Woodsball

Woodsball is a format of paintball played on natural terrain, particularly woodland, using trees, vegetation, rocks and other landscape features for cover. It is closely associated with the origins of paintball and remains a common format for recreational games, organised scenarios and some competitive events.[1]

Unlike speedball, which generally uses compact fields with artificial bunkers, woodsball is played on larger, often irregularly shaped fields. Games may involve individual players, small teams or large groups completing objectives such as capturing flags, eliminating opponents or controlling designated areas.

History

Origins

Woodsball developed from the earliest form of organised paintball, originally known as the Survival Game.

On 27 June 1981, twelve participants played the first organised paintball game in woodland near Henniker, New Hampshire, United States. The game was organised by Charles Gaines, Hayes Noel and Bob Gurnsey using Nel-Spot 007 marking pistols originally developed for agricultural and forestry applications.[2]

Participants attempted to collect flags from stations distributed across the playing area while avoiding elimination. Ritchie White, a forester, won the game without firing a shot.[2]

The game inspired the establishment of National Survival Game, which began promoting paintball and franchising commercial playing fields during the early 1980s.[3]

The term woodsball subsequently became a common way of distinguishing natural-terrain paintball from newer artificial-bunker formats.

Early tournament paintball

Woodland fields were used extensively in organised paintball competition during the 1980s and 1990s.

Early tournaments included team competitions involving 10, 12, 15 or more players. These events typically used flag-based objectives and awarded points for eliminations, surviving players and successful flag captures.[1]

The National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) helped establish 10-man competition as a principal professional tournament format during the 1990s.

Although artificial-bunker fields became increasingly popular, major tournaments continued using woodland playing areas throughout much of the decade.

Transition towards speedball

The introduction of purpose-built concept fields gradually changed the structure of tournament paintball.

Developments included the Speedball Arena at SC Village, Hyperball fields constructed using corrugated plastic pipes, and inflatable Sup'AirBall bunkers.

By the 2000 Paintball World Cup, the tournament had moved entirely to concept fields. The following NPPL/PSP season was also played without woodland fields.[1]

Nevertheless, woodland competition continued at recreational events, regional tournaments and specialised competitions.

The 2006 Three Rivers Paintball Festival in Pennsylvania, for example, included plans for a tournament division offering woodland play alongside conventional airball competition.[3]

Playing format

Woodsball does not have a single universal playing format or rulebook.

Games commonly involve two or more teams attempting objectives including:

Eliminating opposing players.
Capturing or defending flags.
Controlling designated areas.
Escorting objects or participants.
Completing mission-based objectives.

The size of teams, game duration and field boundaries vary considerably between venues and events.

Natural terrain influences movement and tactics, with vegetation, elevation changes and irregular cover affecting visibility and engagement distances.

Equipment

Woodsball can be played using mechanical, electronic, pump-action or magazine-fed paintball markers.

Equipment varies according to the playing environment, event rules and individual preferences.

Players commonly use protective goggles, compressed-air or CO2 systems, paintball loaders and ammunition carriers.

Camouflage clothing and equipment designed for outdoor use are frequently associated with recreational woodsball.

Relationship to scenario paintball

Woodsball and scenario paintball are related but distinct terms.

Woodsball describes the playing environment, while scenario paintball refers to games organised around particular narratives, missions or objectives.

Many scenario events take place on woodland fields, but not all woodsball games involve scenarios.

Large-scale scenario competitions may incorporate multiple objectives, organised factions and extended playing periods.

References