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