Attending WWII airsoft events

I am not against period camping, that too strong a word, apologies if it came over that way , it’s just not my cup of tea. I have a limited amount of time that I am allowed out to play so my first choice for a game would always be non period camping.

Yeah, but why?

Personally I find period tents better than modern ones.

Hmm, not sure why a limited amount time would negate a period tent....

It's fine if you'd prefer modern tents, but it seems strange to rule out some really immersive events on something like that. Like I said, we even have loan tents!

800+ members
23 replys
about 45 votes

800+ members
23 replys
about 45 votes

Pretty standard forum fare!

I pretty much agree with Wladek, a good scenario and well balanced teams is a plus, as is variety. I have basic Brit, US and German kit and would like to get use out of all of these to help justify the expense! Would like to see more US infantry (not really interested in airborne) even in a half Brit/half US side, which wouldn't be too far beyond realms of possibility?

I don't worry much abot distance though seeing as I'm normally driving the less time spent doing this the better! But with a car share it's bearable as I have people to scare!

For me I do like playing with the people I know and essentially I will book on if I know Wladek etc are going too. THough next year I will be picking and choosing a bit more as I'm back at Uni and may have time restrictions as well as cash restrictions.......

Edit: Not really sure over the whole "hardcore" side of things, I don't mind a bit of a night mission but I would definately prefer the play on Saturday head home on Sunday format which seems to work well. I like to have a proper camp where I can cook something and have a bit of a social in the evening without worrying about being fit enough for the next day running about in a wood!

In terms of player numbers, The Mace was fairly low numbers a side but it still worked very well! So I would quite happily have another 10 - 12 a side game. Larger games I will admit I'm not overly sure about, but as long as the scenario works well and it doesn't descend into blatting as 30 players are all in the same little patch of wood (!) it would be ok for me........

And I definately prefer a command structure and playing as close to the real soldier as poss (and that includes skiving, lying down, limiting initiative when being shot at if there's no point advancing etc.....)

Not really sure over the whole "hardcore" side of things

Perhaps we need to define what we mean by 'hardcore'. All I meant was a historically plausible scenario, proper command structure, reasonable uniform restrictions, long medic/bleedout times, low ammo limits, operating in sections and following orders. Not live in a ditch for five days...

As opposed to dress up in WW2 uniforms and play regular airsoft with instant regen, thousands of rounds of ammo etc, as I can do that at my local sites.

Cheers
Martin

Perhaps we need to define what we mean by 'hardcore'. All I meant was a historically plausible scenario, proper command structure, reasonable uniform restrictions, long medic/bleedout times, low ammo limits, operating in sections and following orders.

That's really *every* ww2 event i've been to, though. Certainly any that have been organised by members of this forum, at least.

Not live in a ditch for five days...

Which, whilst put in a comedy manner, is more my idea/definition of 'hardcore', in ww2 airsoft terms. I.e Escape & Evasion scenarios, full 24 hour events with no stoppage overnight, that sort of thing. 'hardcore' doesn't change the kit levels, more the physical element involved, in my head, at least.

That's really *every* ww2 event i've been to, though. Certainly any that have been organised by members of this forum, at least.

Which, whilst put in a comedy manner, is more my idea/definition of 'hardcore', in ww2 airsoft terms. I.e Escape & Evasion scenarios, full 24 hour events with no stoppage overnight, that sort of thing. 'hardcore' doesn't change the kit levels, more the physical element involved, in my head, at least.

Evo, you've hit it right on the head in your first paragraph. Virtually EVERY WW2 airsoft event is "hardcore" in one way or another! If you brought the average open day player to a WW2 event, he would think it was most definitely "hardcore", compared with letting off hicap after hicap, stopping every half hour and being shadowed by yellow vested marshalls, whilst playing against dpm and multicam clad "cartel members". If "hardcore" equals "realism and immersion", then, I'd take that over a mindless blat any day.

I struggle to get my head around the idea/perception some people have, particularly about CiA events, of the notion of being on the go for 24 hours, "sleeping in a ditch", on the run non stop and, all of the other misconceptions/misinformations that are put out there (this isn't aimed at you Evo). All we have tried to do is encourage people to push themselves a bit harder than at some other WW2 events and within each event, there are ways for those who don't want to be "full on" to still participate and have a great time (just look at the options we created for Jedburgh and are creating for Schaulen), for those who DO want things a bit harder, we try to accomodate them too. We have NEVER played through the night and, probably never will. Personally, I'd much rather DRINK through the night! If people pace themselves properly, instead of thinking they have to get their action in the first hour, no event will ever be too taxing. I wish some players would stop prejudging, or listening to our nay sayers regarding our events and get out there and give it a go. After 15 successful events, we're obviously doing something right and, haven't killed anyone yet!

Anyway, back on topic! As I've said before, I will attend as many WW2 events as I can, as long as I have the free time. Distance and cost are secondary for me. If I am free, like the look of the game and think there is a reasonable chance of having some fun and return for investing my money, I will be there. Having put so much money into kit and weapons over the years, I'd be fool not to get to as many events as possible.

I'd personally like to do a game where it runs through the night, with people taking it in turns to watch for enemy and coordinated 5am assaults on sleeping bases ( wearing eye protection of course )

personaly i like to attend as much airsoft events (if the price is right) i have the kit so id rather
put it to good use then sitting in my cupboard

Well, having started ww2 airsoft last september I've totally got the bug! I try to get to as many as I can, aiming for 6 games a year. Scenarios do matter and I appreciate good game play, realistic tactics and emersing myself in the feel of being there! Trigger time isn't important as patrolling, labour parties and the like are all part of it! Travel is a pain as coming from the north east, every game is midlands/wales so it can mean taking leave to accomodate travel. It can cost £100 per game in fuel alone!! Devils Hill was great but still 2 hrs travel! I'm not fussed if I do or don't know anyone. I'll attend regardless! I just love the whole experience! I've come to see different organisers have different takes on the play style, Gunman seem bigger affairs with lots of trigger time where as u guys are more focussed on atmos/and almost re-enactment! Both are fine by me!

Hi

By way of qualifying my vote, I would actually describe myself as very interested in WW2 as distinct from 'fairly' interested, and the other part of the statement I selected stands as is, I attend events occasionally

I have a wifey and two young things so events that require travelling long distances aren't really that attractive at the moment, however good the site or the scenario

I also prefer one day events to weekenders so I'm more likely to go to WW2 themed games, eg the one at Honiley not so long back and the one at The Asylum in November last year, or the one at The Tunnels organised by Oddy - looking forward to that!

I went with the third option, but would describe myself as 'very interested in WW2 airsoft'. Time and distance tend to be the main factors limiting my attendance at games.

im going with first option. im mad as hell about ww2 and airsoft so this forum is ideal for me.
reasons for attending games should be obvious with the last statement however, i try to go airsofting once a month and sometime ago decided that the once-a-month game would be ww2 first, then vietnam, then coldwar or whatever else ticks the themed box.
i even skip some months airsofting if there are going to be 2 good events in one month later on in the year!
trouble for me attending most cia games or other ww2 games this year is distance. i live in spalding lincs area and most cia games seem to be in wales or on the south coast, same with most vietnam games.
im thankfull to josh at gunman airsoft and john at fire support for their ww2 and vietnam games to which most i have attended but even some of them are 4 1/2 hrs drive away from me.
not just me either but some of my mates who are also into ww2 airsoft and vietnam.
im booked up for volturno affair which is good for me and a few mates but ive long been a campaigner between us mates for games nearer to the east midlands or even the midlands which volturno is, and judging from the mass of bookings the game has attracted, with extra places having to be added due to demand, im not alone in wishing for a few more games this way abit!
patton stalls at melton will be another ace game for us this way at only 50 min driving time for me, but 4 1/2 hrs drive to and another 4 1/2hrs drive back from other games takes abit of interest out for me. the weekend camping stuff is good but ive got to be fair to the family as well and often only go for the most eventfull day of a weekend event, my choice fully i know!
kit wise ive spent alot on my stuff and its not just me who enjoys it but also other players enjoy shooting the authentic target!
price wise things look ok, i feel some events advertised on this forum could be pricey for what they are, i sometimes ask myself what will i get for my money at each event? lots of vehicles attending? lots of props specially made for the event to give you that period feel ? or just running around the same old forest with a different uniform on exchanging gunfire here and there? some games ive been to there has been alot of moving artillery around and building some defensive positions which has actually been quite good fun while wearing our uniforms, gave us a sort of period military unity, sometimes havent fired a shot untill the afternoon! some days im quite happy to just patrol abit. these are my thoughts only and im not wishing to offend anyone, games i have been to have been great. im just answering the post questions as honestly as possible for me. im happy to play on open days with my ww2 gear as some of my mates do anyway buts its abit of a downer when you get blown away every 5 minutes by someone with a 3000rd drum mag on their ak47 or an m4 upgraded to shoot down satelites from space. ive upgraded my mp40 to hold its own on a regular skirmish day but can struggle abit with midcaps against hicaps and box mags when the heat is on.
im not wishing to offend anyone or spoil anyones ideas or airsoft events by this reply, im just providing the information asked by the forum moderator. mr steiner. cheers.

I haven't selected any of the available options as none of them fit my situation. Being an airsoft player since 1999 and a re-enactor since 2002 I have all the kit I need ("need" not "want" you understand!). However my location and life circumstances have dictated not only my attendance of WW2 airsoft but airsoft and re-enacting in general, I've not attended any re-enacting events this year. Fuel costs are the worst bit, it costs me £160+ a month in fuel simply to get to work and back and general cost of living, a six month old son and a forthcoming need to move house pretty much sew things up. As the majority of WW2 airsoft events tend to be in the Midlands or further north I simply can't justify the fuel costs. I'm sure many other people have similar issues. For now I just turn up at normal walk on days once in a while in period kit to give it a run out.

Heh, you just can't win with the travelling thing though (brought up in the last three posts but not responding directly to the posters).

If you live in central England, erm let's say Derby, then pretty much wherever in England a game is held it will be reachable within four hours, often much less. If you live on the periphery of England then for almost every game over the past five years, while you might strike lucky with an event or two right on your doorstep, the chances are you WILL have to travel a distance.

Now, part of the pleasure of playing WW2 events is exploring new/different/exciting sites up and down the country - you can dress up in WW2 gear and play at your local site to your hearts content but you are missing out on the thrill and challenge of something new.

So, what's to do? Well, you could all move to Derby . Or you could hold all events in the East and West Midlands on the basis that a central location is most easily reachable by all. Or you could sit at home and wait for an event to come to you. Or you could car share, reducing costs by a half or two thirds. WW2 events are held all over England - I've played in Norfolk in the east, North and South Wales in the west, Cornwall in the south-west, Bradford opp north and sites on the south coast.

Playing WW2 airsoft WILL require game fees and travel costs. I do sometimes feel that people go mad collecting guns and uniforms and yet have no money to play. This is topsy-turvy and it is the sort of thing CiA and Gunman are addressing by trying to make events accessible by minimising uniform rules (or even lending uniforms and hiring guns).

Sadly WW2 airsoft DOES require some disposable income, like most hobbies. But I have a new motto: "don't stash useless kit- sell it and play instead." or, more snappily "A player not a collector be."

I have a general rule of thumb for travelling to events - basically I refuse to spend longer in the car than I do on the field.

As has been said a few times already, the cost of fuel and distance too and from make most events unavailable for me. Luckly for me there's one event in Yorkshire this year which i'll hopefully be able to attend. Normally i play at my local in ww2 kit.

I'm in N.Lincolnshire and the two games I'm booked for this year are both 3-5 hours away.

Well there's a thing, I am actually going to be attending a WW2 airsoft event after four years on this forum! I've signed up for the Corridor at the end of the month. The planets all aligned for this one as myself and my wife are attending a friends wedding reception in Arundel on the Saturday night. My brother & sister in law live in Worthing so they are looking after our son that evening and we're obviously crashing there later.

All quite fortunate as obviously fuel costs have of course increased since my post back in September, I'm now at around £200+ a month more realistically. A move back towards Salisbury and my workplace is on the cards if we can get a part ex on a new build house.