Category: nerf

See how they roll, international style!

Our comrades in Singapore had their own version of a Nerf Dart Tag League event recently, so bop on over to SGNERF and see how they do!

Right off the bat, the arena was set up indoors, and had a more “American Gladiators-esque” look to it, with oil drums for cover and targets. I didn’t see the use of the nerf-brand electronic flag, but I will admit there’s just something so tactilely (I hope that’s a word) satisfying about having a flag billow behind you as you run to victory.

See you later this week!

WHEN DOES THE (NERF) RAID BEGIN? 09-09-09

A quick teaser of an ad from Hasbro for the upcoming Raider. I don’t have one yet, but as soon as I can get my hands on it I’ll be sure to put my own spin on it. Yes, I know that some people have already got their resourceful hands on them so there is already plenty of info out there. Should you feel so inclined, go crazy to search it out!

-VasTheStampede

Chicago Showdown… DOS (Two)!

From Nerf-CS2

August 22nd was witness to a day of Showdowns. In Chicago. Hence, CHICAGO SHOWDOWN hath come! Seriously, some familiar faces and some new ones showed to once again take shots and kick ass in Oak Lawn, IL. Already, I knew the day was off to a good start when I was in the parking lot unloading my gear. I had my BBBB (featured in “Blaster of the Moment” slung over my shoulder, when a police car rode up. The officer inside was cool guy, and simply asked “So where are you paintballing?”

I showed him my blaster. “Foam! Nerf, definitely not painball, sir.” He only wanted to know what was going on, and he went on his way. A sigh of relief later, I made my way to the field. I had already dropped off barricades and obstacles, so what was left was getting locked and loaded.

It was most of the usual suspects from the Nerf Internet Community but there were a whole bunch of fresh faces, too. Not to take anything away from any of them these kids brought their game. It’s made me start to think though about ways to get people to be better informed about events so they know what to expect. In any event, the games of the day were Team Deathmatch, Team CTF, Defend the Core (IN A PLAYGROUND, terrain = ftw), and even a bit of Team Powerball. Team Powerball was new to me, but it essentially followed in the spirit of Powerball from American Gladiators, only with nerf blasters.

Defend the Core took place on a playground, which was a lot of fun to watch. I videotaped and the footage will follow, but I’m a big fan of terrain that changes levels. High ground, cover, it’s all a factor and it was just cool to see. Eventually though a lot of younger kids with their parents came by so a good half hour later we were done and had to relocated back to the field.

Our events now have street cred too! A cop actually came by to watch. It was in fact, the same officer from earlier. He was just interested and according to some of the other nerfer parents there, said we could be doing worse things. Hear, hear.

Probably the coolest thing I can think of was the new people from NHQ and the people who just jumped in with us near the end of the day. This is what I dig, playing a pickup game of sorts, and drawing people in to play. I think we all had a decent time, even though there was an imbalance of modded vs. stock blasters. But running and gunning all day with random strangers brought together to have fun? I dig it. Big props to the Des Plaines kids and those new kids we played against for jumping in with us.

Now for the PSA portion of our presentation:

1) If you’re going to test fire a blaster, by all rights MAKE SURE THE AREA YOU ARE FIRING INTO IS CLEAR. This avoids shooting someone in the face when they’re not expecting it. It’s one thing to pop someone in the heat of battle, it’s another when you’re standing around talking and get whapped out of nowhere.

2) Shooting someone from behind when they’re clearly not paying attention to anything and watching the flag go is considered UNSPORTING. Especially when it’s from 10′ away with a modded 2k.

3) This goes without saying, but definitely take care of taking shots in a playground. On at least one occasion a parent came over a little concerned their kid was going to get pegged. We’re good about taking our shots, but all it takes is one accident.

4) I hate to say it, but if you’re playing out in the open you’re going to lose ammo. That’s why a lot of the NIC makes their own darts, it’s cheaper that way in the long run than buying even BuzzBee stock ammo. Not to mention even removing an AR means you can load other ammo down the barrel of your blaster and it makes an easier time of reloading.

Video soon, gallery now!

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

Playing Rock… BERSERKER!!!!

Hey hey folks! A bit early from my usually intended Thursday updates, so here you go. A vid on the Berserker from Buzz Bee. The only other one I’ve found was by TheNerfAngel on youtube, and honestly it was kind of difficult to see anything.

Any questions? Leave a comment!

Stampede

What are we doing here, people? On melee.

What you see is the N-Force sword, Thunderfury. Decent, got it on price-break for $10. Handles nicely, scuffs easily though so it’s limited use for sure. But that’s not what I’m writing about. I’d like to address the growing prevalency for melee weapons during NERF wars. Ok, ok, I know, I know we’re here already running around with children’s plastic toys but there is something I see a bit off here.

It’s one thing to want to use a melee weapon of some sort as a gag, but when I think of nerf fights, it involves blasters. Barrel taps, sure. Being smacked at with a pool noodle or having a sword thrown at me? It just makes me wonder why I even bothered to mod anything in the first place. It adds a dimension to battle, fine. It makes you want to compensate with a higher ROF and Range, ok.

But with someone who opts to NOT carry a melee weapon WITH their blaster, half the time gun hits count or they don’t want to have to resort to blocking with their blaster. Running the risk of possibly getting charged at by some douchebag who doesn’t know their own strength and swings for the fences on a blaster that, made of plastic, may not stand up well to a downward swing from a piece of PVC or balsa wood wrapped in pool noodle and duct tape. I know, crazy. Maybe we should all run around with scabbards and the like? But again, why did we even bother with our blasters if we’re going to be in CQC all day?

Don’t get me wrong. I like the idea of melee weapons, especially now with the inclusion of the N-force swords. BUT there’s the focus of the blasters we came out to use to tag people with, and not show off our sword-fighting skills. Or end up getting shot at by someone after you’ve already engaged another person with a melee weapon. Great way to spend a round… not really.

Bottom line: If I wanted to start swinging a sword in a mob of people, I’d just go LARP or something. But I’m not. I’m there to shoot and be shot at. Dare I say it, we know what to expect getting shot at with a high-powered nerf blaster. We don’t really know how everyone’s going to use a sword in the heat of battle.

This might sound like sour grapes, but it really isn’t. I’m not upset about being hit with a sword in a gunfight. It feels like the melee weapons take away from the blaster side of a nerf fight, especially since unless we carry melee weapons there’s very little to do against someone hard-charging close quarters with a sword. We could go for the barrel tap or a block, but again our blasters then become at risk. Breaking my +bow because I went for a roll or a jumping shot are okay offenses. Having my +bow broken because Johnny Moron decided to swing hard is UNDESIRABLE.

They’re your fights, do what you wanna do. You want melee, allow melee. Personally, I’m not a fan and will not allow them in rounds I host nor will I participate in melee-only rounds. If I wanted to sword fight, I’d go to a sword-fight focused group, not here. Ah well, take care and keep your breeches clean. Oh wait, swords don’t have breeches.

*click*
RELOAD.

-Stampede