TopGun Wargames (Christchurch)
TopGun Wargames was a paintball operation in Christchurch, New Zealand, documented during 2008. Its outdoor playing facility was located on Miners Bank Road, McLeans Island, and hosted recreational paintball and military-themed scenario games.[1]
Contemporary discussions from the NZ Paintball Message Boards document regular Big Sunday events and plans for larger monthly games using multiple playing fields.[1][2]
History
[edit]TopGun Wargames was active by May 2008, when its outdoor scenario paintball programme was described in an announcement on the NZ Paintball Message Boards.[1]
The operation maintained an outdoor playing site at Miners Bank Road, McLeans Island, and organised recreational games involving opposing teams assigned military-themed objectives.
The organiser reported that the associated club had 61 registered or badged members in May 2008.[1]
The surviving records do not establish the facility's original opening date, ownership structure or final operating date.
Playing facilities
[edit]The outdoor site was described as having eight playing fields in May 2008.[1]
The proposed larger events would use seven of these areas for the initial missions, followed by a larger scenario encompassing the playing site.
The facility also maintained an armoury where paintball markers were checked and fitted with gas cylinders.
Players were required to use compressed-gas equipment supplied by the venue, rather than bringing their own cylinders.
The operation used carbon dioxide rather than high-pressure air during the documented period.[1]
Events
[edit]Big Sunday
[edit]TopGun Wargames organised regular recreational events known as Big Sundays.
These sessions used military-themed scenarios, including attacking and defending fixed positions.[1]
Contemporary descriptions refer to German defenders facing Allied attacking forces, with the games using objectives and different tactical roles.
The operator described the events as social rather than formal tournament competitions.
Big September 2008
[edit]In May 2008, TopGun Wargames announced plans for a larger event called Big September, scheduled for 28 September 2008.[1][2]
The proposed event was intended to accommodate up to 100 participants and last approximately six hours, followed by a barbecue.
The published programme included:
- Attacking and defending fixed positions.
- A breakout scenario with multiple objectives.
- A larger final game using the full playing area.
- Referee supervision throughout the event.
The announcement described an initial four-to-one ratio of attackers to defenders in some scenarios.
The September event was intended to form the basis of a regular programme of larger recreational games.
The organisers also discussed the possibility of an annual open wargame involving up to 200 participants.[1]
The surviving announcements do not establish whether the September event or proposed annual competition took place.
Equipment and rules
[edit]TopGun Wargames imposed restrictions intended to standardise equipment and control playing conditions.
The May 2008 announcement specified:
- Mechanical paintball markers, rather than electronic markers.
- Carbon dioxide as the field's compressed-gas supply.
- Field-supplied paintballs.
- A maximum muzzle velocity of 280 feet per second.
- A minimum player age of 13 years.
- Referee supervision and restrictions on close-range shooting and blind firing.[1]
The operation advertised customised Tippmann and BT markers for use at its events.
Response triggers were permitted under the proposed scenario-game rules.[2]
Entry and paintball prices
[edit]The May 2008 proposals for Big September advertised a registration fee of NZ$20, including an initial allowance of 200 paintballs.[2]
Additional paintballs were offered through reload cards costing NZ$10 per 100 rounds.
The organiser also proposed complimentary paintballs for visiting club members to offset travel costs.
These were advertised arrangements for the planned event rather than a verified record of charges actually collected.
Historical records
[edit]Information about TopGun Wargames is preserved through the Canterbury Paintball Clubs section of the NZ Paintball Message Boards.
An archived discussion titled TopGun Christchurch Big September contains contemporary descriptions of the outdoor playing facility, proposed event programme, equipment rules and operating arrangements.[1][2]
Other archived forum indexes contain references to TopGun recreational games and mechanical-marker activities during 2008.[3]
The surviving records do not establish whether this Christchurch operation was connected to other New Zealand paintball businesses using similar names.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- NZ Paintball Message Boards – TopGun Christchurch Big September. Original discussion beginning 11 May 2008, documenting the McLeans Island facility, scenario games and proposed September event.
- NZ Paintball Message Boards – TopGun Christchurch Big September, page 2. Discussion dated May 2008 concerning the proposed event's equipment rules, registration arrangements and paintball allowances.
- NZ Paintball Message Boards – Canterbury Paintball Clubs. Archived 12 July 2008; contains discussions of TopGun recreational events and other Christchurch paintball activities.