Tactics II: "A Pair beats a Single Card"

Created by: Jean-Manuel (jm.maries@ags.fr)
Edited by: Martin Guerrero (gmartin@alumni.eecs.berkeley.edu)

NOTE: [ ... ] will mark additional comments by editor.

Introduction to Article:

(* My purpose is not to give lessons about teamwork. I think that magazines already covered the subject. I know that most players don't belong to a team, and don't participate in competitions. But when they will, they'll need to know the basics, which is what i'm trying to get through to them. *)

Only Rambo thinks he'll win alone. You won't. Especially if I'm standing in front of you, ah ah. You'll need help, and the best way to have it available is to have a buddy at hand.
You don't like maths? You'll like this: 2 > 1 + 1

Start working as a single group. Once you feel at ease wuth your buddy, you'll collaborate with other pairs, until you form a team. Right now, lets say it's only you (Bart) and you buddy (Ernest).

A. MOVING

1. Caterpillar

You have to move fast, the field is big and you don't know what's in front. One of you moves forward to a shelter, watches around, and signals the other that the path is clear. Lets say you're the one behind. Don't go behind the same shelter as your buddy! You'd make a bigger target. Stop 5 meters behind, take a quick look, and when you think you've check the surroundings enough, signal your buddy to move further.

The faster method is to move past your teammate.

In either case, don't move more than ten meters at a time, and always go behind a shelter. While moving, and when you arrive, stay low and still. The one behind is the one who must stand and keep ready to provide cover fire.

2. Line

Both of you are almost at the same level. Actually, one of you will be closer to the tape, so he's only vulnerable on one side. The other, who's more to the center, should be somewhat behind (5-10 meters). The "tape man" looks mainly forward, his "wing man" has to take care of the center. But remember you want to move up the tape. Don't go to the center where you would be vulnerable from both sides.

3. Crawler/Coverer

The one up front is on his belly, crawling. He doesn't see much of the field, but hopefully, he's not being seen either. He needs someone to "be his eyes". So his buddy is behind him, way behind (20 meters), standing, walking slowly and from cover to cover, sometimes shooting a few paintballs at a bush that might be sheltering an opponent. The "coverer" wants the opponents to look at HIM, and to forget about the crawler. In case of a paintfight, the crawler will hear a lot but still won't see much. So he'll need the coverer to tell him "11 hours, 10 meters, behind a palm tree".

Which also means that, when you see someone far away, coming at you, standing, shooting lots of paint, beware of crawlers!

4. Goat and hunter

We used that tactic four years ago, in a 5 man tournament. On one game, we had two guns down, including mine. So I'd run in front of a more stealthy teammate. When I got shot at (and missed), I'd drop and pretend that I was dangerous. My teammate could move sideways and remove the opponent.

So don't surrender, even if you're out of paint/CO2/gun/girlfriend.

B. SKIRMISH

1. He's home alone

Ok. You were moving forward, you fell upon a guy whose intentions seem unfriendly. If he's alone, with no help close, dispose of him fast. One of you "sticks" him, the other moves sideway to get a better angle.

O                    (O opponent)
== 	             (X you and your buddy)
 .                   ( .  paintballs) 
 .      /            (/ move)
 .     /
 .    /
 .   X
 X

Another solution is to run at the opponent inside his "dead spot":

0
==
 . ^
 . |
 . |
 . |
 . --X
 X

Once you've shot him, don't immediately go further than your opponent's shelter, drop behind. There might be another opponent around.

2. They're a pair as well

The most common mistake is "you take care of one, I take care of mine". It's easy to understand that 2 against 1 will normally win, but who can tell the outcome of 2 "one against one"?

Quickly decide which one you want to nail. You don't have to deliberate:
look who's your buddy shooting at, protect yourself from the other's paint, and soon enough, you should be in a 2 against 1 situation. Be move, be aggressive. YOU are the hunters. Les the others feel like rabbits.

a) Simple fire power

0            0 .  <-this one is in trouble
==         . ==.    and shouldn't be able 
         .     .    to last long 
       .       .    
      .        .    
    .          .    
   .           .    
==           ==.    
 X             X    

*splotch he's out*
next move will be something like:

0 . ..
==.    ..    ==
  .        ..
  .            ..
  .               X
  .               |
  .               |
==.            == |
  X              /

b) Confusing move

0            0
==           ==
              .  .
              .    .
              .     .
              .       .
              .        X
==           ==       /
 \            X      /
  \                 /
    ----------------

c) When dealing with barricades and two right-handed opponents

Right handed players tend to shoot by to right side of their barricade (your left). If they are within easy running range, look at what you can do:

 (D)         (C)
  O           O
 .===        .===
 .         .
 .       .
 .     .
 .   .
 . .
  ===         ===
   X             X
  (A)           (B)

When both (D) and (C) are shooting at (A), neither can see (B), who can try a run to (C). It has worked dozens of times.

Closing Remarks:

Remember, you must be aware of whats going on. If you dive and keep your head down each time some washable paint is flying at you, you'll never be the dangerous hunter you'd like to be. Stay calm, keep your thoughts clear. You're at least as dangerous as your opponent, so don't be afraid of him. Feel like a pro, you'll act like one. Do unpredictable things, keep the edge. If you lose it, if you're the one who's being pinned down, try to regain it. Aim at your opponent through your shelter, move your marker out and shoot. If this doesn't work, try from a different place. And once you have your opponent face to the ground, don't let him raise his head. Get him.

jean-manuel
team Les Tontons Flingueurs
France

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