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Post by brownien on Sept 2, 2014 18:31:21 GMT -5
This past weekend, I found a great place nearby that hosts regular airsoft skirmishes. Its right near Albany NY. Albany Xtreme Sports. They mostly do airsoft it seems, but they do some paintball as well. The thing is, they put WAAAAAY more effort into their fields than Lash's Paintball does. I must say, the terrain and fortifications are all top notch. Its still mostly in the woods, but there are some clearings thathelp change up the feel of the field greatly. They usulally do regular skirmishes every other Sunday durring the warmer months, with several larger events in between. I was there last Sunday in my 101st kit, and there was roughly 50-60 people there, ON AN AVERAGE DAY! Everyone there came up to me at one point and complimented me on my kit, sometimes even in the middle of a firefight! They all said they'd love to see more WW2 airsoft, and many expressed interest in joining in as well (I pointed them in the Forum's direction). I am suggesting that for the next big event they run there, we should all try to make an effort to attend and fight as a big WW2 unit. October 3rd, 4th, & 5th. its $25 per person for the entire weekend, camping on site is allowed for the admission fee and a charging station is available on site for the admisssion fee to charge batteries at any time. They will be having skirmishes later in the day on Friday after arrival, and the main event objectives will begin on Saturday and follow into Sunday. Full writeup here: albanyxtremesportspark.com/?page_id=640I think if we can get a decent turnout on our part, we can definitely "convert" some of the regulars over to "the dark side"
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 2, 2014 18:43:20 GMT -5
I think this is a great idea. Only those genuinely attracted to the look will followup with participation but you definitely will get some converts. An individual can make a statement but a group makes a real impression (no pun intended)
Locally regular airsoft skirmish teams have expressed interest in "mixing things up a bit" by holding "themed events" and i am only too hppy to assist them in that.
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Post by insterburger on Sept 2, 2014 20:40:29 GMT -5
My work schedule just got a whole lot tougher so it may be tough to get up there for this, but I will work on making it happen.
Either way, we need to let people who are interested know that we can get them into loaner impressions at our upcoming events so they can give WWII Airsoft a shot (no pun intended either). We won't interest everybody who attends, but for the right kind of guy, this is an opportunity for us and for them. And an opportunity for US and German forces to fight alongside each other, which would be awesome!
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ScottCollins
Private 1st Class
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
Posts: 548
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Post by ScottCollins on Sept 2, 2014 20:49:53 GMT -5
We Michigan folk will try and make it. What with school starting and the like. It's always good to have more front line troops though. Then again, I'd be getting back from the 150th Pilot Knob in Missouri the weekend before. I'll talk with shifty about it and see what we can work out
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Post by ssgjoe on Sept 3, 2014 8:05:43 GMT -5
Yeah, at the last game my friend and I went to in our German kits, people on the other team were saying it was actually frightening when we appeared. Kinda like a "the nazis are coming!" feel I guess LOL.
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Post by SfcMigs on Sept 3, 2014 9:32:37 GMT -5
I should be able to come up with the boys for this one. Nate, I'll contact you to coordinate our attendance. Maybe I'll swing by your house and we can all go together.
This is great news.
Migs
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Post by brownien on Sept 3, 2014 11:21:15 GMT -5
Great to hear Migs! It may be easier for you to go right there though, as I have to travel about an hour East to Albany from where I am. I may be bringing 1 or 2 guys with me, all depends if they can make it. Those local guys from the last event are trying to go as well.
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Post by SfcMigs on Sept 3, 2014 18:56:06 GMT -5
Great to hear Migs! It may be easier for you to go right there though, as I have to travel about an hour East to Albany from where I am. I may be bringing 1 or 2 guys with me, all depends if they can make it. Those local guys from the last event are trying to go as well. Ok, I'll call you anyway once the date approaches. Looking forward to doing some promoting. I still have those flyers I printed up for GZA that we can hand out and maybe set up a display table where we gear up. I'll also bring the WW2 AirSoft sign I have. With a new field in the general vicinity of where we've played your events is great news. Hopefully we'll generate a lot of interest and get the field owners to work with us. Talk to ya soon, Migs
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Jerry-ADK
Private 1st Class
Unteroffizier, Heeresgruppe Nord-Ost
Posts: 418
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Post by Jerry-ADK on Sept 4, 2014 6:30:03 GMT -5
I definantly want to go if others are going. Especially if it will help our cause.
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Post by insterburger on Sept 4, 2014 22:05:09 GMT -5
Right now my big obstacle to committing is that a major work event was scheduled for Columbus Day weekend, but there's a lot of pushback on that date and it's looking like they're going to move it. Until I'm sure it's not being rescheduled to 10/4-5, I can't say for sure if I can be there. Will advise.
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Post by huxy on Sept 10, 2014 16:37:20 GMT -5
If it wasn't for the price of trans-atlantic airfares, I'd gladly attend!
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Post by insterburger on Sept 11, 2014 15:48:45 GMT -5
Huxy, when you come over, make it for one of our bonafide WWII ones, we'd love to have a Kriegsberichter on the team!
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Post by huxy on Sept 11, 2014 16:48:12 GMT -5
That could really solve the logistics of transporting weapons! Just bringing a camera. Hmm!
You guys are playing in/around the state of New York?
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Post by insterburger on Sept 14, 2014 8:25:18 GMT -5
Mostly in New York, although we may be expanding back into Connecticut (right next door).
As for weapons, we would want you to bear arms as well as a camera, but any time you can make it over, you'd be free to use whatever you like from my arsenal. Just bring whatever gear you can safely and easily carry, and we'll fill in the rest!
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Post by insterburger on Sept 14, 2014 20:45:38 GMT -5
It's looking likely that I may be able to attend this, but may have to get there early Saturday, and will probably need to leave Saturday night.
Who else is going? I'd love to have a mix of GIs and Landser, it will be great to fight alongside so many guys who I have developed friendships with at the ends of each other's muzzles.
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Post by SfcMigs on Sept 15, 2014 8:53:01 GMT -5
It's looking likely that I may be able to attend this, but may have to get there early Saturday, and will probably need to leave Saturday night. Who else is going? I'd love to have a mix of GIs and Landser, it will be great to fight alongside so many guys who I have developed friendships with at the ends of each other's muzzles. Hi Mark, I'll be attending with my two boys. I will probably be doing the same as you. Arriving early on Sat and leaving Saturday night. It'll be fun to fight along side of you for once. I'm also thinking about bringing a table to display some gear and items to help stoke some interest. See you soon, Migs
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Post by insterburger on Sept 15, 2014 19:25:57 GMT -5
Migs,
If you do a display, I'd be glad to bring up some of my massive collection of spare German stuff (including enticing weapons I won't be using at that game, like the MG42) and we could join forces on that, too. We'll talk.
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Post by SfcMigs on Sept 15, 2014 21:26:54 GMT -5
Migs, If you do a display, I'd be glad to bring up some of my massive collection of spare German stuff (including enticing weapons I won't be using at that game, like the MG42) and we could join forces on that, too. We'll talk. Sounds good. Let's try to talk about a week before the event. Migs
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 16, 2014 13:44:42 GMT -5
This is really cool guys.
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Post by brownien on Sept 20, 2014 15:51:17 GMT -5
To anyone interested in attending, the preregistration is open here: albanyxtremesportspark.com/?page_id=640 It's $10 cheaper than day of, and you get a free shirt! Lol Before you sign up, be sure to choose which team to be on. I know previously it was discussed for anyone attending through ww2aa (US or German) to attend and fight on the same side, so that just leaves us to the dilemma of which to choose. It seems from the uniform requirements that we would fit best on the Coalition team. They have the squad regulations set for a 10 man squad, with their being a 1-5 ratio of Squad machine gunners to Riflemen. Squad automatic weapons gunners have to have the apropriate SAW type weapon to fire on full auto. So that rules out any of us using Thompsons, STG's or mp40's as the designated squad support gunner. Anyone with any of the previously mentioned weapons can use them on semi only as a rifleman though, as all others are considered riflemen and can only use their weapons on semi only. I think this gives us a unique opportunity to utilize our authentic semi weapons at a non ww2 event! M1's, Carbines, Kar98's, a sprinkling of STG's would all be right at home in a semi auto dominant enviroment. If you plan on going, I would highly suggest going over the full writeup for rules, and posting below what you intend on bringing for weapons so we all can plan accordingly to mesh as a team.
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Post by brownien on Sept 20, 2014 21:01:08 GMT -5
Id like to note to anyone attending that has Facebook to go to the facebook page for the event and add that you are going on there as well. It helps get a more up to date headcount
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Post by matthew1943 on Sept 20, 2014 21:56:26 GMT -5
Mostly in New York, although we may be expanding back into Connecticut (right next door). As for weapons, we would want you to bear arms as well as a camera, but any time you can make it over, you'd be free to use whatever you like from my arsenal. Just bring whatever gear you can safely and easily carry, and we'll fill in the rest! I'd love it if you guys could come to Connecticut more! I have yet to participate in a WWII event, however when I went to GZA last weekend in my M1942 kit (Yes, I do Airborne, but I also have a regular infantry kit) I got nothing but nice remarks, and even a few people said they'd be interested in doing WWII themed loadouts. I'm sure if more WWII airsofters came down, the more would be interested. A side note: seems to be more so the people who haven't put much or any money in modern style loadouts, are more interested in doing WWII themed, compared to those with have full modern kits already. And, I've even gotten some of my friends interested, though they will need more reinforcement, two even said they'd run a German kit.
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Post by brownien on Sept 20, 2014 22:06:03 GMT -5
Atending events at GZA is do-able, its just holding our own private events at GZA thats the killer. They require upfront costs to cover their losses for the lack of other public players attending. Its a much larger sum per person for say 25 compared to a regular day of 50-70 paying attendees. If we could find another cheaper location in CT, or just manage to grow our numbers of attendees to diminish the cost per person for a GZA event. Id be up for promoting at a big GZA event in the future though!
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Post by matthew1943 on Sept 20, 2014 22:20:32 GMT -5
Atending events at GZA is do-able, its just holding our own private events at GZA thats the killer. They require upfront costs to cover their losses for the lack of other public players attending. Its a much larger sum per person for say 25 compared to a regular day of 50-70 paying attendees. If we could find another cheaper location in CT, or just manage to grow our numbers of attendees to diminish the cost per person for a GZA event. Id be up for promoting at a big GZA event in the future though! I'm trying to get more people interested down here. I think the main reason people aren't interested in WWII airsoft at the moment is because of the lack of popular WWII movies and games (such as Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, The Pacific). Plus, not as many companies manufacture historically accurate gear/weapons for a reasonable price. Compared to the surge of anything and everything in M81 Woodland, ACUPAT (UCP), MARPAT, or MultiCam.
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Post by insterburger on Sept 20, 2014 22:52:48 GMT -5
Fury is coming out soon, that may pique some interest.
I need to talk to a guy in my unit who may have a field to develop in NE CT. Hopefully we can get things to the point where we can play there by spring. Will most definitely keep everyone posted.
Matthew, keep in touch. We always need more Germans, so feel free to PM whenever your friends are ready to get the ball rolling and I will be more than happy to help them with advice and guidance in building their kits.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Sept 21, 2014 0:35:56 GMT -5
Me and my guys won't be able to make it to this event, but on the topic of promoting WWII airsoft, we have been going to standard airsoft weekend games around in impressions. Usually getting a good lot of "ooooh" and "aaaaahhh"'s.
Just wish my airsoft modification skills were better, so my guys have better guns... I actually opted to reenact from another era once just to let one of the guys use my personal WWII rifle.
Regardless, have fun up there, I'm interested to see the after math of this.
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Post by matthew1943 on Sept 21, 2014 9:04:50 GMT -5
Fury is coming out soon, that may pique some interest. I need to talk to a guy in my unit who may have a field to develop in NE CT. Hopefully we can get things to the point where we can play there by spring. Will most definitely keep everyone posted. Matthew, keep in touch. We always need more Germans, so feel free to PM whenever your friends are ready to get the ball rolling and I will be more than happy to help them with advice and guidance in building their kits. The only problem I see with Fury, with WWII airsoft in mind, is that the movie revolves around a tank crew. Which is great for a movie premise but surely all the main characters will be using M1/M1A1 Thompsons, and M3 Grease Guns. We may get a few guys interested in being just a regular infantryman, either German or American, because either a supporting character is one or from some of the background shots of the film, but I doubt anyone of that crew will be using an M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, or M1903. But, then again I guess you have to start somewhere, right? Though, on a more positive note, I did see that Brad Pitt had an STG44, and most of the Germans appear to be using Kar98k's so at least there may be less MP40s running around.
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Post by insterburger on Sept 21, 2014 10:03:42 GMT -5
The main thing is getting people thinking about WWII and wanting to evoke the conflict in some way, shape, or form. People who come out of the theater narrowly fixated on playing tanker are going to find themselves with a woeful lack of viable outlets.
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Post by SfcMigs on Sept 24, 2014 9:41:20 GMT -5
Who is actually going to this event?
Please chime in.
Migs
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Post by brownien on Sept 24, 2014 11:00:09 GMT -5
I will be there myself, along with those four local guys I'll be kitting out. I have another 2 most likely coming as well. We will be utilizing my M1's and one guy on my BAR for squad support. If I get my mortar done by then, I may bring it as well. I will bring my bc1000 for one guy to wear and use along with the bc611. If I can find a long enough spool of correctish looking comm wire, I may bring my 2 field phones to use as well if we defend any objectives.
I did message and sent a link to Raimund on his FJ group page, and he may be able to get a group together, but no further updates there
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