this was. I expected far worse painful shots than I sustained and I took the worst punishment on the field (suprising groups of people as a worker and getting creamed from about 10-12 feet away with full auto). I was wearing an under armor short sleeved T-shirt and BDU top (so my forearms had one layer) and still didn't take anything more than a few slightly painful shots. CQB with full auto or higher FPS isn't too bad if you dress appropriately for it (I was considering wearing another layer on top but I wanted to test it).
Glad all had fun, I'd just like to further comment on Kerricks findings...

350 fps and CQC games is quite manageable, even when you do sustain a hit from two inches to the skin. It is the style of game that you are going into play, and you have the mindset that the shots can and will happen that are under the minimum engagement limitation.
As long as the group is responsible and courteous to each other, the game can put on a safe and great game play.

[79TransAm]

Glad all had fun, I'd just like to further comment on Kerricks findings...

350 fps and CQC games is quite manageable, even when you do sustain a hit from two inches to the skin. It is the style of game that you are going into play, and you have the mindset that the shots can and will happen that are under the minimum engagement limitation.
As long as the group is responsible and courteous to each other, the game can put on a safe and great game play.

Totally agree. Glad all had fun, sad I missed it

[Kerrik13]

Glad all had fun, I'd just like to further comment on Kerricks findings...

350 fps and CQC games is quite manageable, even when you do sustain a hit from two inches to the skin. It is the style of game that you are going into play, and you have the mindset that the shots can and will happen that are under the minimum engagement limitation.
As long as the group is responsible and courteous to each other, the game can put on a safe and great game play.

Agreed. One of the reasons I took really close range shots is instead of stopping and calling hit, while running I would fall forward into the barrage which put me even closer. Was quite fun getting lit up often as an alien worker :)

[Biscuit-Boy]

I heard Jason talking to a bunch of people about this game in the store today, and it sounded really fun. Do you think they might do another game like this?

[Vigilante]

Space Marines, eh? Was this based off of 40k by any chance, or by the Alien's series? Just wondering. Sounds like a blast though.

[Kerrik13]

Space Marines, eh? Was this based off of 40k by any chance, or by the Alien's series? Just wondering. Sounds like a blast though.

It was comparable to the Aliens movie (Hicks, Drake, Ripley, smart gun, pulse rifle, power loader, facehugger, acid blood, etc :P ) but with an Invaders or Invasion Of the Body Snatchers kind of theme to it.

[majwinters636]

when is the next cqc game?

[Texx]

Yeah, the original briefing to the Refs put a definite "Aliens" theme to the game, but added several other Sci-Fi themes. I know there are a few other Sci Fi games in development.

I spent much of the game filming and watching the ABZ table because there were paintballers and gamers coming in and out of the place all day. I also was not well and had mostly come out to help. I played the one round that Ryan returned to the "Marines" side and had a ball greeting Wolf Recon with dual Glock 17s!

I was disappointed the facility had not been cleaned as had been promised, but the organizers were able to make good use of that as well. It aided in the whole "Alien Hive" theme. There were quite a few gun problems with the sawdust and some players did have issues with the paint mess.

I would like to note that Mrs. Armsdealer, through very careful maneuvering, did not get any paint on herself and very little sawdust.

Everyone had a good attitude and even though the "warrior" concept was frustrating to some players, it still looked like everyone was having alot of fun.

It was also great to have the meet at Old Country Buffet, again. It was a great day, and if I had been in better health, I would have jumped in for all of the game. I got video of everyone, but the play area was too dark to record anything.

There is more in development for this spring and summer - including some new fields to play on. I know Nostromo III is in development, possibly for April and that other SciFi games are being planned.

[youth in asia]

when do you think the video will be made available?

[Texx]

When the camera's owners are able to find a utility to convert it from the camera's proprietary format to something that can be viewed. They have tried several that advertised it could, but none of them worked. In the end it may simply require the purchase of a video capture card.

[Gryphon]

Another One Bites the Sawdust After-Action Report

Colonial Marines Mission Assignment:
The Recovery of the ITV Sawdust City, 14 January, 2257, Earth Standard Reckoning.

Mission Background: The year is 2257. The Arcturus Corporation Interstellar Transport Vessel Sawdust City has been discovered drifting over twelve parsecs off the trade lane in deep space. Up until now, the ‘Dust was assumed lost with all hands, since she failed to arrive on Alpha Centauri Prime after a resupply mission to the Arcturus Mining Colony over three years ago. A Colonial Marines ship, the USS Ballentine, has been dispatched from ACPrime to inspect and secure the derelict vessel in preparation for its salvage or recovery. Since damage scans indicate that the loss of the vessel was not due to pirate attack or mechanical mishap, the unit has been told to prepare for possible xenomorph contact.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1100 hrs
Contact Reported by Wolf Recon Squad Alpha at 1030 hrs, Cargo Bay Airlock – Deck I. Encountering heavy resistance from unidentified xenomorphs in low-light conditions, humanoid-form xenos with projectile-throwing capabilities, probable small arms capable. Vertical surfaces of Sawdust City interior covered in slimy multicolored secretions, footing unsure, floors covered in chitinous flakes. Required two flashbomb barrages and the loss of three squads to gain the first stairwell to belowdecks. Request permission to recall forward units and issue Power Armor to advance squads.

ACPrime Mission Command: 1107 hrs - PERMISSION DENIED. CASUALTIES ACCEPTIBLE. SECURE VESSEL AND OBTAIN XENOMORPH SPECIMENS. PROCEED AS INSTRUCTED.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1200 hrs
Surviving elements of Wolf Recon Alpha hold Deck II central stairwell, with Marine Beta occupying Deck I cargo bay. 80% casualties in Beta Squad, bodies of two Marines KIA lost to xenos. “Warrior” xenos appear to be unusually resistant to small arms fire, possibly armored, no specimens recovered. Grenades effective. Request forensic analysis of xenomorph secretions before proceeding to Deck III.

USS Ballentine Forensic Specialist Report: 1215 hrs
Xenomorphs tentatively identified as species Sapiocephala Arcturus, called “Hive Worms.” Aggressive parasites resembling large flatworms, able to neurologically manipulate, sustain and use mammal or large reptile corpses as protective shells, first identified 2246ESR on Arcturus Mining Colony, (this section CLASSIFIED under Standing Interstellar Security and Commercial Patent Rights Order 147.) Full lifecycle unknown, forensic analysis team to follow Marine forward units as they advance. Quarantine Protocol Blue in force as of 1235 hours - no personnel or human remains may be evacuated from ITV Sawdust City until lifted. Live xenomorph specimens to be preserved in situ for shipment to Interstellar Defense Base ACPrime.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1230 hrs
Marine squad holds Deck III central stairwell. Xenos on this level more vulnerable to fire, forensic specialist reports this is due to our having penetrated the Hive Wall, their defensive perimeter. Xenos of three distinct types, scavenging unarmed “workers,” armed “drones,” and armored “warriors.” Xenos use standard small arms, likely from Sawdust City’s weapons locker. Xeno method of communication undetermined. Have recovered four Hive Worm larvae for forensic analysis and opened all three stairwells below, but at the loss of entire squad. Marines KIA used as Hive Worm larva hosts if corpses not guarded. Marines forced to fire on our own reanimated dead in self-defense.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1400 hrs
Squad holds starboard stairwell on Deck IV. Damn worms use live humans to incubate their eggs! Recovered one crewmember from Cargo Bay IV with xeno egg implanted. Xenos able to release some sort of paralysis agent. Toxin bomb like a big black egg, ruptures to release toxin. With all due respect, why the hell weren’t we informed of possible chemical agents? One Marine taken alive while paralysed by toxin, now a f-----g Bug Incubator. Eggs silvery, approximately 25cm diameter. Resistance most stiff on Decks I, II & IV, have sealed airlocks to these levels, recommend assault team in hard-vacuum Power Armor armed with flashbomb launchers evacuate survivors, then decompress entire vessel.

ACPrime Mission Command: 1402 hrs – DO NOT DECOMPRESS VESSEL. CLEAR OF HOSTILE XENOMORPHS ONLY. REPEAT: POWER ARMOR USE DENIED - RISK OF DAMAGE TO VESSEL TOO GREAT. PROCEED WITH MISSION.

Cmdr. Log, USS Ballentine: 1600 hrs
Squads entered Reactor Core Subdeck through shield airlock after sealing stairwells. Reactor Core emergency strobes made target acquisition difficult, one squad lost in the advance. Two more Hive Worm types encountered, “queen” and “guard,” both armed and armored. Hive “queen” nested in Reactor Core Engineering Station, impossible to power up vessel without eliminating remaining xenos. Dud grenade failed to neutralize queen, cost four Marines KIA to overcome queen and guards at close quarters with small arms. Have lost contact with forward squad. Request permission for immediate med-evac and decontamination of survivors. I hope to hell this damn transport tub was worth it.

ACPrime Mission Command: UNITS ABOARD VESSEL ARE UNDER QUARANTINE – DO NOT EVACUATE. USS BALLENTINE IS ORDERED TO RETURN TO BASE IMMEDIATELY. FORENSIC PRESERVATION TEAM EN ROUTE TO VESSEL TO ASSIST SURVIVORS.
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CLASSIFIED – YOUR EYES ONLY.
Exerpt of Forensic Preservation Team Exit Report, ITV Sawdust City Recovery,
18 Jan 2257ESR:

…surviving Marines were found comatose in Reactor Core and implanted with ovospheres, blood samples indicate (BLACKOUT.) Incubation monitoring is proceeding as instructed, all xenomorph specimens appear viable, the first captive hatch is expected (BLACKOUT.) The commercial potential of this xenomorph genome is estimated as High, and this team recommends continuation of captive Hive development. The monitoring team requests relocation of the Hive Host Vessel >former ITV Sawdust City< to orbit above an isolated terrestrial habitat so the entire species life cycle may be observed, as our research indicates that full maturation to the adult “queen” form may require a period of subterranean dormancy of unknown duration. Suggested terrestrial site: (BLACKOUT.)

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Organizer’s Note: I’d like to thank the wonderful Jason & Judy Doerr of Airsoft Battle Zone for sponsoring, Jason Rogers of Battlefield Paintball in Osseo, WI, for hosting, Felicia and Maddy for technical assistance, and all the players for their patience while I fumbled about fine-tuning the scenario. This was my first indoor CQB scenario, and it showed, so I want to congratulate all involved for outstanding sportsmanship under difficult circumstances. No more balloons for armor, I promise….

Todd Meyer
Event Organizer

[DKruse]

Great job Todd, thanks for everything!

I didn't think the balloons were too bad, it proved to be a big challenge... but not for the grenade I threw that got 3 :D

Also, sorry for running into you, twice, wasn't on purpose :)

Thanks for the fun time everyone! Paint was a downside, but it's expected at a paintball facility.

[jedibgp]

No more balloons for armor, I promise….





I didn't think the balloons were too bad, it proved to be a big challenge... but not for the grenade I threw that got 3 :D


The big ones worked good and I may use them for my own games... thanks for the idea. ;)

[armsdealer]

The balloons added an aiming element to the game which was both difficult and challenging...However giving someone that balloon...Naming them ground Zero and not allowing them to move....Painful:cry: But lots of fun.