Introduction
Airsoft can be a very simple, or very complicated game. From playing with some of your buddies in your back yard to full blown military simulations. (mil sim for short) The game can be simple, such as free for all last man standing wins. Or it can be more complicated, like team capture the flag. Either way you go, there are going to be rules, and some sort of objective. Even if the goal is just to stay "alive".
Safety
This is the most important part of airsoft. Without safety guidelines and rules in place, and being followed, you are in for a very miserable game. Airsoft guns can and will hurt someone if used irresponsibly. I have seen it happen! However if you follow these basic safety rules to the letter you should have fun, as apposed to someone getting hurt.
Safety Rules:
- Always wear eye protection no matter what!
- Avoid shooting into faces even if the player has a mask on.
- Don't shoot people more than it takes to hit them. (This is probably one of the most common ways to start an argument and/or hurt someone)
- Never shoot at anyone who isn't wearing eye protection. Even if they are shooting at you. Just hold your fire and tell them to put on their eye protection.
- Don't shoot anyone at close range with a high powered gun. (380fps or higher)
- Seriously consider using a face mask.
These rules should always be followed to the letter. You may have noticed that I strongly recommended a face mask. This is because though a lot of players prefer to go without, airsoft BB's can, and will, chip teeth. I did not always wear a face mask until one day a good game of airsoft came to a sudden end because someone's front tooth was hit and chipped. Since then it has been a personal rule to always wear a face mask.
Safety Rules:
- Always wear eye protection no matter what!
- Avoid shooting into faces even if the player has a mask on.
- Don't shoot people more than it takes to hit them. (This is probably one of the most common ways to start an argument and/or hurt someone)
- Never shoot at anyone who isn't wearing eye protection. Even if they are shooting at you. Just hold your fire and tell them to put on their eye protection.
- Don't shoot anyone at close range with a high powered gun. (380fps or higher)
- Seriously consider using a face mask.
These rules should always be followed to the letter. You may have noticed that I strongly recommended a face mask. This is because though a lot of players prefer to go without, airsoft BB's can, and will, chip teeth. I did not always wear a face mask until one day a good game of airsoft came to a sudden end because someone's front tooth was hit and chipped. Since then it has been a personal rule to always wear a face mask.
Rules
Other than safety rules, there also must be at least some game rules in place for a successful game. Rules can be designed simply so the game functions smoothly. Or they can be designed to add realism for Mil Sim's .
Hits
Without rules defining "hits", there is no point in using ammo in your airsoft gun. A hit is generally defined as any time a player is hit with an airsoft BB on any part of the body and often the gun as well. Many people count ricochets as well, and this rule works well for large games to avoid confusion. However in smaller games I generally don't count ricochets as hits. Once a player is hit, they are then required to do whatever the game rules define. Generally, some form of respawn is required to continue play. Players are counted as hit if any part of clothing they are wearing is hit. Also, once a player is hit they may not tell their teammates about enemy positions, and cannot speak to their team unless yelling "medic".
When a player is hit often times the rules require the player to announce when they are hit. However, while this works for large games, it can cause problems. When I play a small game (5vs5, or even 3vs3) and a player is hit, the other team does not always know that one of the enemy players is hit. When a player yells "hit!", the other team instantly realises they have a huge advantage, becomes very aggressive, and try's to stop you from tagging your team mate back in. Often resulting in puppy guarding and the end of a game. Though it's good for the team that is exploiting the new found weakness of the other team, it can be frustrating. In order to prevent this, I make it a rule that you do not have to call hit when you are hit, but if asked by another player you must give an honest answer. Of course you still must take the hit and follow the rules. For larger games you will probably be required to call out hit.
Finally, and most importantly, you should never tell another player they are hit. Only you know when you are hit. Now because there is no mark left by an airsoft BB, you just have to be honest. In the case that the person you hit is not honest and doesn't take their hit then you will just have to keep trying. Almost everyone will take their hit when you have them 30 feet away getting pelted with full auto and no where to run. Because no matter how dishonest and/or stubborn they are, it hurts! Or at least they will run away giving you a tactical advantage. In a game of airsoft, especially Milsim, "kills" aren't everything. Not to mention when one player yells out "I got you!" and they actually didn't hit the other player, it can lead to an argument and ruin the fun of a game.
Respawn
After a player is hit they generally are required to respawn by following some sort of direction before entering play again. There are several different ways to respawn but the most common are returning to an area and tagging yourself back in, medics, time, and simply waiting until the game has ended.
Touching your base
This is a good respawn method for shorter games in smaller areas. Basically all you do is, once hit, go back to your "base" or other designated spawning point and touch it. Then you re-enter the game and do whatever. Typically, each team will have a separate spawning point located on opposite sides of the field.
Medics
This is probably the most common form of respawn. Medics work well in almost all environments and game types. When a player is hit, they call out "Medic" or some kind of code word for it. then a designated team medic comes and ties a cloth around their arm. Once this is complete they renter the game. Often, people will play by wounds. This is when you've been saved by the medic a set number of times and sustained too many "wounds" to continue play until; You return to your spawning point and respawn, or wait for the game to end. Normally 3 wounds is the set limit. Unless they have reached the wound limit, the player is not allowed to move. However other team mates can move the player.
Time
This is the most simple way of respawn. It works only for small games and is not very effective. However with small teams and large playing areas it is sometimes the best option. All you do when you are hit is count out loud to an agreed number. Normally between 30 and 100. Once you've finished you return to play. Once a player is hit they are not allowed to move until finished counting.
Hits
Without rules defining "hits", there is no point in using ammo in your airsoft gun. A hit is generally defined as any time a player is hit with an airsoft BB on any part of the body and often the gun as well. Many people count ricochets as well, and this rule works well for large games to avoid confusion. However in smaller games I generally don't count ricochets as hits. Once a player is hit, they are then required to do whatever the game rules define. Generally, some form of respawn is required to continue play. Players are counted as hit if any part of clothing they are wearing is hit. Also, once a player is hit they may not tell their teammates about enemy positions, and cannot speak to their team unless yelling "medic".
When a player is hit often times the rules require the player to announce when they are hit. However, while this works for large games, it can cause problems. When I play a small game (5vs5, or even 3vs3) and a player is hit, the other team does not always know that one of the enemy players is hit. When a player yells "hit!", the other team instantly realises they have a huge advantage, becomes very aggressive, and try's to stop you from tagging your team mate back in. Often resulting in puppy guarding and the end of a game. Though it's good for the team that is exploiting the new found weakness of the other team, it can be frustrating. In order to prevent this, I make it a rule that you do not have to call hit when you are hit, but if asked by another player you must give an honest answer. Of course you still must take the hit and follow the rules. For larger games you will probably be required to call out hit.
Finally, and most importantly, you should never tell another player they are hit. Only you know when you are hit. Now because there is no mark left by an airsoft BB, you just have to be honest. In the case that the person you hit is not honest and doesn't take their hit then you will just have to keep trying. Almost everyone will take their hit when you have them 30 feet away getting pelted with full auto and no where to run. Because no matter how dishonest and/or stubborn they are, it hurts! Or at least they will run away giving you a tactical advantage. In a game of airsoft, especially Milsim, "kills" aren't everything. Not to mention when one player yells out "I got you!" and they actually didn't hit the other player, it can lead to an argument and ruin the fun of a game.
Respawn
After a player is hit they generally are required to respawn by following some sort of direction before entering play again. There are several different ways to respawn but the most common are returning to an area and tagging yourself back in, medics, time, and simply waiting until the game has ended.
Touching your base
This is a good respawn method for shorter games in smaller areas. Basically all you do is, once hit, go back to your "base" or other designated spawning point and touch it. Then you re-enter the game and do whatever. Typically, each team will have a separate spawning point located on opposite sides of the field.
Medics
This is probably the most common form of respawn. Medics work well in almost all environments and game types. When a player is hit, they call out "Medic" or some kind of code word for it. then a designated team medic comes and ties a cloth around their arm. Once this is complete they renter the game. Often, people will play by wounds. This is when you've been saved by the medic a set number of times and sustained too many "wounds" to continue play until; You return to your spawning point and respawn, or wait for the game to end. Normally 3 wounds is the set limit. Unless they have reached the wound limit, the player is not allowed to move. However other team mates can move the player.
Time
This is the most simple way of respawn. It works only for small games and is not very effective. However with small teams and large playing areas it is sometimes the best option. All you do when you are hit is count out loud to an agreed number. Normally between 30 and 100. Once you've finished you return to play. Once a player is hit they are not allowed to move until finished counting.