Grabbing the Flag
Grabbing the Flag
Many games use flags as the objective, either with one
central flag which must be taken to the enemy/friendly base, or more commonly
one flag in each base which must be captured and returned to your own. In these
games it is vital to concentrate on capturing the flag and not just on shooting
out enemy players - in theory your team could win without a single kill.
Frequently a team that is in a sufficiently strong position to take the flag
sits tight and slugs it out, and the game ends in a draw rather than a victory.
More often than not the flag will need to be taken while under fire from those
defending, and there are a number of tactics both individual and group to
increase the chance of success.
Watch the Clock
About a minute before the end of the game is an excellent
time for a suicidal flag run. If you get shot you won't miss much of the game,
and the opposing team won't have much time to capitalise if a lot of people in
your team are shot out.
Go Unarmed (possibly)
Leaving your gun behind, (particularly if you have a pump)
is often a good idea. You can run faster without it, use both hands to get a
grip on the flag, and climb over any barricades etc. When running along you
don't have much chance of hitting anyone anyway, so having a gun is of limited
use. Rely on the fire of your teammates to discourage anyone attacking you too
aggressively. When considering this, think about the following: Is it near the
end of the game time? This is a very high risk strategy and it could mean
waiting for the rest of the game in the dead zone. Are there enemy very close to
the flag? If so you will need to shoot them first because they are unlikely to
miss at point blank range. Are there obstacles around the flag which having both
hands would be a definite advantage to negotiate? Are there plenty of team-mates
around who will compensate for not being able to fire yourself?
Run Through
Don't run up to the flag, stop, grab it and then turn
back. While you are stationary you will be an easy target, and you are
prolonging the most dangerous stage of the operation. Instead plan your run so
that you can go straight through the flag base, grabbing the flag as you go past
and out the other side without slowing down.
Guard the Flag Carrier
A common mistake in amateur paintball is failing to
protect a fellow team member who has made a successful flag grab. They can
easily be waylaid on their way back by the enemy, and if they are carrying the
flag it will be difficult for them to defend themselves one handed. At least one
player should run with the flag carrier, so that if he is shot they can pick it
up and carry on, and another couple of players should accompany them at a wider
distance and attempt to stop enemy players even getting close to the flag
carrier.
Turkey shoot
When someone else is running for the flag and the entire
opposing team's attention, this is the ideal opportunity to bag some kills.
Opposing players will either chase after him, or stand up and fire without
worrying about their own cover or paying attention to you. If you're ready to
pick them off, you should get some easy targets.
Initial grab
When games are played with a central flag which must be
returned to the friendly base these can sometimes be won by sending one brave
soul to sprint for it and grab it at the very start of the game. If you decide
to go for this then they should leave their gun behind for faster running. This
should be carried forward by a team mate in case they are driven back without
the flag and need to continue to play the game in the normal way.
