As in most cases it is an onslaught of paint
from every direction and few objectives in
the middle. Mission Masters comes with a
different ending to the story. Missions at Final
Battle, as you probably could have guessed,
makes for a much different onslaught. What
other situation at Sherwood could you think
to have a final battle other than that coveted
castle! When you dig, push and fight your
way in, up that second level, crawling to duck
balls raining down on you, and you finally
gain entry to the third level then ring that bell
to assert your dominance over the world.
That castle, Sherwood’s castle is now your
castle! As the day had gone, Orange team
had asserted its might all over the field but
the Final Battle proved different. The Marine
commander decided it was close enough to
let everyone fight for their own. Let victory
go to the team that deserved it. So it was
as it had begun, every team for themselves.
With Yellow and Red posted at the front in
opposite sides and Blue having the backside
it was once again off to the races. Objectives
were to plant your bomb in the middle of the
castle and deposit bones in areas around.
Predators took the castle early but weren’t
able to establish good defensive positions in
time. With Marines clearing out the forces
up front and Aliens picking them off from the
backside of the castle the Predators weren’t
able to hang on. Eventually, Blue took the
Castle from Red. Objectives were the focus
for the Yellow team, trying to deposit their
bones in the three different areas, shield run
after shield run, sacrificing body after body
they were able to score two of the three bone
deposits. In one solid, forceful effort moving
to add their bomb to Red and Blue’s only to
come up mere feet short. It seemed like and
was that Blue would not be driven out of the
castle and not have their glory stolen!
As all good things go, this game had come to
an end. It had some of the greatest firefights,
it took every effort from every player and it
was absolutely fun! Most thought that the
only thing left was to award the standouts of
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the game and the final score, that was until
they started dodging and catching prizes
from Sherwood, their vendors and delicious
Papa John’s dessert cookies provided by
Narf. It is amazing to see how the paintball
community steps up to support the youth.
This game was yet another addition to the
rich story that is growing our sport. Painting
the World representative Mary Burkhard was
on hand to collect any donations of gear
from players and to eventually get them into
kids’ hands. In a true show of sportsmanship
much of the new gear that was awarded as
prizes was donated to PTW. Painting the
World, One Kid at a Time is an organization
that receives donated used/new gear and
finds kids that need it and will use it. As
awards go some really great players and
teams were recognized for their efforts but
one specific young gun seems to stand out
game after game. If you’ve played against
or with Silent But Deadly paintball team then
you know their young warrior Levi Laymon.
This young man time after time is seen in
the front lines in firefights or even in sacrifice
moves to advance his team. His attitude and
tenacity are worth notice and respect. It’s
rare to find adults with that much fight and
ability, so all hats off in respect to this Young
Gun and nothing but the best as he continues
his paintball career. The prizes were doled
out, the honorable were honored and the
time for victory was at hand. Three savage
teams, two days of physical scenario ball
and mission after mission had come down
to this. Aliens had asserted their dominance
the entire first day, they had shown that they
were at the top of the food chain and not
mere trophy hunts. The game had gone
much the way the movie had til the end. This
was the Aliens’ day, this was their game as
they took the castle and took home the win!
Congratulations to James Riffey and Gypsy
Danger Paintball Team on your victory! If
you haven’t attended one of the Mission
Masters’ games before then come to one
next year so you can have your chance to Be
The Game.