Yeah , we are going to break all the rules and start a paintball conversation with the weather . Why ? Because , without a doubt , it was the weather that won the day at Stalingrad XVII . As the annual season opener for Skirmish ’ s famous three-game series , which includes Invasion of Normandy in July , Stalingrad is intended to be played in wintery conditions . But this was special . With a high temperature of 38-degrees , constant rain , and 40-50 mile per hour wind gusts across Albrightsville , PA , there was really no other way to describe it than “ It sucked .”
Regardless , many came to play . The Russian Allied Forces managed to secure a landslide 30-8 victory in roughly 2 hours . And with still another four hours left to go in the game , only the fiercest , or perhaps most ill-informed , stayed to the abysmally bitter end .
At the end of the day , through gritted , chattering teeth , those who did remain were asking themselves one question : “ Why do we do this ?”
So we talked with the Supreme Allied Commander Colin Sayers , and German Lt . General ( Commander of the 352nd Infantry Division ) Mike Elward to try and answer that exact question .
How long have you played the Big 3 at Skirmish ?
Elward : I have played the Big 3 off and on for 14 years but consistently for the last 8 years . The last 6 on the German side .
Sayers : I ’ d have to pull out my tags ! … Let me do some math … I have to say at least 17 years .
What were your impressions going into the event after receiving the maps and the point matrix ?
Elward : I love that side of the field , so I ’ m always excited when we have a chance to play over there . The biggest determination of the game is where both teams will start which we truly won ’ t know until game day . We know the spawn side , just not the spawn location . Some years it ’ s rushing o u t of our insertion ; other years the Germans have started in APC ’ s which are right outside of Tippmann City and assault the 2 story buildings . This year the Germans started in Tippmann Castle while the Russians started in the city with both forces rushing forward to make first contact around th FOB ( at mid-field ).
What were your thoughts Skirmish closing German regis for a couple of days ?
Sayers : I think it ’ s great ! We know does that to keep the numbers e that means that the Germans passed us in recruitment . I don ’ t one individual I can credit , but w put in a tremendous effort in th and it has paid dividends . It ’ s They have picked up some solid teams are staying . I ’ ve never s close before , so they are doing s it ’ s great .
What went right ? And what we
Elward : We had gained some te and FOB , and we made a very swamp at our left flank into Tsar Allies where we wanted to off had focused ( their airborne un flank between Alamo and Fort
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