Just played paintball for the first time today. I think I found myself a new hobby. If only those paintballs didn't hurt so much when they hit you, though.

Anyway, I played at NVP Paintball, which happens to be right up the street from me. Although I didn't get to meet that many players - not many players showed up today - they all seemed pretty nice, and willing to help a newbie like me out.

The first hit I took today, and thus ever, was a hit right on the jawline. It really made me thankful that all paintball places require protective face masks. But still it served as an effective baptism into the world of paintball, at least to me. (The player later admitted he was aiming right for my goggles. )

So...anyone here play paintball?

Love, love paintball.

If it's any consolation, my first time playing, I took a shot in the back of the throat. Like, through the mouth, impact inside.

Really? I've only been once. We were trespassing on someone's land. I had goggles that steamed up within seconds. Needless to say the impression wasn't fantastic. However, it was definitely exhilarating and something I would do again.

I've gone twice, and it was great fun. We had a lot of woods to run around in, with a plywood village in the middle. Best moment was when I came upon the last village defender and had him surrender at gunpoint. As we won, and we were walking back, I told him my hopper had been depleted before I came upon him.

I used to play paintball quite often, but never in an arena - that's not fun - that's speedball. I always played in bushes with camo on. I always used to play with just goggles on, I never used a face mask until I got hit right in the ear with a paintball, after that happened - and I was dragged off the field - they required full face masks that cover the ears.

Anywho, I don't play anymore since I'm in school and it's just too expensive to go every few weekends, but I might start up again after I'm done school.

How'd that happen? Weren't you wearing a face mask? Or was it just goggles? Either way, how'd you not choke to death or at least suffer uvula damage?

(Uvula: that dangly thing in the back of your throat )

The masks aren't helmets. Ours covered ears, eyes, and nose, primarily.

As for not getting injured, uh, it's gelatin and soap.

I can imagine you not choking since the balls most always break, but that would have hurt like hell. What speed were the guns set at the field you play on?

I always thought they were full-face masks, like this:
http://coolbreeze88.files.wordpress.com/20...318954p275w.jpg

The field rule is max 290 fps, but I remember them saying that they slowed it down because of the heat that day. Balls were breaking in the barrel. I don't remember the exact number (it was my first time, so it didn't mean much to me), but less than usual, and the balls were soft. It was completely painless. I was definitely startled, though!

Lucky, it could have been quite the hurt.