TopGun Paintball Recap

Disclaimer:  I was with a private group for the majority of the time I was there, so that may change the perception of certain items.

• Restrooms - Port-o-potties, untested
• Spacious staging areas
• Spacious dead areas; netting was pretty good in most of the areas, which was impressive given the size of the field
• Fill stations actually filled to 3k
• Remote fill stations also actually filled to 3k
• There were even some remote chrono stations, but no tools by any of the stations
• Refs were generally good
• rotated fields
• balanced teams
• announced next game start times, kept things moving
• generally did a good job when they were in the right place
• weren’t always in the right place for paint checks; particularly on the larger fields.  I don’t think it was for lack of caring; I think it’s a procedural issue and they just need to be trained to know where the hot spots on the field are and when to go to them to make sure things go smoothly, and radio’ing requests for paint checks to a closer ref if necessary.  For instance, the fort in the middle of the fort field.  You know if both sides get in there, it’s going to get dicey with all the CQB.  So I chalk this up more to management and procedure than the refs.
• Nobody chrono’d?  Admittedly I was with a private group so we were all pretty good, but I can’t recall seeing any indication of other groups chronoing.
• Some of the open group players were totally douchy.  Actually some of the players in another private group were totally douchy too.  Must be the local culture...
• Did I mention this was in NJ?  Fuck NJ.  God what a fucked up state.
• Lots of fields, lots of variety.  This is a very large plot of land.
• Some of the bunkers were kind of ratty and had holes and gaps, which is kind of a pet peeve.
• Was there a morning briefing for all the players?  Admittedly, I was with the private group, and I was seriously late for the first day on top of that, so I might have missed it.  But there was no signage regarding ground rules either.  I asked one of the regulars about the surrender rules since that is usually what varies between fields, and he said they basically don’t have any.
• I don’t know what normal field fees were since I was with a group, but the paint prices were bizarre.  $35 for a bag.  $60 for a half-case.  $80 for a case.  I...  don’t get it.  The regressive system encourages groups (understandable), or it encourages hosing.  The folks at the counter were cool about it and tried to help me out and get me to try getting in on a case with other people, but most other people had their paint already and by this time it didn’t matter much.  It’s not like I was going to tote the extra paint all the way back halfway across the country.  I think I used maybe 700 rounds over 2 days.
• And on that note the people running the counter (and there was always someone behind the counter) were efficient and pleasant to deal with.
• Good turnout; lot of players, even ignoring our rather large “private” group.
• Actual pro-shop on-site in case you need stuff.  Didn’t really look at their stock though.
• Paint sucked.  Marballizer.  Seemed about 0.680 bore.  I’ve never liked Marballizer.

As a lone wolf player (not looking for a wolfpack), I dunno how interested I would be in playing here.

All told, my experience with this field was largely positive.  The biggest caveat I would say is go with your own group.  That way you can all chip in for paint, and you mostly don’t have to deal with the douchebags.