GroundZero Weekender 2010 – Aftermath Day 2 – Pre Lunch
After the crazy that was Day 1 we awoke to a very different attitude on the Saturday.
By the time Darksaber and I had decided it was time to wake up, Psycho and co had already started getting gear ready in the same way that everyone else on the site had decided to do.
We cooked a good old tinned breakfast of beans and meatballs before getting our gear sorted and ready for the days events.
Luckily we had hired a portable toilet of our own for the team so we didn't have to go too far for the morning necessaries. I also don't think the public loos would have been too much fun after the drunken escapades taking place all over the site on the night before.
After sauntering down to the LZ with what appeared to be pretty much everyone else on the site we were treated to a briefing covering off the major safety points of Airsoft. Though we have all heard it a million times before everyone remained quiet so players new to the sport would be able to hear.
After the brief all the teams headed off to their respective starting points for the day. The Horns sounded for a game on and all was a go.
We decided it would be an excellent idea to head to the other end of the site for one of the early objectives, with it being the longest trek from the start point it was highly likely we would be first to get there for a small fight then objective capture.
Following our trusty map from the pack we set out in search of our objective and a couple of other players decided to take along with us. Apparently it looked like we knew what we were doing or something..
Well, as it turns out the map was wrong. Horribly horribly wrong.
We turned up at what should have been the objective about 30-40 minutes after the game start having seen no other players during the time, only to find out it wasn't there.
After about 20 minutes of searching and scouting the area we were unable to find the objective area entirely, so decided to start back-tracking and headed for another objective.
Only later did we find out that the map was indeed off course by about a quarter mile, which is why we got lost. And we thought it was just the fault of our navigator..
Having tracked back we heard gun shots in the distance and decided to investigate the noises.
In doing so we entered an area perched on the side of a small hill covered in trees pointing to what we assumed to be an objective. We took up positions in anticipation of a fight.
The rustle of leaves sent us silent with Kaiser hitting the deck and crawling forward to investigate.
Kaiser opened up and clocked a player on an opposing team scoring the first Luna Wolves kill of the day. Remarking that the player was French (the weekender really attracts people from all over Europe) Nightwolf offered to buy Kaiser a beer for his efforts.
Kaiser eventually got taken out along with pretty much everyone else leaving me (Bio), Valkyrie and Darksaber to fend for ourselves.
Nightwolf remembered he was an intel carrier and stood yelling this fact so that an opposing player may take the intel from him within the allotted 5 minute time period.
Another rustle in the bushes got my attention. The flash of an opposing tag was cause enough to open up with the M249 in the relative direction of the tag. Through the clattering of the gun on full auto I was unable to hear the yells of "HIT!" coming from our French friend from earlier that had come back to hunt us. Nightwolf called over that he was hit and that I was to stop firing to let him out of the combat zone.
We sat crouched until the allotted time was up and Nightwolf able to respawn, alert for any players that may try and take our precious intel.
Nobody did.
Our French friend from earlier appeared again in roughly the same spot as before and was met with yet another torrent of plastic doom.
We sat alert, waiting for the return of our team mates.
About 5 minutes later, our French friend returned, AGAIN. Either this guy was a glutton for punishment or very silly.
I was taken out very rapidly.
Upon my return to the nearest dead zone it was apparent what had been happening. The deadzone was not 200 meters from where we were fighting, if that!
Our French friend had been scouting out our positions at each death, returning to the dead zone, then exiting via the back in an attempt to pick us off! Dirty cheat!
Though to say this is cheating is not strictly true, but is certainly not in the spirit of Airsoft.
After being wiped out and trundling around the site some more, we stopped for lunch and headed back to camp. BBQ was again order of the day..
GroundZero Weekender 2010 – Aftermath Day 1
Well the weekender has come and gone, and again, I've taken far too long to write about it!
I'll just start by saying: Awesome.
If I had to describe it in one word, awesome would be the one I use.
The weekend started out with pretty much the norm for a weekender now, putting up tents and having a few beers. The nice thing this year however, is that we were actually able to be there much earlier on the Friday than last year.
You'd think that this meant that we got to camp nice and close to the main game area. Sadly not. We ended up in the furthest field right up next to the fences.
The advantage however is that it wasn't too loud at night and we were able to sleep pretty well.
A nice new thing that was added this year was the car boot sale area, where everyone could bring down their old or un-wanted stuff.
I decided to try my hand at second hand sales but it turns out I wasn't so great, I didn't manage to sell the FAMAS but did manage to sell my set of boots (Random!). Darksaber also found herself a bargain pistol which shoots really well for £75.
Nightwolf also managed to purchase one of Rampage's ban hammers, and picked himself up a new rifle (furthest from the camera) which looks like a clone of Darksaber's custom M4.
After browsing the second hand gear, setting up tents, and having a few beers, we tied up the first evening with a BBQ and a visit to the Jersey lads, which is always a good laugh.
One of the lads decided that using the earlier purchased ban hammer, he would smack himself in the nuts with it.
And that was all on the first day....
GZ Weekender Prep
Prep work has begin for the Luna Wolves outing to the GZ Weekender 2010!
The weekender wouldn't be right if we didn't have some new toys though so true to form, we got ourselves some.
For starters Darkie and Bio have new Goggles. We are all for safety and you should never EVER skimp on your eye protection. Most Airsofters will spend hundreds on their gear but just a few pounds on cheap shooting glasses or purchase glasses from their local DIY store.
While these are OK for the most part, they can let BB's in round the edges which can still result in eye damage, or worse still, on some cheap glasses a round to the arms of the glasses will see them break and part company from your eyes leaving you totally exposed!
Dr. Airsoft has some great reviews of masks and goggles on Youtube and I recommend you check them out.
The one which prompted us to go for the ESS however was:
So we went on to purchase a set of ESS Profile with Cortex clip for Darkie and ESS v12 for Bio.
Although ESS do not recommend anything other than the profile with Cortex clip for Airsoft, they are a fully sealed goggle and this will be twinned with some lower face protection to lower the chance of BB's penetrating from the lower edges.
Bio, ESS V12, Mask
Although the lower face doesn't offer a full seal it should seriously minimise the probability of a BB penetrating the goggle seal.
The primary reason for purchase however would be for the sake of not loosing teeth. Unfortunately NightWolf has previously lost a half tooth, something which I don't fancy doing much, and this often leads to costly dentistry to fix. Not having particularly much in the way of spare cash, I don't want to take any changes, especially having been hit in the tooth before (which luckily didn't break but is now weakened).
Hopefully this will allow me to take a few more risks I would usually avoid this weekender.
DarkSaber with her new toy.
Darkie has also decided she wants to do a DMR type role, we we built her a customised M4.
This has a long 469mm, 6.03mm bore Prometheus barrel and clocks in at 350fps every shot +/- 0.5fps. The weekender shall be a worthy test of this one!
I have also has purchased a G36E front end in preparation for creating an MG36, however do not have the right box mag type yet, so this will be going as a backup in case the M249 fails or becomes too heavy.
Talking of the 249, upgrades!
6.03mm Tight Bore (Vanaras) and a new Madbull hop rubber had been put in. Combined, these two items have added around 40fps so it's now clocking in at a healthy 343fps +/- 3fps which shows just how bad of an air seal the default hop rubber really gives. Hopefully this will allow a greater suppression range which has always been a little lacking previously.
And finally, we now have team patches!
I've sewn the first one onto my "lightweight" Flecktarn shirt (which is slightly lighter in colour than a normal one) and have to say it looks fantastic.
Sewn on patch
Next Event – Island Recon Weekender 22-23 May 2010
So the 'Wolves next outing is to Island Recon for a 2 day Mil-Sim event on 22-23 May 2010.
Should be an interesting one considering I've never played limited ammo games before. Luckily for us, Island Recon will be providing the ammo AND food for the weekend.
Roll on May! Need to get me some beer and guns!
Post Christmas game update
So the Christmas game was one heck of a tiring day out.
Up early, drive to work to pick-up Nightwolf who had just completed a Night Shift (00:00 > 08:00), rush to the ferry port, travel to the island (Isle of Wight), drive across the island, get geared up, play game.
I thought I had it bad. Poor Nightwolf proceeded to stay awake for the entire day and run/marshal a game AFTER an 8 hour shift. THEN he endured the drive/boat ride home for about 7pm, to then go on shift again at 0:00. Madness.
Anyway.
The trip to Island Recon was the first time at the site for both Darkie and myself.
We started with the usual fare. Turn up, gear up, sign on and pay, safety brief, start the first game.
We were briefed on the scenario for the day, Santa vs. Elfs. Luckily we happened to be on the "Santa" team. Even more lucky, it was a defence game. That early in the morning I didn't much fancy running, even more so that the M249 was actually heavier than I had expected once all geared up.
The objective was for the "Elfs" to get to the Santa fortress and blow the gates allowing them to over-run us. All we had to do, was hold them off.
The 249 proved most worthy at laying down long, sustained bursts of fire, with a not bad range and accuracy either. Looks like my re-build after purchase was really worth the effort. Darkie managed to empty several G36 mags to the point of actually running out of ammo.
I managed to stay alive for most of the game purely due to the medic (who was running around everywhere and eventually gave up his gun in return for manoeuvrability) reviving me. Eventually he died leaving us unable to revive and most of the rest of us falling to the overwhelming numbers (respawns) of the Elfs.
After what seemed like forever the elves finally managed to get to our base and detonate their bomb. It was all over however we managed to hold out for quite some time.
The second game saw us turn the scenario around. The Santa team had to attempt to recapture our base from the naughty Elfs, in a quicker time than they had taken it from us.
A quick ammo-up (as quick as filling 4 G36 mags and a box mag can be) and we were back out into the field.
Assaulting the base actually proved to be easier than defending due to the extra elevation afforded from that direction. It was a constant push that eventually gave us the edge with the final assault resulting in someone yelling to me "gunner, we need covering fire, hit that complex", and me holding down the trigger and pelting the entire solid structure that we were attacking. As our team flanked both sides with me keeping the heads down in front, the enemy was eliminated securing us a victory.
We proceeded onto the final game before lunch with yet another victory scored for the Santa team.
Everyone stopped for lunch which was laid on (as it always is) by the fine staff at Island Recon. Hot dog and onions was very much welcome on the otherwise incredibly cold day, and Darkie and I had a cup of tea from the urn as well.
Another ammo refill (number 2), and we were out again.
Another couple of games and the Santa team had again won (clearly Red is better camo in the woods?).
The finale of the day saw the Santa team assaulting the Elves strong hold. Luckily for us this was again, down hill. The Elfs really didn't stand much of a chance against us though they were able to call artillery which took out a few of our team and slowed the advance.
Kaiser, being the crazy pyro that he is, fired up the home-made smokes giving a nice thick cover across the enemy base and adding to the already intense atmosphere, but that didn't stop us. We kept pushing until every last Elf was out of the game.
At the end of the day we gathered round for the spectacle that was the Santa bombardment of the Elf base by way of several detonations my Kaiser.
The games ended and we started our return to base to pack-up and go home.
Far too much ammo was expended by me (a bag at least to myself), and Darkie managed to damage a hop-up unit. But a good day was had by all.
Thanks goes out to all the players and staff at Island Recon. Without you (every one of you) the day wouldn't have been what it was. It really goes to show that it's the players that make our sport what it is.