One of the owners of Command Decisons Paintball, Lee Ann Ferguson, was kind enough to grant me an interview recently about the upcoming April 26th scenario, “Viet Nam Patrol 2008: Siege of Khen Sahn“. The Taylorsville event promises to be one of the best paintball scenarios this Spring in the NC area. Click Read More for details…

The primary objectives will be for the two ‘armies’ (Americans and North Viet Namese) to capture and hold key areas as well as successfully performing missions to score points. Andrew (”Ferg”) of Command Decisions assures us that role playing and psychological warfare will play a big part in the battle. Ferg played the “Top Spy” in the recent Wolf Creek Scenario, cutting deals and handing out disinformation to generally confuse the hell out of everyone there. Exactly what a triple agent spy should do (from all my years in MI-5!)

Who Sahn?
Command Decisions expects 200+ players to take to the field of battle pumping adrenaline and paintballs re-engaging in an infamous Southeast Asian battle (see synopsis). They expect to be fielding their own tank force of two large tanks and several APC style warcraft, but haven’t heard if others are bringing in heavy armor. Currently teams ODX (the home team), Team Boxer, Rogue Cell and Recon 1 have already registered. Lee Ann epects that there will be 12-20 teams there plus plenty of walk-on players. I’ve talked to Phantom Recon (P.R.O.) out of Rock Hill and they will be there as well. Temp Team Tango has already recruited 12-3 players interested mixing it up and will be sending in our team registration just after April 13th. Team ODX may be recruited to help ref if registration exceeds expectations. (Hmmm. More people register and we can eliminate their team before they even take the field? I like it.) CDP is required to have a 1:20 ref/player ratio, but they expect their ratio will be closer to 1 ref for every 10 players. This means better calls, less disagreements and better safety, which is most important, because this face ain’t much, but it’s all I got!

Special Team Offer
If you have a team or group and purchase 5 cases of paint or more at one time, CDP will give you another 10% off the price of the paint. The event is ‘field paint only’ and paint ranges from $40 to $50 (ProBall) to $60 (tournament grade). If my 6th grade math skills still work, this can be a discount of up to $30 off of a purchase of 5 cases of tournament grade paint bringing the price down from $300 to $270. Similarly, 5 cases of ProBall will be reduced to $225 from $250.

“Up Hill Both Ways”
CDP boasts 75-80 acres, 65 of which are in play with 10-12 bunker areas including a simulated city, smaller villages, a fort larger than Wolf Creeks, general bunkers and a simulated airplane and landing trip (can you take simulated vacations on that?). I found some great photos of their field from the Fulda gap scenario last year at : http://www.pbjunkie.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/611/page/1

Lee Ann says that someone once described their field as “Up hill both ways”. I have never played the field, but I have heard some rumors of grinding battles up hillsides. I am in shape (round is a shape, right?) but let’s just say that I consider myself “Vertically Ascending Challenged” and “Vertically Descending Superior”. In other words, I can barely walk up stairs and roll down hills like a snowball from Hell! This ought to be… fun? Get on that Stairmaster, Bunky! She describes the field as “diverse terrains” with creeks, clearings, woods, and oh yeah,      lots of hills! She says they have everything but deserts. (Were there deserts in Viet Nam?)

Boys and Their Toys
Knowing the propensity (look it up Dummy!) for paintball players and their tech toys, I asked about the rules on bring the armory.

• Full Auto- yes, you can bring that multi-thousand dollar, full auto,  Rambo-esque paintball sniper rifle, as long as it fires under 17 rounds per second. If you need more than that, you need target practice more than anything!
• Smoke Grenades- due to the damned drought that is keeping me from washing my car, you can only use “cold-burning” smoke grenades. No lit fuses or heat generating smoke grenades or we will have to change the name of the place to “Command Ashtray”.
• Rocket Launchers- And who doesn’t have a couple of these in their garage? These need to be approved by Ferg or the producers prior to game play.
• Land Mines- probably not. If you just have to have it (what a whiner!), check with the producers first and they will have to inspect it. Again, learn to shoot better. Point the open end of the gun at the guys on the other side and pull the trigger.

Suggestions

• Pre-Register Early- typically people wait until the last minute to pre-register and then wonder why there is such a line at the sign up. My suggestion is get your registration  in AT LEAST a week in advance, if not sooner, so they know how much CO2 and paintballs your scraggly team (the other 200 of us) is going to need.
• Get there early (8am-ish) - The field will probably open up closer to 7:30-8:00am and Lee Ann suggests you get their as early as possible to get registered and set up so we can get the game started on time. If I have to wait on you, I will be that much more angry when I cap your ass. You won’t like me when I am angry. (I have always wanted to say that!)
• Download your waiver ahead of time (http://www.cdpaintball.com/CPDWaiver.pdf ) and have it filled out properly and signed. This will speed you along tremendously. Better yet, if you are a team, collect all your waivers in advance and submit them as a group. Even if you have signed a waiver there before, you need to sign a new one.
• Field Maps- field maps are available online and Ferg will be updating the Khe Sahn specific map later this month.
• Bring Two Way Radios - 65 acres is along way to hump it back just to find out what your mext mission is. All the teams will have them. If you want to stay in the loop and be able to say “Radio Check!” all day, be sure to bring your radios. Don’t bring headsets or earpieces, because I just love it when your radio squawks and gives away your position! For that matter, wear your bright red speedball jumpsuit too!

Details:

• Pricing: Field Fee on Day of Game: $35.00 
• Pre Register on or before April 24: ONLY $25.00 (Registration includes all day air and field fee) 
• Register in person at the store or online at: www.scenariosupply.com (Registration is now open!
• Waiver: http://www.cdpaintball.com/CPDWaiver.pdf  
• VETS SPECIAL- If you are a current or former veteran of the United states Armed Forces, you will be entitled to $5.00 off your field fee) See http://www.scenariosupply.com/.
• This is a field paint only event. Archon Paintball’s Lines of Paint will be available from $40.00 a case and up.
• Game will start promptly at 10:30 and end at 5:30,
• Raffle and prizes at 6:00. Field will open at 8:00 AM.
• Food will be prepared and sold by Bethlehem Baptist Youth Group from noon until 2:00.