It won’t endear you to your teammates and may not be appreciated by the scenario operator, either. You could end up with no one trusting you and, in that case, don’t be surprised if you get shot in the back every now and then. (Shooting a disrespected officer or NCO in the back was called “fragging” in Viet Nam.) Some games allow you to bring your own props, like your homemade rocket launcher that shoots soft nerf balls, but you need to check with a referee or the scenario operator before you spring them on the field. Remember, if you are thinking about it, so are others; don’t be surprised if some of the more experienced players try to go solo or operate outside of their assigned character.
Scenario Tips for Newbies
“Halt! And give me the password.” A scenario team can’t be too careful protecting their general and the headquarters.
First, the huge crowds and the really experienced guys who have fancy equipment and who can talk the “in” paintball jargon can be intimidating. Sure, everything is new, but remember that every player starts at the beginning and generally knows little or nothing on their first day. Just think how much fun it will be when you eliminate that know-it-all.
Second, don’t let yourself be forgotten out there guarding the perimeter, especially after dark. Make sure your squad leader knows where you are and you stay alert to any call-up to a mission. Your leader probably doesn’t know you personally, so if you don’t like something, speak up! You are on the field to have fun, and if you’re not having fun, do something about it. Don’t be a pain, but don’t be a pansy either.
Walk-ons, by the way, are welcome at all games including scenarios that are not filled to overflowing with people who have pre-registered. It is fun to go alone … and fun to go with your buddies, too. When you enter by yourself, you will get to meet a lot of interesting players and you will definitely learn some new tactics and make new friends. With a group of friends, you will feel less like an outsider and more at home playing with people you know and whose play you have learned. Beware, however, that as an individual walk-on, you may have to prove yourself to your team before they trust you completely because everyone is on the lookout for spies and saboteurs!
A SCENARIO EXAMPLE
The following is an example of a typical scenario game that was produced and hosted by some of paintball’s greatest champions. While typical, the attention to detail and strong emphasis on a player-friendly environment make it non-typical, too. Nevertheless, this is what you may expect when you attend a first-class scenario game.
Scenario Game at EMR Paintball Park:“Return to Wolf’s Lair” P.O. Box 728, New Milford, PA 18834 (570) 465-9622 www.emrpaintball.comOctober 25-26, 2003 Produced by MXS and PMI
The Story
The Chronicler pauses in his address to the science and technology representatives. The auditorium is silent, as the members see their taskmaster hesitate. “It seems that your kind is obsessed with control at all cost,” he continues. “The information you are soon to witness is scattered at best, but should be enough to aid you in your simulation research.
“Sometime in the 9th century AD, a Saxon prince by the name of Henry the Fowler – also called Heinrich – sought to separate from the Frankish dynasty and form his own Germanic power. During his conquests, Heinrich stumbled upon some ancient texts, much like how I retrieve data from the Ancients. Upon translation of the Eastern scripts, Heinrich convinced himself that his people were direct descendants of the Thule, a race of pure consciousness who were unknown to The Leaders, or myself, however. Heinrich was determined he could tap into the power of the Thule.”
CHEN powers up to display a man chanting prayers. The image flashes to an army of human-looking creatures, but there is something wrong about them. “These beings are called zombies,” CHEN reports.
The Sherwood Forest castle by day. The battlements are manned and defended. A definitive scenario set-up.
The zombie army destroys anything and everything that dares stand in its path. Suddenly, a man dressed in robes appears. He is resisting Heinrich’s army of the undead. The scene erupts in chaos as the zombies attack the man who appears to be a monk. Blood and bodies fly from the epicenter of action. As the commotion settles, the monk is now carrying a limp Heinrich up the side of a mountain. The unconscious prince is being sealed into the mountainside tomb, guarded by many curses of foreboding.
The images change to Germany, many centuries later. CHEN explains the imagery: “Heinrich Himmler is a direct descendant of Henry the Fowler. Himmler is a high-ranking official in Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. He is an evil, soulless bureaucrat and the architect of some of the most horrible atrocities of the Nazi regime. He has founded the SS Paranormal Division, a collection of Germany’s most ardent occult followers, dedicated to finding preternatural ways to further their country’s war of conquest. Himmler has uncovered pieces and parts that, when brought together, could spell disaster for the free world and all mankind.”
The scene moves to a hallway, then a closed door, upon it is a sign: Office of Secret Actions. CHEN explains: “The OSA is a joint venture between two countries, Great Britain and the United States, created to pursue clandestine operations behind the German lines during World War II. Information comes in from agents in the field and contacts within the resistance movements of German-occupied Europe.”
The OSA verifies these reports to uncover Germany’s plans. Now, the OSA has learned of Himmler’s occult activities and has sent their best men and fighters to the village of Wulfburg to explore a structure called Castle Wolfenstein, The Wolf’s Lair. It is here that rumors of occult activity and cruel experiments upon war prisoners are taking place.
The images change once more to show an American soldier sitting alone in a cell. He is repeating Standing Order #71 out loud. “If you are placed in a compromising position where you might divulge information regarding your mission or the OSA, take your own life by ingesting your cyanide tablet. As always the OSA will disavow …” Upon hearing footsteps approaching the door, the man crumples the paper in his hands. He holds his breath and waits. As the footsteps pass and fade, the soldier breathes again.
CHEN explains the imagery; “This is B. J. Blazkowicz, a top OSA agent and U.S. Army Ranger. During his recon of Kugelstadt, he was captured and thrown into a dungeon.”
Blazkowicz stands and stretches, knocking his knuckles on the low ceiling. He makes his way to the single, tiny window that decorates his cell. Out the window, he can see Castle Wolfenstein across the lake. Screams of pain and terror there are not muffled. He turns to the dungeon’s door, removes his combat knife from his boot and calls for the guard.
The images shift once more. “This is the lower keep of Castle Wolfenstein,” CHEN explains. A Nazi scientist is putting a specimen – an allied prisoner – through a course of agonizing tests. The thing laying on the gurney is a severely malformed human. The Nazi can be heard chanting incantations as he hovers over the results of his twisted experiments. “This man is Heinrich Himmler,” CHEN reports. The image stops suddenly leaving the council speechless.
Key Characters
OSA/Rangers
Name: The Director, Office of Secret Actions
