The history
Eight, nine, ten years ago a few of us had already been playing at local clubs in WW2 gear, and a few had seen others playing in WW gear and liked what they saw. No one had played a WW2 game as such. Headshot who played at Fireball put together a WW2 themed game and had the vision to advertise it on the national airsoft forums and it became the first WW2 game to bring WW2 kitted players together.
On the back of that a few of us formed Comrades in Arms with the aim to bring like-minded players together to form a new genre. We had seen there was interest in WW2, we had seem people were interested enough to travel to WW2 games, we had seen that across the UK there were enough players to put a game on. So, applying similar rules and concepts to the Vietnam games we were playing (squads, command structure, look-like uniform requirements, equivalent gun rules, missions and sub-games rather than simple ‘kill the enemy’ game plan, etc) we created something that was as far away from open day airsoft as we felt it was possible to go. I was a stunning success, players piled in from all over the country. They lapped up the second game, a daring concept that relied on imagination and enthusiasm to make it work.
Why do I say all that? Am I blowing CiA’s trumpet? Am expecting deep felt respect and gratitude from current players? Heh, I’m not that naïve! I’m illustrating the vision and concept of CiA back then and I think that vision is shared now by all WW2 players. It is a common theme in all WW2 games – quality players working together to make something special happen.
So, moving on, what is it that I want from WW2 airsoft now?
I want something as far removed from an open day as possible. Been there, done that, boring after the first 20 games.
I want a sense of history I love historical accuracy and if a game can teach me something or push me to learn more, then all the better.
I want a sense of place A site full of forts, paintball splattered trees and pallet piles won’t cut it. I want the scenario to fit the site not the other way around.
I want a sense of jeopardy I want to feel that life is precious, the reality that my life is precious.
I want to explore new sites It really adds to the experience, complicates the game plan, adds an extra level of risk and removes the ‘club’ thing where those familiar to a site exploit it to their advantage. Heh, that’s what we did to the noobs on our open days!
I want a sense of ‘being there’ Background sound tracks of battle noises, stukkas dive bombing, guard dogs patrolling tunnels. Players behaving like soldiers not airsofters. A sea of similarly dressed factions in khaki, brown or grey. Players dropping down like flies when it all goes tits up. Pyro going off everywhere.
I want a lack of movie aping I want a battle to be like a real battle, not how they are portrayed on screen with buffed up and puffed up heroes winning the day. War is shit. A bit of shittiness is perfectly doable. Of course, I am unfit and middle aged, and games have to cater for the players abilities to be ‘fun’.
I don’t want good guys vs bad guys Soldiers fought for and gave their lives their families and their countries, respect that.
I don’t want games that are one sided or perceived to be one sided.
I want players to look great I'm quite content with a ten foot rule (or whatever) and I appreciate those that look perfect equally with those that have made the effort. I’m not hugely hung up about weapon accuracy as I'm not into guns.
I want players to act like soldiers not airsofters I don’t mean drilling or buffing boots, I mean acting like you are in the worst place on earth where fussing about uniform accuracy or stopping for lunch or moaning because the player you shot didn't die or that your boots and knees are getting muddy is the last thing on your mind.
I want an experience Like everyone else, my time and money are precious. Time more so in my case. Friends, colleagues and family are dying all around me and I’m acutely aware that every second counts. I have a thousand and one other things I should be doing and playing at soldiers shouldn't be at the top of the pile (although it manages to find its way there!). I want to take away from the weekend something memorable for ever, something that has added to my life not wasted it.
I want to be challenged Mentally or physically. I don’t want things easy all the time, push me, test me. Some of my most memorable games are where I endured discomfort (not to compare to discomfort of a real WW2 soldier which is unimaginable) or pushed myself to do something out of my perceived comfort zone.
I don’t want to be scripted Part of the joys of being an organiser of CiA games is that games are played out for real, one commander against another. But as a player I like to feel I am part of my commander’s plan and a cog in the wheel, pitting my wits against an enemy, not following a typed out game plan. That isn't to say games should be unplanned free-for-alls, indeed they should be planned to cater for every eventuality, just that within the plan (to make best use of the site, say) outcomes are undetermined and down to the players and commander’s decisions.
I don’t want winners and losers It shouldn't matter a jot. I want to feel I have achieved something for sure, but winning and losing is a very open day thing.
Anyhoo, there, two hours of my bank holiday gone and to what purpose? Merely to say, if you agree with all or most of my own preferences then you fall into the ‘immersive’ and ‘give me more’ camp, if you disagree with all or most of my preferences then you fall into the ‘WW2 themed’ and ‘unchallenging’ camp.
Just to be clear (not that anyone will take notice of this caveat and will huff and puff or make comments nothing to do with the gist of this discourse) I am NOT saying one is good or one is bad, or that one is better than the other. Merely that I left WW2 themed games behind many years ago and life is too short to repeat the same experience over and over. There is room for ALL shades of game style and experience, catering for all expectations. That is what this forum is for, that is what I support. Something for everyone.
P.S. My spell checker doesn't recognise the word 'immersive'. That amused me.
I was straight into ww2 airsoft so have no experience of open day horridness but absolutely 100% agree with this, right down to my own spellcheck chuckle last night
I have a small skewer hidden in the collar of my jumping jacket, and a razorblade in my gaiter, as well as my knife.
I was straight into ww2 Absolutely 100% agree with this, right down to my own spellcheck chuckle last night
I concur. Though I have not used a spellchecker yesterday.
Merely to say, if you agree with all or most of my own preferences then you fall into the ‘immersive’ and ‘give me more’ camp, if you disagree with all or most of my preferences then you fall into the ‘WW2 themed’ and ‘unchallenging’ camp.
This. Totally. You've pretty much described exactly what I want from a ww2 event. I think trying to redefine what 'immersive' is meant to mean is a bit of an evolutionary dead end here, not so much reinventing the wheel, as taking the wheel off entirely and retrofitting a wooden cartwheel instead.
All this rubbish about 'not wanting to polish boots or hide in a ditch all weekend' is equally a red herring. No event has *ever* expected people to sit around doing nothing, or fill out paperwork all weekend (much to Wladek's chagrin I imagine, as regards the filling out paperwork part 
)
ALL events, however 'niche' they are, give players tasks to complete, objectives to achieve and things to do. Fine, it may not be running backwards and forwards in a never-ending regen battle, but it's still soldierly, still fun, and still airsoft. Even hardcore E&E games have had shooting, and one complete side devoted to running around firing in the woods. Hut 9 is probably the closest anyone has ever tried to do a non-shooty game, and there will still be chance to pop some rounds off, I imagine, though that's not why I'll be attending.
Same goes for the 'stitch counting'/prescriptive requirements argument against niche/red squirrel events. It's bollocks. NO event has ever demanded people rebadge as a specific unit, I think the most prescriptive requirement ever has been a request to debadge and represent a generic US/German/Brit/Russian uniform. The kit guides in these events are purely that, guides. Personally I've spent shitloads of money over the years badging up for specific events over the years, only to take them off and rebadge for the next event.
Why? Because I like buying silly badges and portraying a unit for the event, not because it was demanded of me, because it wasn't, and never has been.
Personally, the one thing that turns me off to a game is an all-inclusive 'All allies vs all axis' uniform requirements. Sure it's guaranteed to get the most people, lowest common denominator always does, but it completely 100% kills any immersion to see a section made up of four or five different uniforms.
There's also a strange aversion to the word LARP, people perceive it to mean something it's not, and I don't know why. You *ALL* LARP, as soon as you attend an airsoft event and pretend to be a ww2 soldier (unless you're in your 90's now and really look good for your age). Get over the idea that LARP is all foam swords, pointy ears and saying 'hey nonny non', it's simply pretending to be something you're not, for fun as part of a game...
You're all LARPers, just go with it. How far you go is entirely up to you, but the more you put in, the more you'll get out. That oft-searched for 'immersion' for a start.
Hehe, as one of the people who has an aversion to the word LARP, the simple reason is that I don't think dressing up is LARP and I don't pretend to be other people. I am me being me in 1944. It is a personal quest to discover how I react being plonked down into an alien environment, expected to behave in a certain way, giving orders or following orders, point a gun at another human let alone pull the trigger. Have I found the answer to my quest? No, not yet. I know war is nothing like the films and I know war is nothing like a computer game but don't I know if I could hack being in it for real. When I do I'll stop playing airsoft I guess.
Anyhoo, let's not get embroiled in LARPyness - make that a new topic!
I started with normal airsoft. What I look for in a game is that it will be interesting. This could mean that the location is different, the game itself sounds interesting etc. A niche game means less people and more emphasis on immersion and that sounds fun, I am desperately trying to scrape a few coppers together for a rifle so I can try an all rifles game. The less niche games also mean more people and that means more action which also appeals but in a different way. What matters to me is how interesting does it sound vs. how difficult will it be to get there.
Fully agree with immerse description.
I would not mind being a radio operator or runner or staff in an HQ passing orders on etc as long it really matters. Not every soldier was in a front line fighting position but still had to keep things running.
Also like to say that being properly led by NCO/officers does add to the experience. The army is not a discussion forum.
You may be surprised, but this is exactly what I look for. A very articulate evaluation CW! There's significant danger in forum chat. Most of the tone and meaning is lost in the type. Give me half a dozen of these games please mister organiser!
Not in the least surprised Johnny. You were initiated at Devil's Hill and came back for more. Nuff said. 
And a fine initiation it was too! the Sunday was one of the most atmospheric moments I've had. And that was at the beginning of the day, lying in a muddy puddle with men either side of me as far as I could see, watching the silhouettes of enemy infantry flit through the mist in the distance. Rain gently patting off the top of my helmet. Goose bumps mate! Goosebumps! And for that I thank you!
Fully agree with immerse description.
I would not mind being a radio operator or runner or staff in an HQ passing orders on etc as long it really matters. Not every soldier was in a front line fighting position but still had to keep things running.
Also like to say that being properly led by NCO/officers does add to the experience. The army is not a discussion forum.
Here here!
Rain gently patting off the top of my helmet.
I think the rain did a bit more than patter down as I ended up pouring about a pint of water out of each boot at the end of it. It was very atmospheric though.
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone
And a fine initiation it was too!
Didn't you get within grenade distance of the entire German command including Chomley without them noticing? Then your face when the soaked grenade didn't work..............!!!! 
That was a wet, but good day.
Rain gently patting off the top of my helmet.
I think the rain did a bit more than patter down as I ended up pouring about a pint of water out of each boot at the end of it. It was very atmospheric though.
Cheers
Martin
The first time in an airsoft event that my head went fully underwater in a 'puddle'. Ilkley Moor gets a bit soggy.
Eeee tha should've donned thar tat.
Edit - I am not from Yorkshire but I am trying to learn the language.
