The Heavy Tanks are required to be built upon a real steel tank or automobile chassis and have a full( 360 degree rotation) turret with a fixed Nerf cannon. A Light Tank has looser rules on its materials and construction and thus is easier to eliminate on the field. The presence of tanks leads to some pretty crazy gameplay and can drastically change what is happening on the field.
Tanks are able to roam the field and roads with gunners raining down paint on opposing players. Their progress is only stopped when an anti-tank rocket, satchel charge or anti-tank mine takes them out of commission and sends them back to the spawn for 15 minutes. An area under enemy control can be quickly captured when an unchallenged tank enters the area. This adds an extra challenge to the players and encourages strategic thinking. It’ s also an exciting ride for the crew inside the tank!
“ Loved or hated, the paintball tanks of Fulda make the experience more challenging. While we didn’ t invent paintball tanks, the game has taken armor play to the next level. It is almost a game within a game as the tankers and anti-tankers fight their own private battles while the rest of the game goes on around them,” according to Ferguson.
Another interesting aspect to the game is how registration is executed. Participants are required to register for specific regiments and are expected to insert at specific times and locations based on this registration. Each regiment has a player cap, ranging from 40 to 100 players, and has their own commander in charge of instructing the unit. This level of organization has been instrumental in allowing a game of this size to run smoothly and effectively. It also ensures that the game is fairly balanced, a common gripe among scenario players.
The game is relatively open-ended, so battles are waged all over the field at any given point in time. Engler says,“ It is really up to the players and the commanders to decide the outcome of the game. The game staff provides a place to play, referees, and a good game, but they do not micromanage the game.” The referees in particular were wonderful, with both Generals easily awarding traveling referee team Solstice Law with an award for their gameplay moderation.
108 paintball. media magazine