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Utilising space at the Trojan Olympus Airsoft venue (Check the North West Airsoft Map, Nr Stockport for location) – the UKACSS group are offering limited numbers on game nights in what they are calling the ‘UKACSS - KILLHOUSE’. Set up and run by the community that brought you the UKACSS family of facebook groups, they are promising some ‘in your face’ CQB epic battle scenarios in their purpose built KILLHOUSE.
Due to the vast experience of the club members they can offer a huge variety of game scenarios, from the familiar games, to more in depth games that some of you may not have played before, pistol and shot gun only games are proving a popular challenge to players currently. No matter what your experience level all are welcome at this venue and if you’re a regular in the NW airsoft scene you’ll definitely see some familiar and friendly faces to play with, or against. The KILLHOUSE has been designed with the less able airsofter in mind and is even wheelchair accessible so now everyone can join in the airsoft fun.
PLUS this venue is available for private game hire as well – so if you can get a couple of teams together for a private face-off in the ‘KILLHOUSE’, get in touch with the organisers for details and pricing.
Thanks to UKACSS KillHouse for the pictures of the build process - this looks like an exciting venue just got better - check em out!
For contact details & more information including booking, pricing, game days etc please use the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Ukacss.House
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http://twitter.com/Airsoft_Odyssey
Booking, Dates & more check UKACSS on Facebook:
SWAT - New Site
GREAT NEWS from SWAT Airsoft - they are adding ANOTHER venue to list of GREAT North West Airsoft sites. See the news below for more on the venue and of course where it is:
PARAGON
Planed for a late June 2014 launch date:
Site address is Gwernto Wood – NANT-Y-FFRITH - llanfynydd-wrexham-LL11 5YR (technically Flintshire)
140 ACRES OF MIXED VARIED TERRAIN, WHICH OPENS OUT BETWEEN 4 WOODS WITHIN THE ESTATE.
WE HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ALLOW THE BATTLEFIELD AND FIGHTING BETWEEN SITE VIA SITE, SO IN EFFECT WE HAVE 4 WOODS IN ONE SITE, EACH WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE ADVANTAGES.
GAMES ARE PLANNED TO INCLUDE RE-CON AND ATTACKS, EXCELLENT SNIPER COUNTRY AND STREAM AND VALLEYS
SWAT location of NEW woodland site
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NAE 2013 Review
National Airsoft EventGround Zero, Dorset
- Report by Special Correspondent
Maree
Our Special 'Southern' correspondent reports back on the 2013 National Airsoft Event at the Ground Zero site based in Dorset. With more than a little surprise!
Due to the usual amount of traffic, we arrived at the NAE at about 7pm on the Friday evening. As we turned off the A31, the roads were well signposted, and as we drove up Ashley Drive, through the trees and fantastic landscape of Zero One’s site, we passed a large group heading out for a Friday night game. The first thing we noticed was how well signposted the route from the A31 right to the camping areas was. Three-quarters of a mile into the woods and the NAE entrance, the excitement was building nicely. We drove right into the camping area and spent about half an hour setting up, then walked the half mile up to the registration area and signed in. Sign in was very fast, friendly and efficient and was a credit to how well the event was organised, and the planning that must have gone on behind the scenes to make the event work.
Following the sign in, we had a good walk around, socialised and sat down in the bar and had a drink with other fellow Airsofters. The common area/ main safe zone had a semi-circle of food vans, a seating area under cover, a stage, and at the far end, a bar shared a very large gazebo/ tent, with the Zero One shop. The camping area was very well signposted, and divided into three areas for basically noisy Airsofters, not so noisy Airsofters, and a quiet area. To make our report more interesting we decided to stay in the not so noisy area! Other than someone highly intoxicated letting off a late night explosion within the camping area, and the staff descending to find the offender, and the usual amount of vomiting and rowdy Airsofters staggering to tents, some ending up face down in a few entertaining positions after collapsing on tents, or in one case, bringing up a keg and dinner onto one poor souls brand new sports car, the night was uneventful!
Saturday morning came, and was quiet in the camping area. Approximately 1500 Airsofters were all busy getting kit ready for the day’s game. It was a credit to the hobby generally that when you looked around, Airsofters who had never met each other before were lending kit, helping others and engaging in the spirit that the majority in the hobby are a part of. Staff came around on vehicles announcing how long it was to briefing and where to meet, and again, this was a credit to the organisation of the event.
Approximately 1030hrs there was a briefing that lasted some time, then teams split into Bravo, Delta (go Delta!) and others, and proceeded to begin play. The briefing notes for the event in the welcome package were well written and thought out, with clear objectives. The welcome pack contained the usual Ground Zero / NAE patch, briefing notes, tags and a bin bag to assist in keeping the site clean. It should be noted that there was no chrono’ing of any guns, although players were clearly advised that they were meant to be responsible and random chrono’ing would take place, with severe consequences for anybody found not to be following the 350 limit, or persons caught cheating. Considering the majority of Airsofters attending were experienced players, this was a reasonable solution to a task that could have taken quite some time, either on the Friday or the Saturday morning. To the credit of Zero One, there was a chrono area set up and manned for most of the event so players could obtain advice and get guns chrono’d.
The Saturday appeared to go well, with intense fire-fights breaking out all over the site. For those who have not been to Zero One’s site before, it is one of the largest in the country, the terrain is varied, and it is basically based around hills and valleys within a pine forest plantation. Features include a village, several Sangers, observation points, forts and alike, spread out over quite some distance. Flags on flagpoles are spread out over high vantage points, with the objective of your team to change the flag, thus showing that that area of the site is under the control of your team. I could not compliment the concept behind this highly enough.
An important point to make was how friendly and helpful players in the main were to each other throughout the day and into the evening, and in fact throughout the event. None of the downside of Airsoft was seen and in fact we had an interesting incident that should be noted. On the way back at the end of day playing on the Saturday, a scope had come loose on one of our rifles, and fell onto the pathway back to the camping area without any of us noticing. The scope was quite valuable. We re-traced our steps when we noticed it missing, and found ourselves back at the reception area/registration tent asking about lost property. We were very pleased to have found that our Aimpoint scope had been handed in, and in fact that players this year had been so honest that there were already, as of 7pm Saturday evening, boxes full of lost property that had been handed in. At that point we also handed in some property we found on the site and walked off to have a drink thinking how incredible the good side of Airsofting actually is.
Saturday night was spent having a look at the second hand gear for sale by players in the area set aside for you to sell your old kit (another good idea that was well used by players), and enjoyed socialising, watching people collecting their raffle prizes, watching a bit of Full Metal Jacket on the big screen in the social/bar area, and enjoying our second BBQ of the event. The evening was very sociable (ed-plenty of drinks!) and again, it was a credit to the Airsofters who attended, that everyone relaxed and so freely mixed enjoying each other’s company. We retired for the evening after watching the night game players come in, and telling us how they enjoyed the game, which ran from approximately 9pm to midnight, we opted for a long walk, chatting to players all over the site instead. It was hard to get to too many camps that had been constructed by groups of players, as the spirit of Ground Zero/NAE was in full swing, with players and teams welcoming others, and offering a drink or helping fix each other’s guns.
Sunday started much the same as Saturday, and the gaming during the day was intense, with aerial explosions being set off above battles being fought all over the site, or to indicate parts of the site being taken by another team. The only issue raised on Sunday by players, and observed by ourselves, was the issue of “camping!” Like in the computer games played by some younger players, groups of players were “camping” off re-generation points and hitting players in mass when players attempted to return to the game. This led to some, what could be described as “altercations” by players, that marshals were at first, slow to respond to. Considering the number of marshals, and what appeared to be their experience (the majority coming over as ex-military or similar) we stood at one point watching up to 8 marshals discussing what to do about safe zones, whilst there was an altercation going on between players some 20 metres away (possibly unseen by the marshals). The marshals did eventually get into gear and take control of the situation in a positive way. It is hard to be critical of the marshal staff as over the two days they were friendly, efficient and generally appeared to be doing a reasonable job. As the day continued on the Sunday, they can be forgiven for being a bit tired and standing around in large groups chatting. Overall, the day’s play was good, with marshals responding positively to the small minority of players who were cheating. The situation was dynamic during the day and the majority of players were friendly and played in the spirit of Airsoft and were a credit to the hobby.
The day ended at approximately 4.30pm with Delta holding out and winning the weekend! Yes, I am biased, as I am Delta! All three teams, Bravo, Others and Delta came close during the weekend to taking the crown, but it went to Delta. This reporter will be back next year as it was a very well spent £85.
On the Friday evening we visited the Zero One site shop. A lot of work had gone into the shop for the event, and it was well laid out and very well organised, being in a long gazebo/tent with guns laid out on stands down one side, accessories in the centre, clothing at one end and a large counter area to pay at the other. The far side of the tent had various items laid out, such as boots and BB’s. On being attracted to the AEG area, we noticed several handwritten signs on cardboard, tied to the displays, between the guns. We were surprised when we noticed that the signs stated that as long as you had an event wristband, you could purchase any gun.
WE have more to come on this 'development' so stay tuned for more intel and re-action on this surprising turn of events for one of UKARA's founding fathers! - a story which has been 'suppressed' on their own forums!
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This review is copyright 2013 by Yosser's Airsoft Odyssey©/MadBadger Airsoft and may not be copied or reproduced without permission. Pictures copyright 2013 by MadBadger Airsoft©. You may link to this page
MadBadger @ Dragon's Lair
Brentwood, Essex
- Report by Mad Badger Airsoft
This week’s report from The Southern Scene by Mad Badger Airsoft is on what was a spectacular event at Dragons Lair Airsoft in Brentwood, Essex.
Dragons Lair is a family site, where all of the family are more than welcome, and even if members of the family cannot play for some reason there is tea/coffee, a good place to sit in our out of the sun or rain for the day, the museum with its coffee shop next door, a kids rope climbing and other adventure sports place next door, sometimes a local flea market in the fields on the other side of the A128, and many nice walking paths through the various woods. The area the bunker is situated in is a historic area with lots to see. The local town, Brentwood, is about a 5 to 10 minute drive to the High Street where there are the usual array of chain shops, and a supersize Sainsbury’s with a lot of parking. For those who wish to watch the play as family members are involved, there are several vantage points. People sitting in the safe zone will often have Jean or Ray pop up and ask them if there is anything they need or if they would like a tea or coffee. The toilets in the safe zone are very clean, and in the woman’s there is an area for changing (the author has not visited the men’s). The Cain family on site consists of Ray, Ray Junior, Jean, Nathan, Amber, Lisa and others from time to time. Ray and Jean run the site and safe zone, with Ray Junior and Nathan as marshals, and Amber usually playing in the field. Ray Junior is Head Marshal and has always been involved in the site from day one. He is a set builder by profession and the site has gained from this experience as Ray has constructed many features, such as a village, with more to come, using his experience and talent. The family put Health and Safety as the number one priority and often spend a lot of time “policing” the ground and trees to make sure that there is no risk to players. Structures on the site are built by the family, using their “day job” experience to ensure that they are fully and properly fabricated. Nathan and Amber are the next generation of the family, being teenagers at present. Nathan very maturely marshals at all game days, and Amber is known as a bolt of lightning who fears no person, as she ruthlessly tears up the enemy before they can get off a shot at her!
Dragons Lair moved into airsoft approximately two and a half years ago, and since then they have built a solid reputation. Last year they threw in paintball to concentrate on the developing hobby and sport of airsoft, and since then the site has developed leaps and bounds. As stated, it is a very safe site for the entire family, with marshals extremely strict on players who might get carried away either missing hits, or becoming verbal with others, and especially bullying. With the many years of experience in paintball, the family has seen all sorts of behaviour, and this has gained them the experience and techniques to recognise bad behaviour and to deal with it in a mature and professional manner. This, along with their dealing with any players who break these standards, has led to a very friendly site suitable for all. This has had the spin off benefit of creating the site in the region that has more female players than any other.
The site has always encouraged input from regulars and visitors on game play, and the running of the site. In a chat last week, Ray and Jean Cain stated that, in their decades of being involved in such sports, they have learnt that the customer, and the customer enjoying their day, is the central aspect to everything in business, and is the core basis of Dragons Lair. This can be seen from the arrival of the first player until the leaving of the last, at any game day. There is never enough that the family can do for players to make the day just that bit better an experience.
The team at Dragons Lair, and here I must not forget the two other excellent marshals Jamie, who has worked at the site for 15 years, and Trevor, who is ex-army and who commenced work at the site last year, is outstanding. It is a vote of confidence in the site that the local airsoft industry support the site, with companies such as Mad Badger Airsoft and Airsoft Zone directing their cliental towards the site for Sunday skirmishing and the staff at both companies being regulars at the site, happily shooting at each other or with each other. It is the only site outside of the up and coming Essex site, Dropzone Airsoft in Waltham Abbey, where there is up to half a dozen airsoft businesses with staff on the site playing or working there under contract, at any Sunday skirmish. It should not be understated how uncommon this is, and it is a direct result of the good management skills of Jean and Ray Cain that has resulted in such an outcome. The industry could learn from what goes on at Dragons Lair, and from the way that two sites in Essex, Dropzone and Dragons Lair both have independent industry support through staff playing at the sites and or working side by side, not just the site management being the only visible and financial interest on their site, or banning competition or staff of competition. Due to almost 30 years of experience dictating a better way, the Cain Family has supported and encouraged local airsoft businesses to support the site by making them welcome with their customers.
Sunday was a payoff for all the hard work the family has put into Dragons Lair. With 127 players on a hot Sunday, it was a vote of confidence by Essex Airsoft Community of players in the hard work that Dragons Lair has put in over the years they have been involved in airsoft. After a few ring arounds, the author has discovered that it is probably the largest attendance of any site in Essex to date this year. Ray Cain Junior and his team had put in immense work to have the site ready for the day, and after a recent experimental single shot day with Mad Badger Airsoft, had put in play initiatives from that and other input, to ensure that players gained the most that they could from the day. There was a new CQB area, where single shot only and a specific single shot game was played and very much enjoyed by the players, and there was fast and furious play all day, as players moved up and back all day across the site. Taking other ideas and advice from players, there was an excellent sniper game with snipers going out in the field, burying themselves with spotters, and then the rest of the players attempting to move around the site obtaining objectives and taking out the snipers. This was a fantastic start to the afternoon gaming, until the author (a spotter) ended up being shot and missing a few minutes of play.
In summary, the day at Dragons Lair was started with a first class breakfast of bacon butties or other similar, very tasty food, followed by a briefing at around 10am. During the briefing, the goals of the site were mentioned and special attention was given to making sure all regulars helped out the new players and assisted them during the day. Everyone was welcomed and it was highly stressed that Dragons Lair is a friendly place where everyone comes to have a laugh, and play airsoft, and the regulars all know each other and are a great bunch, so please join in with the Dragons Lair family and enjoy the day. Following the briefing, the staff were quick to get everyone in the field as fast as possible. There followed a very intense and action packed first game, following the fallback format. After a re-load, this was followed by a territory style taking game, where one player turned to the author and stated how fast the day was going! Single shot was the order of the day here, and as a recent single shot day on the site had proven, it broke up choke points on the site and created a very fast paced, dynamic, with players moving all over, having duels with other players and the CQB area becoming the scene for fast, accurate and furious shoot outs. Ray Cain Junior deserves special mention for incorporating the experience of the single shot day into the regular gaming in such a successful manor. When one walked around the safe zone following the game, the success of it was the talk of the safe zone. This was followed by lunch, and as all regulars at Dragons Lair know, this is quite an event on the site! The food is not your usual affair on sites. It is, for want of another word, gourmet. After consuming lunch, there was the sniper game, and this was followed by another fallback game. All in all, and according to player feedback both on the site’s Facebook pages, and calls to the site management, as well as feedback to the author, players thought it was the best £20 spent on a Sunday in a long time. The fact that players came as far as Wales, and phoned the site management whilst driving back to compliment the day and say that they would be back, is a good sign of both the success of the day and the future of Dragons Lair.
For those who are in the Essex region, you should seriously take note of the Call of Duty 2 Day coming up at Dragons Lair on the 11th of August and the coming night game. The author will be reporting from both events, and you will hear about them first on Airsoft Odyssey.
Catch Dragon's Lair of the internet:
http://www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk/
DL Facebook Group
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This review is copyright 2013 by Yosser's Airsoft Odyssey©/MadBadger Airsoft and may not be copied or reproduced without permission. Pictures copyright 2013 by MadBadger Airsoft©. You may link to this page
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