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'''Mercenaries Star''' (also known as '''MercStar''') was a New Zealand [[paintball]] information website active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The site published tournament calendars, national team rankings, competition results, historical articles, tournament rules and directories of New Zealand paintball teams and playing fields. Mercenaries Star was the home of the '''Valhalla''' national paintball ranking database, which compiled results from tournaments across New Zealand. The website also preserved documents relating to the original [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|National Paintball League]] (NPL), tournament announcements and contributions from regional paintball teams. The site's surviving pages are preserved through an archival mirror of its original GeoCities website.[1] == History == === Establishment === Mercenaries Star emerged during the development of online paintball communities in New Zealand in the late 1990s. At the time, tournament information was distributed through commercial paintball fields, clubs, individual organisers and regional player networks. Competitions took place in different parts of the country, with limited central coordination of tournament announcements and results. Mercenaries Star provided a national information resource where players could find competition schedules, historical results, team information and links to other paintball websites. The surviving archive includes results from the 1997 season onward, although the precise date on which the website itself was established has not been determined. The website was hosted on GeoCities, an early web-hosting service that enabled individuals and community groups to maintain their own websites. === Website administration === '''Neil M. Harris''' was involved in maintaining Mercenaries Star and collecting information for publication. The site's 2001 tournament calendar identifies Harris as a contact for event information and invites tournament organisers and players to submit announcements, corrections and updated details.[2] The Valhalla ranking database likewise provided Harris's email address for submissions and corrections.[3] These contemporary references establish Harris's involvement in the administration of the website, although its original founder and complete editorial history have not been independently established. Mercenaries Star accepted contributions from players and teams, including historical accounts, tournament information and team profiles. === Development of the archive === By 2001, the website had developed several distinct sections covering the New Zealand paintball community. These included: * Annual tournament calendars * Valhalla national team rankings * Tournament results and reports * Historical articles about paintball organisations * Team profiles and directories * Paintball field and business directories * Tournament rules and player guidance * Links to New Zealand and international paintball websites The material included contemporary announcements, submitted team histories and retrospective accounts of earlier competitions. == Valhalla national rankings == The '''Valhalla''' database was a national paintball ranking system maintained through Mercenaries Star. It sought to compare the performance of New Zealand tournament teams using results from competitions held in different regions. The ranking system incorporated tournament results from 1997 onward and produced annual standings. === Development === Valhalla was developed to provide a broader national assessment of tournament team performance. Its original concept divided teams into grades according to the number of national-level competitions they attended during a season. The ranking method was subsequently revised to include a wider range of tournaments, including regional events that had not previously contributed to the rankings.[3] The system attempted to account for differences between tournaments with varying numbers of rounds, competitors and available points. The published methodology defined a New Zealand paintball season as running from February to November. === Ranking methodology === Valhalla evaluated teams using scores recorded during individual tournament rounds. Scores were normalised against the maximum available points for each round, allowing results from different competitions to be compared. The methodology distinguished between preliminary elimination rounds and final rounds. Final-round scores received additional weighting to account for the fact that teams progressing to tournament finals could record comparatively low raw scores against stronger opposition. The resulting values were averaged across the rounds entered by each team during a season.[3] Valhalla also distinguished between teams fielding multiple squads. Entries such as Saints Gold and Saints Black were treated separately for ranking purposes, rather than automatically combining their results under a single team name. The database's ranking points represented calculated performance values and were not equivalent to raw points scored during paintball games. === Historical coverage === The archived ranking system contains records for seasons beginning in 1997. Its surviving annual tables include the 2000 and 2001 seasons, documenting teams from different parts of New Zealand.[4][5] The records include teams such as: * Saints * Katipo * Tag n' Release * Flashpoint * House Steiner * Warp Speed * DamNatives * [[Team Insane|Insane]] * Kamo Karzi The rankings provide a record of competitive paintball during a period when no single national tournament organisation maintained a complete public archive of results. === 2000 season === The 2000 Valhalla standings document national tournament activity involving teams from several regions.[4] '''Saints Gold''' headed the published national ranking table. Other teams appearing in the database included Katipo, Warp Speed, Flashpoint, Tag n' Release, Kamo Karzi and Insane. The records also preserve performances from individual tournaments, including competitions in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and Dunedin. The Valhalla database treated team entries and affiliated squads separately when calculating season rankings. === 2001 season === The 2001 Valhalla standings included separate national rankings for seven-player, five-player and three-player competitions.[5] This distinction enabled the database to document teams competing in different tournament formats. The recorded seven-man national rankings placed '''Saints''' at the head of the season standings. In five-man competition, '''Tag n' Release''' finished at the top of the published national rankings. The three-man standings were headed by '''DamNatives Red''', followed by '''Insane''' in second place. The Insane entry recorded 181.7 ranking points, while DamNatives Red recorded 226.4. The published tables also include separate entries for secondary squads such as Insane B. These rankings represent the results available to Valhalla's compiler rather than an independently verified record of every New Zealand tournament held during the year. == Tournament calendar == Mercenaries Star maintained an annual tournament calendar covering events throughout New Zealand. Its 2001 calendar included competitions in the North Island and South Island and was intended to help teams organise travel and participation during the season.[2] The website identified difficulties obtaining tournament details sufficiently far in advance, reflecting the decentralised organisation of paintball events during the period. === 2001 tournament calendar === The principal events documented in the 2001 calendar included: {| class="wikitable" ! Event ! Location |- | Hawke's Bay Triples | Hawke's Bay |- | [[Northland Open]] | Whangārei |- | South Pacific Championship | Wellington |- | National Three-Man Centre Flag Competition | Invercargill |- | [[Volcanic Rotorua]] | Rotorua |- | Wellington Cup Five-Mans | Wellington |- | New Zealand Nationals | Auckland |- | Dunedin City Challenge | Dunedin |} The directory also included information about recreational paintball events, tournament series and competitions that had ceased operating. === Northland Open === Mercenaries Star described the Northland Open as one of the first major competitions of the New Zealand tournament season. The 2001 calendar noted that the tournament had previously been held at several venues and that the 2000 competition used a rugby field adapted for speedball. The Northland Open was among the established events associated with the original National Paintball League's First Division structure.[2][6] === Volcanic Rotorua === The 2001 calendar announced the Volcanic Rotorua tournament as a new competition supported by Actions Paintball Sports Arena and Rotorua Paintball Club. The tournament was planned for Rotorua International Stadium and was promoted as an event using inflatable Sup'Air tournament fields.[2] The use of an international stadium reflected the development of more formal tournament venues in New Zealand. === South Island tournaments === The website documented competitions in Dunedin and Invercargill, including the Dunedin City Challenge and the National Three-Man Centre Flag Competition. These listings provided a national perspective beyond the larger Auckland and central North Island tournament communities. Mercenaries Star also preserved results and reports from individual South Island competitions, including the 2000 Dunedin City Challenge.[7] == National Paintball League records == Mercenaries Star preserved documents relating to the original New Zealand [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|National Paintball League]], which was established in 1997. These include the league's original introductory letter and a historical account titled ''The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League''. === Original NPL introductory letter === The archived introductory letter was signed by '''Ian Southern''', who identified himself as the New Zealand NPL Director for 1997.[8] It outlined the proposed league's objectives, including coordinating tournaments, improving competition administration and raising refereeing standards. The letter also stated that the NPL intended to operate independently from paintball fields, manufacturers and equipment suppliers. Entries for the inaugural season closed on 10 February 1997. === Rise and Fall of the NPL === Mercenaries Star published a retrospective history of the original NPL, describing its establishment by '''Ian Southern''' and '''Dave Pellet''' and its initial participation by three commercial field operators.[6] The founding operators were: * Splatman, operating four fields in Auckland * Strategy Tag, operating a field in Whangārei * Actions Paintball Sports Arena, operating a field in Auckland The NPL operated First and Second Divisions, combining major established tournaments with regular competitions for developing teams. The historical account describes the end of the original two-division structure in 1999, when the participating field operators withdrew their support. '''Kyn "Action" Jackson''' of Actions Paintball Sports Arena subsequently took over the remaining administration and discontinued Second Division.[6] The NPL material preserved by Mercenaries Star is a surviving source for the development of organised paintball competition in New Zealand during the late 1990s. == Team profiles == Mercenaries Star maintained a directory of New Zealand paintball teams. The site included team names, locations, playing fields, websites and other information supplied by players. Some entries contained detailed histories and player rosters. === Tag n' Release === One of the surviving team profiles documents '''Tag n' Release''', a Rotorua-based tournament team formed in March 2000. The profile was contributed by '''Russell Clement''' and included the team's origins, playing equipment, early tournament results and organisational structure.[9] Its listed officers and members included: * Gary Dykes – captain * Peter Mumby – manager * Brendon Charles – treasurer * Russell Clement – information and historian * Gavin Mumby * Shane Lukis * Jeremy Jeffs The profile documents the team's participation in Actions Mayhem, the Wellington Cup and the 2000 New Zealand Nationals. It also records its home field as Paintball Rotorua. The inclusion of contributed team profiles preserved information that did not always appear in tournament results or field directories. == Rotorua Invitational == Mercenaries Star hosted information about the proposed [[Rotorua Invitational]], an event developed by Tag n' Release and Rotorua Paintball Club.[10] The event was planned for Rotorua International Stadium over Queen's Birthday weekend. The proposed competition used a seven-player format and two inflatable Sup'Air fields. Russell Clement, writing under the nickname '''DangerMouse''', described the planning undertaken by Tag n' Release members. The announcement identified Kyn Jackson as the intended event-day tournament organiser, while attributing most of the original planning to Tag n' Release and Rotorua Paintball Club. The announcement also referred to plans to publish information through Rob's and Neil's respective paintball websites, illustrating the role of multiple independent websites in distributing tournament information during the period.[10] == Field and website directory == Mercenaries Star maintained a directory of New Zealand paintball websites, including commercial fields, teams and community resources.[11] The directory included teams such as Kamokarzi, Insane, Phoenix, Rangers and Tag n' Release. It also linked to commercial paintball operators and other New Zealand paintball websites. === New Zealand Paintball === The directory included '''New Zealand Paintball''', associated with the website [[Paintball.co.nz]]. The listing described the site as providing a paintball field directory, moderated message board and chat facility.[11] Paintball.co.nz and the [[NZ Paintball Message Boards]] were associated with [[Rob Maddox]], a member of the Auckland tournament team Kamo Karzi. The inclusion of both Mercenaries Star and Paintball.co.nz in the early online community provided different sources of information about tournament paintball, recreational fields and player activities. == Rules and player information == Mercenaries Star also hosted documents relating to competitive paintball rules and player conduct. These included: * Australian Paintball Players League tournament rules * The Paintballers Charter * Historical league regulations and information sheets * Tournament announcements and entry information The APPL rules formed part of the regulatory background for tournament paintball in New Zealand during the 1990s.[12] The website's rules section provided players and tournament organisers with documents relevant to competitions being held across the country. == Preservation == The original Mercenaries Star website was hosted on GeoCities, which ceased operating as a conventional web-hosting service in 2009. A substantial portion of the website survives through Oocities, a public mirror preserving historical GeoCities websites. The surviving pages include tournament calendars, historical articles, team profiles, directories and annual ranking tables. Some original photographs, scripts and linked external websites may no longer be available. The archive is particularly useful for reconstructing New Zealand tournament paintball during the period from 1997 to the early 2000s. Its records preserve information from regional competitions and teams whose original websites have otherwise disappeared. == Historical significance == Mercenaries Star was among the early New Zealand paintball websites that brought together tournament information from multiple regions. Its Valhalla ranking database provided a national record of team performances across different competitions and playing formats. The site's tournament calendar helped connect teams with event organisers, while its team directories and contributed profiles preserved information about individual clubs and players. Its archive of original National Paintball League documents also records the organisation of competitive paintball in New Zealand during the late 1990s. Together with other contemporary community websites, including Paintball.co.nz, Mercenaries Star provides a surviving documentary record of New Zealand paintball before the widespread use of social media and modern tournament-registration platforms. == See also == * [[History of paintball in New Zealand]] * [[Paintball in New Zealand]] * [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)]] * [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] * [[Rob Maddox]] * [[Kyn Jackson]] * [[Team Insane]] * [[Tag n' Release]] * [[Northland Open]] * [[Volcanic Rotorua]] * [[Rotorua Invitational]] == References == # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star]. ''Oocities''. Archive of the original GeoCities website. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Events/EventsIndex.htm Annual Tournament Events]. ''Mercenaries Star'', 2001. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Valhalla National Team Ranking Methodology]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Valhalla National Rankings, 2000]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Valhalla National Rankings, 2001]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLIntro.htm The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Events/DCC5M00.htm Dunedin City Challenge, 2000]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLLetter.htm Welcome to the New Zealand National Paintball League]. Original 1997 introductory letter. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/TagNRelease.htm Tag n' Release Team Profile]. ''Mercenaries Star'', contributed by Russell Clement. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Events/RIIndex.htm Rotorua Invitational Paintball Days]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/NZPO.htm New Zealand Paintball Online Directory]. ''Mercenaries Star''. # [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Tournament/APPL.htm Australian Paintball Players League Rules]. ''Mercenaries Star''. == External links == * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star – archived website] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Events/EventsIndex.htm Historical New Zealand tournament calendar] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Valhalla national ranking database] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm 2000 national team rankings] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm 2001 national team rankings] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLIntro.htm Original National Paintball League history] * [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/NZPO.htm New Zealand paintball website directory] [[Category:New Zealand paintball history]] [[Category:Paintball media]] [[Category:Paintball websites]] [[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]]
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