Over-night kit.
I think that we are agreed that factions will return to their own bases at the close of Saturday's play - no social BBQ's and the like?
So, being new to overnighting in the middle of a forest (as I suspect most players will be) would it be an idea to have a sticky for recommended kit? Stuff that needs to be carried on the person, stuff that can be dumped at base. Personal safety, hygene, comfort.
I was talking to Keith (Forester) and he said he has no problem with putting up a basha and kipping out in a bivvi bag but hell, he has been trained for that. I was wondering about bringing our tent - modern affair sleeping four but has large volume for stashing kit. Chuck a cammo net over it and it should be OK.
Kit list is an excellent idea. I've seen at first hand just how bloody useless Airsofters tend to be when it comes to living in the great outdoors for a weekend. Anything that reduces the possibility of them fucking up is good in my books.
Sleeping wise, i'm personally not bothering with a tent. Takes far longer to put up than a basha, not to mention taking up more space in the car.
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Zeltbahns boys, ZELTBAHNS!
I'll be in my two man pup tent, wondering if anyone would like to share the carrying of it for the day and get a waterproof place to kip!
S
LOL, yup, i've got a couple of Zelts. By the time i've buttoned them together, you'll have your pup tent up and be soundly asleep!
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Typically we all camp out under bashas a la squaddies at IED even in mid january . If you have a basha to keep the rain off, a Gortex bivi bag, a decent sleeping bag (MOD artic one) and a thermarest you are as comfy as it gets .
I'll have a go at posting a required kit list , for our events tents should be ok, bear in mind it will be mid summer. Reckon to allow modern stuff within reason, the main bit of kit all players could do with is a whistle ot summon aid if you are on your own and need help .
There is no big open areas ot camp, so pitching large tents might be a problem, although the siting of the bases `will reflect the type of camping people will be expecting .
Oh shit. No comfy tent for me then (was going to try and get away with calling it HQ).
Bivvi bags are blummin expensive! And what if it is pissing down all weekend? I don't mind getting a couple of Zelts, they are cheaper than DPM bashas!
But I don't know nowt about sorting sleeping arrangements with a basha/bivvi how the hell does that work?
Clearly, I'm one of the airsofters Kermit refers to in his first post - show me & tell me how to do it!
Well, i'll tell you what i'm going to do...
Couple of zelts set up like this:
And another Zelt and an ex-army wool blanket to roll myself up in. If it gets cold, out comes the SS "Kharkov" parka 
Of course, if we have enough zelts, pegs and poles we could attempt this:
If you're after a Bivi bag, there's normally a fair selection on eBay for decent prices. Just make damn sure you get one made of breathable fabric! - and get a couple of cans of Fabsil to waterproof the Zelts with (Modern repro's aint half as good as the originals)
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
This will be me:
Steve... I'll probably do the pup tent thing as well....
To be honest though I didn't think we had a HQ as the allies? I was counting on us being really out in the rough.
I'll be using a basha bivvy bag and gonk bag myself...
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Right, gonk bag for me too then.
WTF? 
Gonk bag / green maggot... sleeping bag!
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Cameraden .
I
The thrust is fine allowing players to get as authentic as they can, if they wish.
I would say your compromise version is too restrictive - asking people to buy new sleeping bags and tents etc is a step too far. If you've got it then great, if not I don't see that it's right at all to prescribe it. Way too much expense for something that doesn't really matter to the game - it's gonna be dark!
I agree to the compromise. I suspect the food rules might be a sticking point. I would rather people ate and drank properly than ended up hungry and dehydrated.
Camping rough for one night is a piece of piss, even if it's raining. It's only one night FFS.
One other thought, it would be a good idea, and prudent, to have at least one person in each camp with all the relevant modern safety equipment hidden away. I'm thinking space blankets, first aid, decent lighting, mobile phone etc. This wouldn't need to be apparent or used if not essential, but I think it's necessary for safety's sake.
Ah, food. Bugger that - I was the only person to eat authentic food at BotB. It was unedible crap - I went hungry. Vowed then to forget rat packs for modern events and 'authentic' stuff for WW2!
I agree to the compromise. I suspect the food rules might be a sticking point. I would rather people ate and drank properly than ended up hungry and dehydrated.
Camping rough for one night is a piece of piss, even if it's raining. It's only one night FFS.
One other thought, it would be a good idea, and prudent, to have at least one person in each camp with all the relevant modern safety equipment hidden away. I'm thinking space blankets, first aid, decent lighting, mobile phone etc. This wouldn't need to be apparent or used if not essential, but I think it's necessary for safety's sake.
The organisers at IED will have all this kit available, as they are well used to H&S up there- we'll also have land rovers on site for movement of people . I don't want this to become an endurance episode.
Re food, I'm not so assed, I could do MREs in exchange for no modern tents. A bivi bag or basha costs
If there was one thing we learned from the last game it was that airsofters (in general) have no stamina and no endurance. Hell, many gave up after half a day.
If I wanted to do 'living history' I'd join a living history group.
Now then, what if if it is pouring with rain for two days and blowing a gale? Some won't bother turning up, some will give up by then end of the first day and those that do stop the night will have such an awful; night the gameplay with tired and iritable players will be poo.
Don't think it's fair at all to start stipulating tent types and so on at all.
Some, probably most, have never done anything like this at all before (including me) and I would like it to be a positive experience and not have the potential to being a miserable and expensive one.
I'm with Dave on this.
Personally i see zero point in 'roughing it' unless absolutely neccesary.
Cos of my spine injury i'll have a roll matt if not camp bed, fuck accuracy!
If we keep non period camping out the game area then its not going to afect the game.
I'm so *not* into camping out unless i have to that it even put me off the chindit group im supposed to be doing.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
