Invasion of Normandy 2006 (aka ION aka D-Day)

Fans of scenario games should love it, according to the staff of Skirmish we beat world's record for the biggest game played, over 3900 people came to play. I have been to the one last year and this year we had more tanks more smoke granades more paint granades and more people dressed up (including myself). Like always tons of paintball companies came, you could buy cheap Dye, Kingman, Empire ect... paintball and casual wear, new markers, new equipment, and everything else. For Smart Parts Ion owners there was a whole separate trailer. We had contests, slide in the mud contest and paintball bikini contest not to mention This is why those games are better than regular ones.

Like always we had the split between german/allied/french forces. As you can guess, I played on the german side. At noon time the assembled generals for all sides delivered a briefing, the infamous Tyrell Corp. arrived in a go-cart to get any volenteers to fight on their side (Tyrell plays all sides towards the profit).

Then we rushed off to get into the woods area to prepare for allied invasion. The first hour after the start of the game is allies trying to get from the beach to the forest, lots of fighting, balls were flying left and right to the point where probably some colided in mid air! All types of guns, tons of Tippmans and Cockers,lots of Ions, Spyders, Phantom Pumps, DM4&5, Angels, ect... and some people played with just sidearms(like 2 PT Extremes).

Yeah that's me, and let me tell you playing with exposed arms does wonders for cooling you down, and you really don't feel the pain if a ball hits you, but when I got home, I had bruises up and down my arms for over a week.

The local police department put a ban on any nazi symbols and especially flags, as you can see it was obeyed to the letter. What they (police, politicians, republicans ect...) can't understand is that all those people came there not to demonstrate their political view but to play. It is a one big costume party with guns, tanks, granades and all other things, and flags, uniforms, arm bands just make it look more realistic and make for a better mood. Its not the practicality of it, I bet that this guy got shot more than anyone else but damn he looked good charging and waving this flag. Same like when I saw a guy with a replica U.S. M1 GARAND RIFLE, it was built around an old Brass Eagle Stingray, it looked great! almost like the real thing, I bet given that it was a stingray and had a small BE 40 ball hopper the guy wasn't a menace on the field but also look damn realistic and put others into the mood.