Invasion of Normandy 2010 Skirmish: 7/17 - 7/18

[Diggler]

Update:
Date has been announced, quoted from the announcement:

ION 2010: July 17-18
Unrivaled worldwide, the supreme paintball event: Invasion of Normandy returns this July. Only 3,500 spots available - last year we filled every spot more than a month in advance of the date so REGISTER EARLY! $59.95 per person & $54.95 per person for groups of 20+ registered by June 23 (while spots still available).




If I am not traveling (vacation), I will attend this scenario for the 3rd time.

[Flash]

I still have my ticket from last year.

[Shaun-MR.GRIMM]

I don't think I'll do this one this year.

[Podutsch]

I made my travel arrangements for July. As of now, I will certainly attend ION 2010

[Podutsch]

I still have my ticket from last year.

I am not sure if you can use it for 2010. Does indicate you can?

[Flash]

I don't even remember where I put them. I plan to go to this one either way.
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[Chronos]

What is that?! ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

Look at all that wasted space!

[BENDER]

Still debating on attending this event. I had fun last time, but not because of the level of play, or the overall scenario... I had fun because of the people, and the various vendors that came to the event... Surrounded by friends and paintball basically....

If a large enough group goes, I will more than likely attend...

Rhonda, can you convince Tor, and Gunny to go?

[Podutsch]

I totally agree, the enjoyment of ION is 50% playing and 50% hanging out with friends and like minded.
We certainly had a nice base camp last time. Personally, out of the 3 "days" I enjoy the Saturday game the most. The night game was interesting but it requires a level of honesty you might not always find. Nevertheless, we got pwned in that tank good...still makes a nice story.

Unless something major happens, I will attend. My friends from Phili are also in (rec players and fun to hang out with) - maybe with some extended family, too. Would be nice to have plenty of Geex attending. It's camping with friends and paintball in the Poconos (where it actually is NOT HUMID)

Still debating on attending this event. I had fun last time, but not because of the level of play, or the overall scenario... I had fun because of the people, and the various vendors that came to the event... Surrounded by friends and paintball basically....

If a large enough group goes, I will more than likely attend...

Rhonda, can you convince Tor, and Gunny to go?

[Flash]

I can try to get Gunny or Tor to go. But we can't all three go. Especially if Ethan goes.

[Podutsch]

I (+6 Friends) am going to register tonight. So in case anyone is interested to join ION, we are going to play German, jawohl.

[Chronos]

we are going to play German, jawohl.

Like no one saw that one coming.

[Podutsch]

Flash, are you still planning on joining?
Ethan, are you coming this year? Or do you chicken out?

As we are just 5 weeks from the game, registration usually sells out soon. Los, los, los!

[Flash]

I just discovered yesterday that I can't make it. I am having to have a new well pump put in and that will wipe me out financially.

[Chronos]

Why's that? It's only like $10.

[Podutsch]

I just discovered yesterday that I can't make it. I am having to have a new well pump put in and that will wipe me out financially.

Well, too bad. There will be another one next year

[Diggler]

Moved this post as it is just a little over a week out.
Wish I could go to this, just for the experience.

[jesusfreek]

Pod, when are you heading out? Enjoy the weekend!

[Podutsch]

I am already in Philly and we are rolling out tomorrow morning.
Weather seems to be nice, with cool night

[Shaun-MR.GRIMM]

Pod who won this year and how was the paint, did they sell out and have a large turn out ?

[Podutsch]

Yes, the game was sold out, same as the last years. But I think they had 3800 registrations vs. 3500 last year - no noticeable difference .

The Allied won this year, but by a small margin, something like 104 - 96. Parts of the beach was breached this year around the area where we inserted last year. CPs were flipped this year and it was the farthest defense area for the Germans to re-insert to. They also changed the way, defenses were allowed to be build. Traditionally, the Germans had some time on Friday to build up the defenses. This year Skirmish did some build up and the Germans had some short time to build/move defenses just before the game. Last year had certainly better defenses, but nothing to complain about. This certainly had some excitement when they breached the beach at our section and came pouring in.

Paint was DXS Blaze and Formula 13. We had high humidity on Friday night (The traditional thunder storm came done 1 hour before castle night) and my mask was a tripping rain forest. I had to shoot everything that moved, because I did see nothing . Well, besides the foggy masks, the balls got a bit rubbery and I had plenty of bounces the next day during the play. I think Skirmish tries to please their Tippmann rental customers and all the mil-sim guys with their blowback markers and thereby offers rec level paintballs (to avoid breaks in the marker). By doing this, they forget the high-end market a bit.
On top of that, I think a lot of people long ball and thats why you get hit, but balls do not break.


ION is basically two games in one. The first is the always on battle around the beach area. Need to waste some paint, go right there and have fun shooting people - it is very target rich. Germans owned the Allied for most of the days, with fights always close to the Allied CP. But, this does not give you any winning points (just the initial beach battle does).

The second game are the missions. Once you are in a more organized team of highly motivated people, I think you will have the most fun at ION. Missions varies from boring (because no enemy contact) to highly exciting when you have to sneak behind enemy lines to retrieve artifacts. With ION using around 270 acres, the possibilities are large. After 3 IONs I think this is where the long term fun is. The skirmishes around the beach are nice, but running missions is so much better. This year we help in 2 missions, but had no enemy contact during the missions. At least we had suspense while waiting for the timer to go down. Most of my friends and friends friends, are on the rec level side. They enjoyed the skirmish the most and we took things a bit easier this year. But I have to say, I was missing my GeeXs buddies and having the possibility of create some havoc. Well, maybe next year.

The refs were OK. This is certainly a large event, and you will see some wiping and cheating on both sides. I usually pointed out hits on team "comrades" that might have overlooked some (forget about paint checks... ). They have 200+ refs, for 3800 players spread around 270 acres. On the upside, I got field chronoed 3 times and hopper checked at least 10 times. So there is effort to enforce the safety rules.

Other then that, there is a lot of paintball "vipe" during this event. With many organized teams, vendors and sponsors being present. I also enjoy the "hang out" part in the evening... camping with paintball

[Shaun-MR.GRIMM]

Sounds like you had a good time, I know last year we got in some missions in the morning but when we went back out it seemed like every body had the same idea. If I make it next year I'm hitting the beach first then go looking for missions till the night game then I'm going to have some fun like last year.