Bought a bunch of stuff without actually playing yet, am I a poser or something?

[Reflex0283]

Hey all, I'm a newbie to the hobby. I started last summer by buying a Tippmann 68 Carbine with a gas foregrip, an old revvy, and a halo loader from some guy at an army show for $30. I unfortunately butchered the Tippmann trying to fix it, but it's probably saveable if I put the time in to fix it. After that, I bought a spyder Xtra, which just needed new o-rings, that came with a halo TSA that I fixed by soldering a 9v terminal back on. A few months after that, I impulse bought a trilogy competition with a red hinge frame and a matching red drop forward with an on/off ASA. Needed to pull it apart a bit but it was really only the bolt that needed to be fixed. Somewhere around that time, my friend's uncle gave him his old gear (Spyder imagine and wgo pro stock 2k4). I tried fixing the imagine but the solenoid or board seemed screwy so it's parts now. It took me a couple months of learning and about $50 in parts to fix his autococker but it runs well now. I bought a pod pack off eBay with 6 pods, and then impulse bought a Sheridan 68 Magnum for $80 off eBay. That's missing the feedneck but after pulling out the bolt (Cooper-T!) and cleaning up all the o-rings except for the valve, it runs great and hits consistent 285's on air. Last week I was really thinking about getting an Etek 3, but now I'm thinking I'll just sink more money into a trilogy build.

After all of this, I've still only been to two paintball games, and both were rental birthday parties. Part of why I haven't gone is because I got my drivers's license only this year and I've been busy with school. Thinking about going to a woodsball game next weekend hopefully. Is there anything in particular I should know? I'm somewhat worried about the fact that I have some slightly expensive stuff but I'm going to be garbage on the field

[Grendel]

You've got to start somewhere, and having your own gear is way better than renting (especially when it comes to a Mask). You do you and screw everyone else

[Trbo323]

Welcome. Don't worry about what you are carrying out to the field. A lot of us around here carry thousands of dollars out onto the field and then still play like hot garbage.

If you have fun (and stay safe) that's all that matters

Get a good mask. Looks like you have been buying markers but not really anything else. The mask is your most important piece of gear. Not only is it keeping your eyeballs in your skull but a bad mask will ruin your day of play, it doesn't matter what you have in your hands. The other aspect is pretty simple as well, bad masks fog up and you can't shoot what you can't see

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[Junglepeanut]

He speaks the truth, a quality mask is the best advice I could give. The most expensive marker setup is worthless if you have a crappy mask that fogs up and you can't see.....

[Axel]

Conversely, some of us (not me) roll out on the field with a Dremel'd Pro-Lite and clean up

[Reflex0283]

Yeah that about sums it up. I got a mediocre $30 JT mask a while ago but now im looking into better masks, I saw somewhere that you recommended the dye i5 but I might look into used i4's

[the_matrix_guy]

Beware the i4 is really small, it’s as if they made it for children. They improved it somewhat with the i5. But the jawline is still easily exposed, especially while you open your mouth to talk, etc. i would go with either Virtue/Bunkerkings, V-Force, or a retro JT mask like the Proflex. CRBN masks are good too, but more expensive last I checked.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Virtue VIO / Bunker King I found the i5 / i4 while great masks with one of the best lenses in the industry. However they are not durable at all.

[cheapguitarscheapthrills]

Empire E-flex or Event if you're on a budget. It's got the breathability of a Proflex with an easier lense change.

[Pyrate Jim]

Get out and play. Only through experience will your game improve.

[the_matrix_guy]

Dont worry, like Grendel said, “do you and screw everyone else”. And I also echo Pyrate Jim. Dont worry about your skill kevel, that will come, just go have fun. All these guys gave awsome tips. Trbo323 too: a good mask is really important and can make or break a first time experience.

i’ve had an Iwata hobby air brush, compressor, and all kinds of different things for painting models for close to a year now, and i haven’t started yet. I will. Soon. But its been months since I’ve had everything. So i need to take my own advice and just take the plunge and start painting too and just have fun with it

[Trbo323]

Yeah that about sums it up. I got a mediocre $30 JT mask a while ago but now im looking into better masks, I saw somewhere that you recommended the dye i5 but I might look into used i4's

I like the i4 better. I've owned both the i5 and i4, at the same time as well. The strap on the i5 is kind of crap. I could never tighten it down enough so the mask was tight enough to my liking and my brother in law who also has one has now had the ratchet system on his break twice. The lens retainer is safe but complete garbage and a huge pain to get off without tools.

The i4 is smaller which bothers some people, more of your neck is exposed. You do have to be careful when putting a lens in as you can miss the hooks that hold it in. This is why dye changed it for the i5. Too much liability when idiots are using your products. But, the lens system is easy to use and doesn't need tools for sure.

Now, all that said, look into the push unite as well. The guy who started push used to work for dye when they were designing the i5. He was unhappy with a lot of the choices dye was making on the i5 and felt dye could be making a much better mask. So he quit and started push. And frankly I agree with him. The unite is a much better mask than the i5 that's why its my primary mask (I kept the i4 as a backup).

Lens system is great on the push, if you get a model with the magnetic strap it's a breeze to get on and off only 1 hand (it's almost like the designer knew you would be holding a marker in the other hand!) the adjustable nose bridge hasn't really done anything for me but other people really like it. The options for lenses are huge, they are on the more expensive side but also really well made. Idk if this is still true but when I got mine all their masks came with a really nice molded hard case, I think their budget stuff may not come with that but it was a great addition to project my investment that was just included

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[Reflex0283]

Turns out my friend that I rebuilt the 2k4 prostock for has an i4, so I think I'm going to try it on sometime

[Reflex0283]

Well I put a lowball offer on a used i4 on eBay and won it, it's only $50 so if I don't like it I can probably resell it without losing much

[the_matrix_guy]

"Do you and screw everyone else" while observing all safety rules...lol

I forgot to mention:

I know it goes without mentioning sometimes, but since you've never played at a field before, obviously, always observe all safety rules. The most important: never remove your goggles for ANY reason, (including fogging) while you're in the netted playing area. Im sure you already know this -- but just have to put it out there.

[Reflex0283]

Thanks for the warning, I'm a bit of a goody two shoes when it comes to rules. Strict schools and gun ranges will do that to you lol

[ChoSanJuan]

Also want to add for the staging side of the netting... Don't fire your marker (loaded or dry fire) in the safe zone. Also, don't take your barrel sock off in staging when your marker is fully assembled too. Also also, don't forget that some of your markers might have a regulator that usually holds one last shot of air. This can be problematic if you don't know. Check with your local field to see if it's cool to shoot it without your barrel into a trashcan or some other receptacle. Some regs will backwash after you take your tank off, others don't. Some will do it hours/days/weeks/etc... after. YMMV. Nothing to be afraid of, just want to make sure you are being safe on both sides of the netting.

[Pumps4ever]

Nope you are awesome… because paintball is awesome. Plus playing with rentals or borrowed gear usually sucks..

most importantly its the addiction to gear that is 90% of it for a good deal of us “enthusiasts”

Rock on!!

[Meleager7]

grabbing all this random goodness like you did is the way

[Pyrate Jim]

I would add a caveat ~
While gear is important and trying different options to find what is comfortable for you to use is almost critical, it's not the gear that defines you.
And the stuff adds up unless you watch out. They say people learn from example. This is my being the example. (if you haven't seen it)
P.H.D. (piled higher & deeper) - mcarterbrown.com - Best Paintball Forum on the Internet
Trust me when I say you don't want to end up with a hot mess.

Buy what gear you like, but I would encourage you to try various playing formats. Woodsball, Speedball, Tournament, Outlaw, Scenario.
I personally gravitated to favoring LARP style scenario, especially the 28-hour games.
But that's just me.

[Reflex0283]

Yeah, I think I learned my lesson with nerf blasters. I've modded a couple but I have 10 others that I'm just never going to use and I'm now trying to get rid of

[cheapguitarscheapthrills]

Don't forget mech, pump and stock class!

[Pyrate Jim]

I didn't forget them. They are progressions.
"The best players use the least paint"

[Pewpewpew]

Don’t forget the absolutely most important thing! You have to have a $300 headband or NOBODY will think you’re cool!

[Reflex0283]

noted, will sell all of my markers and buy a $300 headband

[minimag03]

There is some wisdom in his sarcasm lol headbands are actually super useful. They keep the sweat out of your face and from drenching the foam in your mask. Empire makes great headbands for $10 from ANS.

[cheapguitarscheapthrills]

Buy them from local or smaller sellers same price and you'll make a paintball friend Homemade paintball out of Maryland I believe makes some cool stuff. I'm sure he's on the forums somewhere

[FredMnkyDad10]

I think you are on your way to fitting in with the rest of us here on MCB. Most likely have enough to gear up a good size platoon and then some if we completed the other projects or build something out of the parts on the bench.

[ChoSanJuan]

Feeling attacked here... lol

[Jordan]

Find your niche that lets you enjoy the sport in whatever way you want (safely of course). Personally, I like building waaaay more than playing.

I think you'll fit in around here, though.

Welcome to MCB and good luck with your (inevitable) sales!

[minimag03]

My advice is to get a quality mask before any other piece of gear, including your gun. It keeps you comfortable, safe, and ready for the other team. You don't have to spend a lot tho. My favorite mask is probably the E-Flex which is only $65 shipped.