Airsoft Strategy

[Tippy]

Hey. All you vetrans out there i could use some advice on strategies for surrender games. If you have any good tips or strategies post em'.

[Jacko]

Strategies are formed on the battlfield. Tactics are what you're looking for. But before you can successfully utilize either, you need to utilize yourself first. Learning how to observe, how to be aware, how not to get tunnel vision, that's what's important first. Once you get those down, it's easy from there on out.

[Bigmack]

be patient. if you've found an easily defended area...stay there and set up a position.

remain out of sight. remain still. movement is more easily noticed in a wooded environment where other sounds are muffled.

make sure the magazine in your weapon is loaded. nothing like lining up on a target to fire off your last 3 rounds.

as Jacko said, be aware. notice every movement of every leaf. do not focus in on any one area.

stick to your objectives. if you need to hold an area, stay there. if you need to take an area, the worst thing to do is camp.

remain mobile.

do not become too mobile.

be ready to move at a seconds notice. take fire from behind, and you need to get the hell out of there in a hurry.

always keep a second wind handy. do not run to the point you cannot run any longer.

use only as much ammunition as the job requires. if it only takes 3 shots, don't dump the mag.

When you're in a defendable position, keep your sidearm handy.

do not blind fire. this not only wastes ammo, it gives your location away.

[Motown]

Since Bigmack pretty much covered the more advanced basics, the only sure fire thing that will make you better are using your senses, most importantly perception and hearing, and the ability to learn from your mistakes.

Perception the most invaluble of all the things in your bag of tricks and typically is the area which most people are lacking. The ability to take a quick peek, a snapshot if you will, of an area, and to discern what you've just seen. Seeing exactly who, what, where, when, and why you're seeing is different, and the appropriate action.

Secondly, do yourself a favor before the skirmish, and break out the Q-Tips. I don't know how many countless times I've come out ahead by trusting my ears. The ability not only to hear the faintest sound, but also determining wether or not it's something important, or just the wind upon the branches. Trust yourself, and your instincts, you'll be glad you did.

Perhaps the most important of them all, making mistakes, and knowing what to do once you make them. Obviously we're all human, we all do some things right, wether it by skill or just plain luck, but we will also screw things up. The smart person is able to take their mistakes and not make the same ones twice or more. So, you decided to walk right infront of that goggle wearing bush, and you got shot because of it. If you're smart, you'll be careful of that area next time, you'll devise your own tactics on how to "beat" somebody who tries it again.

Ultimately over time, you'll think you see quite a bit, and create your own privy survival tactics to see you through the skirmish day, but always be open to the thing(s) which you've neither yet done nor seen, as they're going to the first thing employed by your opponent.

[DE50man]

alright, no one seems to have said this or my eyes are failing me

work as a team, coordinate attacks and maneuvers, you will be surprised how a seemingly impossible task can be within your grasp if you work as a well lubed team IMO

[destrukto]

I thought I just might add this, don't hesitate to talk when the plastic starts flying, it's not like you're going to give away your position when they're shooting at you.
communication is key, use hand signals whenever possible though.

and lastly, shoot first and ask questions later ;D

[luke213]

I second the shoot first and ask questions later. The last few games I've been at, I've regreted not taking a shot because I wasn't sure if it was a friendly. Especially at Firebrand, though I was shooting at anything I could see at Garcia(my brother also found this out as he took a full auto burst to the chest while climbing over a log about 15 yards behind me when I thought he had moved ahead with my team). None the less, if it moves shoot it, unless of course it has allot of red and your at an ACO game, because that means it's talisman and xaos:) More less my tactic I would suggest is above all have fun and call your hits. Not much of a tactic, though when your done with a game whether you won, lost, or anything in the middle you'll be happy and have had fun:)


Luke

[Andree]

1 tip i saw in a sniper hand book that i have used for airsoft quite a bit "If you can see the enemy, the enemy can see you" using that if your behind a tree you dont have to keep an eye on the guy you see the whole time, expecially if you can see him clearly, Tuck behind the tree and peek out slowly, at diffrent heights on diffrent sides of the tree now and then to see if hes close enough to have a sure kill Ive gotten lots of kills that way

[xaos]

Hahahaha Luke I second that, even if you're not on my team! Don't shoot the red guys!

One thing Bigmack said sticks in my mind...know how much ammo you have left...be it by giving your gun a shake after a firefight to get an idea how full your hicap is, or by simply being able to estimate fairly accurately how much you've shot. I can't relate how many times I've lined up with a perfect burst on someone, only to spit out 4 bb's, then swear a lot while diving away from the hail of plastic coming my way, trying to slap a new mag in at the same time.

One other thing to always remember:

No plan ever survives first contact.

Don't waste time making a super-detailed plan...it's just gonna get shot to hell when you meet the enemy. Grab some general ideas and work with them. Don't be afraid to modify your plan to achieve your goals...you're going to have to more often than not.

Always be aware of cover...even (especially?) when you're moving. Where can you grab some cover if the shit hits the fan, where the enemy might be lying in ambush. Know what good cover is, and how to use it.

If you play with more "experienced" people, watch them. You can learn an amazing amount of stuff just by watching what others do.

The last thing I have to say echoes the last part of Luke's post. It's a game. We play it for fun. Make damned sure you, your teammates, and your opponents have fun every time you play, else there's no point in playing.

[Delta]

I can tell you what most mistakes are. You make it too complicated. This is what every new or old player does and it hurts you. If things start getting complicated and seem hopeless simplify your thoughts. Chances are there is a simple solution you are over looking in the stress of battle. remain alert and ready but don't think too much because it starts taking a bad toll on your playability and judgement.

Second never send a man in to do something you wouldn't do yourself. Killing yourself is bad, killing someone else is worse.

The first step in training yourself is your weapon. Before you even think tactics get used to your gun adjust the sights do whatever so you are very accustomed to your weapon. After that start very basic. Basic tactics often are much better and more reliable than advanced plans.

Flexiblity is another key. In battle you can never determine what will happen or what wont go right. Keep your plans and tactics simple and flexible so that if surprises arise you can easily adapt to them and continue on your basic mission.

Hesisitation vs caution is hard to seperate. Basically when moving you want to continue moving and keep alert and rely on your tactics. That is caution which is good. To not move based on a hunch or the fear you may be surprised is hesitating. When you start to hesistate you are breaking rule one by making your thoughts way too complicated. Always keep your head up and never turn away from your weapon. If you look left so is your weapon. Also with reloading remember just drop to a knee behind cover unholster the sidearm in case you need it and reload as you are watching the enemy so when you are locked and cocked back up you aren't surprised that the enemy is standing right next to you asking you to take the hit.

And last but not least remember if you get shot you didn't neccessarily mess up. In battle you can be using perfect tactics and do everything right, but remember there is no tactic that can cure plain and simple bad luck. Sometimes you just get bad luck. Always go back over the game even if it was successful and look for mistakes you made even if you weren't shot.

[destrukto]

I second that delta, nothing can overcome plain and simple bad luck. For example and from experience, snipers are a constant source of bad luck. oops, your team leader just took one in the head, now what do you do?? your well laid plan just went to hell in a matter of seconds.

[Talisman]

Just gonna toss in a couple thoughts here, if they've been said before then... well, read em again ;p

Mobility - Dont get stuck behind some cover that you cant get out of without getting shot. I've gotten *so* many kills by just popping shots off when people move out from cover to fire... They duck back every time, allowing me/my team to advance and/or just sit and wait till a lucky shot occurs.

On the same note - When you're getting fired upon, and just happen to be in that situation, turn around and look where the shots are hitting. If they arent close, dont be afraid to pop out and shoot a bit. Chances are, most of the shots are just covering fire as the tangos move... They may not even have a clear shot at you. Knowing where the enemy is equates to 90% of the battle.

Communication - If you work with a team, make absolutely sure that you are communicating somehow. I'd suggest investing in a radio for this... however, if you can setup a good hand signal set, that would suffice. You could always just talk out loud, of course... but the enemy can hear you just as well as your teammates ;p

Awareness - Know where *all* of your enemies are. If you're in a firefight, be sure to watch your flanks. If a tango sneaks beside/behind your (probable) 1-sided cover, then you're as good as dead. For example, yesterday we had a small 3 person FFA. Last game, I got caught in the middle of the other 2, and It was hell. Only through L33t skillz was I able to survive as long as I did. (I runned a lot!) However, I knew it was a lost cause because i knew someone was behind me, but I never knew exactly *where*.

Also, know your opponents. If you play with the same group of guys, try to notice their playing style. If you know that one person is going to stick to their cover, you know how to beat him. If you know another person will be moving constantly, you will know how to beat him, etc. Obviously, this is much harder in a larger game, but still works a bit. Don't go too far with it though! Someone may just try to surprise you with a new playing style, and surprise is bad ;p

On the same note - Try to vary your *own* playing style. If you play cautiously for a week or a month with the same guys, switch out and be the mad rusher for a while. It'll take em off guard, and they'll be a bit more wary when you walk onto the field... And you'll prolly get kills, because they dont expect what is coming. That's another 5% of the battle ;p

End of sermon.

BTW : Lmfao @ luke. Thanks for spreading the word buddy! No shoot the red dudes, mmmkay? BUT, we've got another suit on the way. Trauby is soon to be a L33t alpenflager!

And, In the end - Be sure to have fun. Winning *and* losing are parts of the game - In the end, the thing that matters is that you enjoyed yourself.