On Saturday I attended Derek’s Lord of War game at the Rockwood field. Most of the guys were playing on team Spartan and Jeremy was CO of that side, I instead decided to take things easy and was tasked with helping out with game control duties. How quickly things change, with about 45 minutes before game briefing Derek asked me if I could lead team Fury as their CO had to bail last minute. I wasn’t happy about it but I signed up to assist where ever he needed me so I agreed. I was pretty worried at the beginning for a couple of reasons, first I didn’t bring my full kit and only had a minimalist set up with me and more importantly, I hate fighting against my own guys.

Team Fury was a mishmash group of players that I’m not familiar with as when I game I usually play with the guys on the Spartan side, anyway during briefing I was praying that I had solid squad leaders and it turned out I did! During the game I had absolutely no need to micromanage the teams and to make things better, a few of the squad leads stepped up (many thanks to DBspotter!) to help me with the field directions as it’s a place I’m not familiar with. Every mission I’d get the advice of the squad leads then form a plan of action and what I absolutely loved was that no one questioned my orders. They executed everything I asked and the players on team Fury truly accepted the concept of a mil sim which was awesome.

Throughout the 12 hours, Derek gave us various missions to which we were successful on most of them. Communication was decent, though I hope in the future that the players either use field markers or perhaps the map’s grid references when calling out targets, “contact at my 12” does me no good when I have 50 people to manage.

On one of the missions in the late afternoon, the guys were pushing very hard and while we were close to our objective I had to make the difficult decision to fall back to the CP and rearm. Darkness was quickly approaching (some of the guys still had their tinted lenses on) and I was very low on ammo, I could probably have secured whatever we were intended to find but with the condition of my guys there was no way I could defend it. Hehe at least along the way we were able to capture the Spartan mobile respawn, that was freaking awesome.

In the early evening GC gave us a mission to retrieve a huge wooden box of hotdogs and burgers which was greatly appreciated by everyone! LOL to make sure it wasn’t a mess, I let two squads eat at a time while the other four took turns guarding. That way I always have some defenders and not everyone was chowing down and it was good that I maintained a defensive perimeter as the guys paid me a visit. 😉 I didn’t know how many attackers there would be so I mobilized my whole force but it turned out it was just the GHOSTS so against those numbers Fury was able to capture all of them. Haha Keiko took a “trophy picture” of me with my captives which I’ll post a bit later when it’s available. 🙂

Come night, team Fury had a technological disadvantage. Other than myself I had two NV units on my side while I guesstimate that the other team had 30-40% of their players equipped with NV (based on the guys I know who have it lol) as well as thermals. Oh well, our last mission was to defend markers 8 & 9 and we used the wooded environment to the best of our ability to negate NV. LOL you can’t hide from thermals so there was nothing I could do about that however.

At endex, Derek informed me that team Fury was up over team Spartan by 150 points! It’s a tentative victory as he still needs to add up the kill cards though I hear the stacks were about the same so we’ll see.

It was an absolute pleasure to command team Fury and everyone doing as they’re told really made my day much easier. I was surprised how well we played together and I told the team at marker 8 that it was them that made us successful, I only played a small part and it’s true. I had a great time despite my initial apprehension and would lead any of those guys again if I get the opportunity!

On a side note, I’m also glad that the game was only 12 hours. I knew I was getting dehydrated and while I drank as much as I could, I didn’t have any electrolytes or food with me. LOL again I wasn’t planning on playing but with the op only 12 hours I knew I could handle it. Of course I would never let any of my guys do the same and I had to inform GC a few times of players needing to take a break.

Hehe I still got it! 😉

So after experiementing with the 6 pin Lemo MSA Sordin headset, I sold it because I found it a bit bulky and went instead went with the Nacre QuietPro. While I have to admit I love the Nacre, I worry about the wires getting damaged due to its high gauge, yes I know it’s mil spec and strong but still I wanted something different so I picked up another MSA Sordin Supreme Pro IV, again. This is the 75310 with the standard military plug which makes connecting it with my Nexus U94 PTT easier.

Still bulky relatively speaking but they’ll be used for games where I don’t have to wear a helmet or where I want something that’s relatively low profile. I was also able to fit the Sordins under my Ops-Core helmet this time around, previously I couldn’t do it a comfortable manner but it’s not too bad now. The helmet/headset combo still require a bit of fine tuning but I think I’m able to do it without the ARC rail adapters. 🙂

Sigh I hate taking pictures with my gear on at home but didn’t have a choice.

As promised, here’s some of the video I took over the weekend.

In one of the videos, one player was accusing me (and everyone else that day) of not calling shots so I offered to take it up with game control but he declined. LOL one of the few times I’ve been accused of that, I mean non calls happen but for gods sake fire for effect! Will share with the guys at work later, they said they all had fun which is great. 🙂

So on Saturday the boys and I attended Force Recon’s Nightfall 2 18 hour mil sim at the Picton facility and it was great! Yes I play there often because it’s awesome, every time I go to a game at that place I have a good time. 😉 We signed up on the green team as we want to rock our Woodland more in 2013 and was under the command of Mckee & Arkell. Chris was in charge of 4th platoon and I was section lead (most sections had 8-11 players) to poppa while Jeremy was section lead for oscar. What I particularly enjoyed was that our sections were made up of GHOSTS members only, typically we’re split up by command as we’re experienced mil simmers but this time around we got to run together which was nice.

Force Recon introduced mortars and a new system this time around which added a new dynamic to the game. Basically both tan and green have a mortar about 200′ away from their CP which allowed the team leaders to call in mortar strikes and kill everyone in a certain area. A great idea as storming an entrenched position can be very difficult and each team only had a certain number of mortars so those rounds had to be spent wisely.

Anyway our job was simply to grab the tan mortar and to keep it, if it was lost we were to retake it. That meant that most of our game play was focused outdoors which at first seemed odd because the appeal of Picton is its indoor action but I understood the mortar was a very valuable objective and since I wasn’t in any real command position, I wasn’t about to question my orders. The training we did last week really paid off and we were definitely a well coordinated unit.

At game start, we secured our mortar, poppa provided security while oscar helped set up Q’s mini gun in a solid defensive position which was then reinforced with whatever we could find on the field. After that was set, another platoon secured the southern part of the complex which allowed us to move and attack the tan mortar. We went around the Northern side of the village (as the direct route would leave us open to fire on two sides) capturing both the East & West villages along the way. Poppa & oscar got bogged down around 75′ away from the tan mortar because there was very little cover between the tree line and the objective, that and the tan team was dug in very well. After fighting a battle of attrition, we had to retreat back to the CP as our sections was running low on ammo and bandages.

The next time we hit the tan mortar we were accompanied by 1st platoon (I think) which gave us 6 full sections, that was enough man power to easily overpower the tan defenders and I think we took control of the tan mortar about 3-4 hours into the game. We left 1st platoon to secure the area and we fell back as we were tasked with another job. A bit later, green team lost the tan mortar and was asked to retake it however Mckee ordered Chris to send a section (he picked oscar) to assist the Southern group as they were getting low on numbers and needed help. Chris and poppa would join up with the remaining elements of 1st platoon and assault the mortar position again and again it was a hard grind. We lost a lot of people and needed to be reinforced (oscar was available and part of another platoon) before we could storm that position. We were finally able to regain control of the tan mortar and this time we were able to keep it. We defended for a period of time and since we were a bit bored we decided to try and capture an objective 75′ away from the tan CP. LOL Temir & Jeremy volunteered to run to flip the flag but it didn’t turn out very well (we supported the best we could) but it was sire fun to watch!

We were then relieved by another platoon and went back to CP to rearm and to eat, it was also starting to get dark so some of the guys had to get their NVGs. We decided to regroup at the green mortar and to eat there however our meal was cut short because Chris got orders to move us to attack another position. By now it was dark and found ourselves back at the tan mortar, this time around with the cover of darkness and the “fun toys” we were able to capture the flag in front of the tan CP and we also made entrance into the two story building. Our orders were to secure the second floor and flip all the flags so it meant green owned the building. We ran into heavy fighting on the first floor but was able to make it to the second floor pretty much intact and secured the whole top floor. Oscar secured the Eastern wing while it was my job to secure the Western so I got Eddy & Matt to guard the door leading to a stairwell & someone from another platoon & Stephen to guard the doorway just behind the the first two. Jeremy had more bodies than I did so he secured the 2nd floor lobby as well.

The tan team obviously wanted the two story building back and with one of the entrances around 75′ away from their CP, I knew we had a fight on our hands. Luckily in the middle of the fighting, another green section was able to get up to the second floor and I took them over so they could act as the 2nd floor QRF wherever we needed reinforcements. I heard some casualties on my side and we had lost the 2nd floor lobby so I sent a couple of QRF guys to me secure the entrance of our wing while I sent the rest to reinforce Stephen’s position.

While tan pushed really hard, we were able to fend them off for a good amount of time and eventually they did break through on our wing. For a while it was just me defending my area, I told Stephen it was only a matter of time before I fell and to watch his back. I didn’t want them to waste precious resources to try to assist me as it wouldn’t be worth it too. After taking out another 5 tan members the remaining tan guys rushed my room and I was shot pretty quickly. It was nice that they remarked how hard it was to breach as we put up a great fight… They withdrew without attacking the rest of my defenders, I guess they were too low in numbers to continue. Anyway I was able to be patched up so I could resume the fight and we continued to hold the second floor till we were told by command to withdraw and have a forced rest which was at around 2AM.

What I didn’t know at the time was that the green side had secured enough points to win the game so Mckee wanted to rotate platoons to rest so we’d be fresh later on. I wasn’t tired at and knew I could do 18 hours of gaming with my eyes closed so I asked for permission to continue and was accompanied by Jeremy & Henry. We attached ourselves to the few scattered sections still in the fight, I don’t know which platoon it was but we heard that the one that was still guarding the tan mortar was under attack and taking heavy casualties. We raced over, along the way we saw some tan stragglers and took them out pretty easily (PVS-14 + PEQ box = bliss).

Mckee was getting a bit of the action and there were some tan fighters North of the garage area who were giving us a really hard time so Henry and I were ordered to take them out. LOL sending two people to attack what I found out later was 6 people isn’t the best idea and luckily for us none of them were equipped with night vision. Unfortunately Henry was shot in the melee but I was able to take the rest of the guys out and secured a very forward position probably 50′ away from the tan camp. There I waited for tan members to walk by, lol I wouldn’t shoot at the first thing I see because I wanted to see the entire group before I opened fire and it was hilarious, um for me anyway.

The moon was hidden so it was dark and I had a huge advantage obviously, just wish I had a bit of support… I did encounter this “funny” moment, I saw a bunch of tan players fighting the green side so I shot them in the back. This one fellow didn’t like it and thought it was blue on blue, he kept yelling in my direction that they’re friendlies and afterwards would keep on fighting. After shooting him 3 times, I finally yelled back “I’M GREEN!” to which he replied “OH!” Sigh even if it were friendly fire, a hit is a hit but whatever I was having a great time so I didn’t complain. Hehe along the way I was also able to kill the tan commander Arnold, too bad I wasn’t aware of the poker chips they were carrying as it would have been sweet to get his. Anyway tan finally figured out where I was and sent about 10 guys to kill me and they succeeded. 10 guys with white lights assaulting a small area definitely means death for me.

After I returned to the game, I rejoined my green teammates and continued to defend the mortar. I was again in a forward position directing fire, I couldn’t hit the enemy however I could see them pretty clearly. We finally lost the tan mortar when game control informed us that our position was attacked with the tan artillery, a few of us were left puzzled because we still controlled their assets and the area was out of range for mortars officially. Whatever it wasn’t too big a deal, we were kicking ass and if game control wanted to give the tan team their mortar back so be it.

By this time it was around 4:30AM and I was starting to get tired but knowing that the game finishes at 7AM, I powered through it. We swept some of the buildings and ran into very few opposition and continued to check on the flags to make sure they were all green (even the ones close to the tan CP). By around 5AM light was coming out, I was ready to go but Jeremy had left some stuff at the green mortar so he had to go pick it up. I went to the staging area and sat on my foldable lawn chair waiting… During my wait, I closed my eyes and Jeremy mistook me for sleeping and went off without me lol. I was told by Stephen about 20 minutes went by between the time I closed my eyes and Jeremy going on a mission so I immediately grabbed my gun and ran to the field, I can’t leave a teammate by himself! Eventually Oleg and Henry rejoined us and we continued fighting till the end. At one point it was just Jeremy, Oleg, Graham, myself guarding the 2nd floor of the 3rd story building with 4 green guys guarding the 3rd floor. Tan which was well rested threw everything they had at us and sent at least a platoon if not more people to flush us out. It was only a matter of time before we died and we lost the building at 6:45AM. By the time I reached the green CP, it was 6:55AM and I knew the game was about to be called so I didn’t bother loading up though I think the battle to retake the 3 story building would have been fun.

In the end the green side won by a very healthy 42,500 points to 31,000 points and I was so proud of the team’s and my performance on the field. It was also an honor that whenever Mckee needed to “unfuck” something, he would send us to clear it up.

Hehe Keiko tags along and is our team combat photographer so there are a ton of awesome pictures and videos of us in action. Here’s a small sample, mainly the ones I like or am in (because I’m vain and like to look at myself haha).

In the one picture of Jeremy on the floor, he captured Testtube’s poker chip which was pretty awesome. 🙂 Here’s a video that Chris put together too…

Aww yeah if you can’t tell the game was absolutely awesome and I had a great time and by the end of it, I wish I were still playing. Also why does everyone act so surprised that I can play the whole game without needing downtime?!? Every other mil sim I’m able to last and I know how to push myself mentally to never give up, haha it’s not that hard. 🙂

I took today off to recover because I knew my back would be sore and boy was it… LOL it’s what I get for running around with 30 lbs of gear and a 10 lbs gun for 18 hours right, well it was definitely worth it and I can’t wait for Nightfall 3!!! This is what airsoft is all about.

On the weekend I bought a used Contour Roam camera to replace my old ContourHD (it was shot at UA a few months ago and stopped working properly) and it arrived today!

Yay just in time for this weekend’s Nightfall 2 mil sim, I hope I can get some good footage on the field. 🙂 Only thing that sucks is the integrated battery, while it should last 2-3 hours I would have preferred a camera where I could swap out the batteries. When Maggie finds work, I might spring for a Contour 2 and give this one to a teammate but I’ll worry about that later.

Last night I went to TTAC3 for a training session for the upcoming Force Recon mil sim Nightfall 2. We’re already pretty proficient at CQB so we were practicing something a bit different and I had a great time. While I love TTAC3 the venue was too small to do what we wanted, still we made the best of it and focused more on team work, communication and some other small stuff. It was good and I certainly enjoyed myself.

I’m not super big into training however I do agree that we should improve on team work (though we’re already way ahead of other most other airsofters) and perhaps next time we can do something outdoors. In any case I had fun and can’t wait to play Nightfall 2. I know a few guys on the other team will be gunning for us and so be it, bring it on. 🙂

So today I receive a set of Ops-Core goggle swivel clips that I ordered just over a week ago. I bought the 19 mm version as I wanted the clips to be smaller and I’m going to rig up my lower mesh mask to them instead of zip tying it to my goggles. There have been times in the past where I would have liked to take off the lower face protection in game while still keeping my goggles on.

I hate doing my own modelling but that’s the only way I can get decent pictures and it seems to work pretty well! It’ll certainly make eating during a mil sim much easier and I guess I’ll be able to test it at the upcoming Nightfall 2 mil sim in the middle of June. 🙂

So I had some time last night and worked on the 2007 M16 PTW, I swapped the A2 upper with an A4 and changed the delta ring to the modern version. LOL good thing I have a lot of spare components, I also rebuilt the hopup unit from a spare unit that I have, the one that came with the gun was in terrible shape. The electronics are also wonky, there’s no active breaking and I think it’s due to the EL003 board being burnt out.

Heh now my AR PTW family is complete at the top is the 2012 MK18 Mod 1, the factory 2007 M4A1 is in the middle and at the bottom the newest addition the 2007 M16A4. 🙂

The blue cylinder that came with the M16 shoots at a nice consistent 400 fps and I’m glad to have another high powered cylinder. I’ll be ordering replacement FCC electronics soon, the motor should be ok as it’s an old Systema 480 which is reliable. Mario has kindly offered to give me his spare lower receiver so I’ll grab that as it’s probably in better shape than the “C8” receiver on the gun right now. I also need to get a M16 length gas tube and an A2 pistol grip…

It’s going to be a fun project and I’m glad Maggie isn’t giving me too much grief… Let’s see how long that lasts lol!

So last Saturday at the zombie game I ran into a fire hydrant, it hurt like hell but I could continue playing after about 2 minutes so I figure I was good. The swelling went down on Sunday but throughout the week it started to hurt more and more and I found that I didn’t have full range of motion in my right leg.

Just noticed my lower right leg is about 50% bigger than my lower left leg. 🙁 It doesn’t hurt much when I walk around however if there is any pressure on my leg other than straight down, it hurts like a bitch. I guess tomorrow I’ll need to go to see the doctor too, sigh this sucks big time as I had plans for the long weekend.