General

[noxx55]

Are you guys doing a bulk paint buy?

[greenmtnphantom]

I guess the thing I don't understand is why there is NO WAY for the defenders to "win" if the attackers get the 5 items out in 4 hours.

[titan aresta]

Originally Posted by Azzy

So you are looking for a garanteed win then?

I donno about "guaranteed", but I don't think most defenders go into the castle thinking that they will hold. I do think the game is set up with the attackers having a clear advantage, and both sides are aware of this. The whole game seems to be an epic siege / last stand sort of thing where victory by the defenders is supposed to be the exception and quite an achievement.
Considering that the attackers lost the spring castle and the fall castle (right?) last year, I see this rule change as Blue adjusting the conditions to favor the attackers like the game is supposed to.
Yes it will sell more paint, but I don't think this was Blue's main goal.

And I'll be defending (which I prefer) so I'll be on the receiving end of this rule

[Schmitti]

Defense held once last year thanks to CanCon.... I think it was spring.

E

[Murph]

Defense held both times last year, Joint Fury defended spring and CanCon helped us out big time for fall.

[Harbinger[TG]]

I don't even think they managed 1 prop last fall.

[Murph]

I think they got one that was at corner 3-4, which is where most of the rushes were hitting, IIRC. I spent most of my time watching wall 3, closer to the 2-3 corner. Took a lot of those feeler groups they sent out by myself.

[Harbinger[TG]]

TooTall had me at every wall when I wasn't charging out of 1. I still haven't been able to confirm the 1 prop. I know they got in and touched it, but I don't recall anyone making it outside with it.

[SHAG]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Schmitti

Defense held once last year thanks to CanCon.... I think it was spring.

E

I could be wrong but I thought the castle both times in the same year for the first time in the history of the game. That is what EMR was saying during the prize raffle.

As for this rule, I do not know what to think because it is new and unplayed. From what I can figure about the rule, it might be try to a few different things at once. Drum up paint sales for the game was the first thing that came to mind. That what it sounded to me at first. Then I said to myself I think it is too keep the interest in the game.

The castle held very well in those 2 events last year. I think it was the first time I could remember since 01 that I didn't even make it into the castle. The drums by the doors and coordination on the inside seemed to be a winning combo. However there are far more people who probably go to the castle who want to attack and win then defend lose. So it applies to the player's mentality that they need some way to "win" instead of having a good time.

Keeping interest in the game is probably more crucial to EMR since these are its big events of the year. You do not want to see fall off from player participation because the last X amount of times the castle held each time in a row. People will not go to the event. That means less paint and less money in the pocket overall.

Last year IIRC, there were a number of attackers in the air line in the spring time. So that might have impeded the playing style of the attackers. Then in the Fall I remember seeing alot of people in general in the parking lots and general area during the game. It might fall in line with "this game is boring" mentality. That in turn kills paint sales since if no one is shooting, that paint is not being laid on the field. Hell last spring I brought home about 1/2 a case and the fall about 1/3 of a case. I never have paint coming home. Unfortunately, none of the paint I have left is really good. The Spring paint turned into mush for some reason. It is in nice temps and conditions plus gingerly rotated every so often.

I am only suggesting this as an alternative theory. It might be in response to the economic conditions right now. Paintball is very much a disposable income sport. Some of us are saving money to pay for the long trip to EMR, paint, food and drink for the event. If things are costing alot more, there may not be as much of incentive to get to the event. Who knows. Blue might have said, holy moly gas is 3.50 a gallon I wonder how many less people will make the event?

Like I said who knows how this new rule will affect the event or how it came about. Right now and to me I am thinking along the lines it is to keep interest in the game. Could it be a collaboration of several factors such as economics, interest, and way the game played out last year? Quite possibly. However we will not know if it worked until we play with the new rule. It could be a disaster or it could make the event more fun.

My 10 cents,
shaggy

[greenmtnphantom]

I know that one of the guys that came to castle with me the first time (Fall 06) was not happy at all that the game did not last longer (I told him he should have done a better job defending the castle). With how far a lot of people travel, and the cost of that travel a big part of this might be just trying to give people their money's worth. How long are people going to drive 4, 6, 10 hrs to play a 1.5hr game? I think SHAG hit the nail on the head, I think the rules are changing to keep/increase interest