Babylon 5, Waitangi Weekend 2006 at Hokitika

By Adrian Mehrtens
15th February 2006







I would first like to thank all those players who attended my first  Paintball Scenario game here in Hokitika, 22 players in all.

It was always my idea to hold a paintball game which was not just a capture the bunker type game, have a rest and move onto another mission. I wanted a true scenario game in which several missions where running at once following a story line like those games I have read about in "Action Pursuit Games" all these years.

On the Monday I had the chance to talk to several players and tell them what plans I had for my scenario games and this I think was well received but I would like feedback from those players who attended so I can learn from the weekend.

The main criticism I have had was the field itself as players felt that the pine was to thick to play in. My response to that is that the pine field had only been played in once and that I new it was thick and time prevented me from cutting more trails through it but in time it will be thinned out for sure.

My plans for these games are to have my "field/house" as a home base where the facilities are set up, e.g. toilets, shelter, pool and t.v room set up for players to use before and after the games and to have tent sites etc available also.I would also like to have a shop set up for retailers or even players with gear to sell. My paintball fields are simply for players to use for friendly games before and after the main game and not to be used for the scenario game at all.

The main scenario paintball field would be elsewhere as one problem I had was that some of the gold bars hidden in the field where found the day before by players and the time factor of setting up the field after players had left. I finished after 9pm that night putting up medic stations, flags, gems and mission cards around the field etc. Another thing I leant was that these games can't be run by one person and that I need to have more staff to handle certain areas like the crony stations, referee's etc. I also need two Commanders that know all the rules and the game play. Any further games will remain BYO Paint and the entry fee will be non-refundable two weeks out from the game date.

I also want to have a date set aside each year for my scenario game. As Waitangi day doesn't fall on the same day each year I only have two real dates that I can choose from and they are Easter Weekend or Labour Weekend. I know that these dates are used to hold other big games but we as bushballers need a weekend of our own as I am simply not interested in speedball or there competitions.

I need feedback good and bad so please help me help you.


~Adrian Mehrtens, Field Operator, Hokitika