[Zixor]

any advice, I'm going to catch one this year.

[Trip XIII]

Go and have fun.
There are two ways to experience a big game
1 = Play a role, and complete missions
2 = Go and shoot faces off.

With the first one, you can pretty much go the entire day and not shoot a paintball. To do this get close to the general and ask if he has missions to be done.
Number 2 is pretty much self explantory.

[The_Insanity]

lol. my first game, i went w/ option 2, and my 2nd game, and up to like my 5th or 6th game. then i got to know the field and what was up, and then changed to option 1, with option 2 as required by option 1. worked well for me.

[Umami]

They're epic. You really can't go wrong.

Only advice is you should drag a friend or 4 along.

[Wastedslayer]

Stay Hydrated!, that is if its going to be warm. When I went to the monster game I took 2 bottles of water lol I was ready to drink out of the swamp!

[Paint_Army]

1) If you've played in tournaments before... keep in mind that big games are not like tourneys. You have to stay honest and call yourself out most of the time. Playing-on and waiting for the ref to call you out is not an option.

2) Drink lots of water. Some of these big games take you all over the field. You can end up a long ways from water. A hydration carrier is strongly suggested.

3) Take a friend. I've gone solo a few times, but taking a friend makes it more fun.

4) Trip XIII is right. You can go into it with two entirely different attitudes and have fun either way.

5) Big games can be a logistical nightmare if they've got enough players. One I've been to has to bus you from one area to the next. If you're not prepared for this kind of thing it can be annoying.

Have fun on your first big game! I was hooked after going only one time.

[Collins]

The other guys above stated some great points. I won't repeat them to save you from reading them again. I'll add a few more though. This is stuff we actually observed this past weekend at LCP's Free Finally.

1st. Don't let the cheaters ruin your game. It's gonna happen. If you shoot someone and they don't leave, shoot them again until they do. Be fair though and don't overshoot them. They'll give up eventually. Ex. Mark em, wait for the hand or gun to go up. If they shoot back mark em again.

2nd. Bring plenty of food to munch on. You'll work up an appetite.

3rd. Take breaks as needed. My nephew last weekend over exhausted himself and played like crap the next morning.

4th. Smack talk is most definitely required.

5th. Complainers only complain about what they perceive and may not actually know the entire truth. Don't let them get in your head. I swear one guy talked like every ball he shot was an elimination and everyone else was a cheater. He was very vocal about it too.

6th. Try to get there early if you know the place is gonna be packed. It's sucks trying to find and set up a camping spot late in the night in the dark. It'll give you time to meet other players.

Have a friggen blast.

[Ri0T]

After 14 yrs of paintball, I finally began playing scenarios/big games recently.

Along with everything else already said, don't trust the experienced players! lol.

They're sneaky. I saw one player 2 weeks ago walking out behind 2 dead players. The 2 dead players had barrel socks on, the third (10 ft behind them walking out) didn't. I asked him if he was a live player, and he barrel-tagged me. I should have followed my instinct and shot him in the foot.

If you're not sure if they're a live player (or if they're even on your team, especially during a night game) shoot them in the foot or somewhere else where it won't hurt.

[plushdragon]

there are some fields like emr that have castle games and 26 hour games. emr also has free camping and bunks if you can get a group of friends to fill the bunkhouse. with big games most fields will have a higher fee to get in as there going to have more refs and fill stations for these games. or you have to buy field paint only like emr. most big games will have field maps before the event and a back story or player rolls. if there medics in the game and they use a 2-3 respond punch learn when to use it and when to walk off and come back in. it wont help you in a big fire fight to call for a medic and get him and yourself killed. you also want to bring extra shoes/socks/clothing there always one player that finds a mud hole and loses a sneaker to mud. if you have an older marker bring it with you as a back up. clean and set up your main marker a few days before the big game so there no problem at the field. bring extra batteries for the marker and hopper and bring and old shake and shot one in-case the good one breaks from a hopper hit or just goes south. pick up a pod swab online or from your local store. i been caught in big fire fights and had my hopper been hit a few times and the paint turned into mush in the hopper. with a pod swab you can quick clean the pod and get back into the game and then do a good cleaning when you get home or when the game breaks for dinner/lunch.

[Crimson Death]

Must Have:

Approved paintball mask
Approved barrel plug
Approved paintball marker
Approved power source (CO2 or N2)
Safe Clothing
Insect Repellent
Sun screen (as required)
Water or water container (running water is not available at all fields)
Medication (as required)
Food (stores may not be convenient)
Cash (credit cards are not usually accepted)
Parental release forms for minors (usually available prior to event from staff)

Should Have:

Tent and camping equipment (or hotel reservations)
Raingear
Spare socks
Spare underwear
Spare shoes
Spare gun parts (O-rings, springs, etc.)
Flashlight
Paper towels or rags
Allen wrenches for velocity adjustment
Tools necessary to repair your gun

Good to Have:

Spare clothes
Communications equipment (FRS, CB, etc. This will help you to locate your teammates.)
Spare Gun
Paintballs for chrono/target practice. *if it's not FPO!
Table for organizing your stuff at camp area
Tarp to cover camp area in the event of rain
Electric tape
Duct tape
Extra car key

May Need:

Spare glasses (some people have problems with contacts after long periods)
Paintball grenade
Cool burning smoke
Paintball pistol
Permission of spouse or parent

[SCM1977]

Big games are lots of fun

[Staticline]

If you have a role card, try to get into the role, it will make your experience much more fun.

Riot is correct. Us old guys get sneaky.

You will be tempted to long ball....fight that urge. Experienced players will judge your range and ignore you. Manuver to get up close and personal.

Play honest, you only cheat yourself in the long run.

Avoid the pitfall of complaining about how the other side is "wiping". Yes it happens and always will. Chances are that your side is doing it too. Just remember, you played good money to have fun. The game is what you make of it. Stay positive!

[CONFEDERATE ARMY]

^^ spare car keys is almost a must!!!!!!! i didnt play one event because i had to work and still ended up going over a hour away because my brother lost my moms car keys somewhere on the field.. if outta state a big must have!

[Fluid1 (Banned)]

Wow, I just read this and my head is spinning. 26 hour games?

How is it fun if you're shot in the first hour?

[plushdragon]

on big games there 15 min windows to get back into the game on most larger games. during the 26 hours every hour

[sarcasm]

I would suggest to just keep to a run and gun role the first few big games you go to so you can learn what they are all about and really gauge which one you would want to do.

Other than that, just look at most of the advice above. ^^^^

Have a great game!

[TapsMcleod]

Just have fun and throw tons of paint. Big games rock

[RainMaker_JM]

I have been to 2 - 24hr big games and they are great fun.

I feel you will enjoy the event better if you are in shape before the game. These games are hosted on big fields (60ac+) so there will be a lot of ground to cover and you will be back and forth across the field many times.

Bring jumper cables - I had 3 people asking for jumper cables at the last big game.

[PaintballDiscounters]

Lots of great suggestions in this thread, but I would add:

make it your vacation.
unless you live in Columbus, Ohio like I do and get to drive 30 minutes to SplatterPark....you need money for travel. money for gas or plane tickets. money for food. money for camping or hotel. more money and even more money.

you will probably have to travel and you dont want to drive for 12 hours in crappy weather to play all day long with hundreds of people shooting at you without any rest.

then you will want to rest after the game before traveling home.

Pick a destination and plan ahead.

Oh yea.....Don't forget to read the rules!

[iPaintball Hard]

have fun with it

[samo46]

come out and play oklahoma d day this year.you will be hooked for life.