Airsoft
Airsoft is a sport or recreational pastime in which players participate in the simulation of military combat also called MilSim or law enforcement-style combat using smoothboreairsoft guns(or “twist” barrels) designed as replicas of real firearms.
Methods and structures of play
Fundamentally, airsoft is a game played within a reasonably large predetermined area where the objective is to hit the adversary. It generally does not leave any visible marks on clothing, but it can sometimes cause welts on the skin. This, however, is not a practical or reliable method of judging hits (there are, nevertheless, paintballs made specifically for AirSoft guns).It is generally accepted that when a player is hit, they will declare it, usually by raising their gun in the air, shouting something like “Hit!”. They will then leave the area and go to a set “regeneration point” or sit/lie down, “dead in place”, depending on the specific rules of the match. Depending on the rules, players may remain “dead” until another player tags them.
Re-enactment
On occasion, airsoft games will be played in which the structure and/or conditions are designed to emulate a specific real-world battle as a form of historical or modern reenactment, depending on the historical period. This type of play can vary from a simple skirmish emulating a small-scale battle (like that of Pegasus Bridge) to a full reenactment of the Battle of Mogadishu[1] or the Battle of the Bulge.
MilSim
MilSim generally combines airsoft play with some military live action role-playing elements. Several goals or missions are assigned to each team as a foundation for confrontation in firefights and other quarters, maintaining perimeter security and the like are added to the experience.
Another aspect of MilSim-style airsoft gaming that ties into the live action element is the global desire for players to look and feel the part they are playing. Hence, MilSim-style games may have uniform or clothing requirements specific to the scenario
Respawn
Respawn is usually used to allow players who have been hit to return to their starting position and re-enter the game. Usually this rule is used if there is a large amount of people, or if the scenario is planned to last for a long time. There can be modifications to this rule, such as the “medic spawn”. “Medic spawn” negates the player from having to spawn in their base and instead can respawn at the nearest medic. This modifier is often used when the playing area is very large. If respawning is implemented, the event organizers must be careful not to produce a scenario in which spawn camping can occur.
Game modifiers
It is often the case that specialized rules are implemented to introduce certain tactical or strategic elements to gameplay. These can vary widely from game to game.
Examples of popular game rule modifiers include:
- Medics
- Selected players are able to “revive” “dead” team mates, who must usually stay “dead” in place until they are “healed”. Dead players may be allowed to crawl for a certain amount of time to a medic if they were shot in the leg.
- Weapon hits
- Sometimes players are required to switch to their side arm if they take a hit to their primary weapon. (in contrast to normal play, where a hit to a player’s equipment is the same as a hit to their body)
- Ammo limits
- Restrictions are made on the amount of ammo available per each team, player, base or round of play.
- Immortals
- Specific players are chosen who cannot “die” or die only under special conditions. Another term for these immortals are “gods.”
- Mercy rules
- Players who sneak up on opponents, or have come within a certain distance of the opposing player (a close-range shot with many airsoft weapons will deliver a very painful hit), are given the option of eliminating them without firing by simply calling out, “surrender” or “mercy.”
