November 8 Airsoft - Sunday - 100pm - 600pm
Merrill Dunes
We have been working hard to get the hardware together for another kick at a good "multi-mission" style of game that delivers a "Big Game" experience at a bargain price and in a short time period. This page explains how the Game will work.
Basically, locked information boxes will be chained down at the Wrecking Yard (1), Robber's Post (2), and the Field 3 Bowl (3). The Attacking team wants to secure the info boxes (Steps 1, 2, and 3) from each of these locations so they can take them to the Bus Depot (4) where there are keys that will open the locked boxes. An Explosives Case is chained down at the Bus Depot with three combination padlocks but the code to open each lock is in each of the three information boxes. Once the Explosives Case has been released from the Bus Depot base, the Attackers need to get it to the Wrecking Yard (Step 4), open the locked case with a key that is at the Wrecking Yard, pull out the two dynamite sticks from inside the case, and stick them in the flag sockets at the Wrecking Yard base pylon. Then hit the team Basemaster button, and a stopwatch that was started at the beginning of the game is frozen and a Mission Time is established. Switch sides. The race against the clock is on again.
The game makes use of coded padlocks that are simple to use but insure that cheating is minimized. The game is set up prior to the session beginning and the two sides can play their defensive role and offensive role without any adjustments to the field or the equipment. Everything is in place for both teams to do their two roles. So the game is quick moving.
The Reactivation plan is posted on a separate page as are photos of each of the bases used in the game.
Photos below give an explanation of the game. There is a Game Map at the bottom of the page as well as a Game Map on a dedicated page (see button) that is easy to print out and will be REALLY helpful to understand the Game and to use on the day of the Game.
"Four Steps to Victory" - A Two Part Mission Game to Challenge any Team of Players! Field 2 is where it will happen!
The Word Padlocks are a vital tool in making the Game work.
Three Bases have a Red and a Gold Information Box chained to the base and each team is provided with a Code Word that allows them to release their Info Box so it can be carried to the Bus Depot Base.
The Red and the Gold Explosives Cases are chained at the Bus Depot with three Word Locks on each securement chain. The code word for each lock is contained in an Info Box at one of the other bases. Steps 1 to 3 involve securing and opening the vital Info Boxes.
Vital conventional keys are provided at the Bus Depot Base to open the Info Boxes that arrive there. When the Explosives Cases arrive at the Wrecking Yard, as the game reaches its climax, a conventional key anchored there allows the Explosives Case to be opened.
Information Boxes chained at the Bowl / Field 3 Base.
Information Boxes chained at the Bowl / Field 3 Base.
Information Boxes chained at Robber's Post Base.
Information Boxes chained at Robber's Post Base.
Explosives Cases at the Bus Depot.
Opening an Information Box at the Bus Depot.
Reading the code information that is stored in the Information Box.
Information Boxes at the Wrecking Yard at the beginning of the game. The Explosives Cases will eventually make their way back to this Base.
Opening an Explosives Case at the Wrecking Yard Base as one half of the Mission Game gets close to the end.
The dynamite sticks are removed from the Explosives Case.
The two dynamite sticks are inserted in the Base Flag Sockets.
The Team Button is pushed, the game timer is killed, and this half of the game is over. Teams push to get the Four Steps completed in the shortest period of time!
We have equipped the Bus Depot Explosives Cases with plug in sensor cords. When a Case leaves the Bus Depot its cord must be unplugged and there is no hardware left dangling from the Case. But everyone knows that the Final Push is now on! The cord removal, triggers an alarm at the control kiosk and all defenders are given one more life. The Game ends with a final battle! Good times!
A detail to keep in mind when playing the Mission Game; if you are on the defence and trying to prevent the offensive team from moving the Explosives Case, and you get hit, just as the announcement of the Final Push is made, you will have to return to the main Safe Zone before you can re-enter the game. You can make use of the final reactivation but you do need to return to the Safe Zone first.
As of November 5, we have a neat new game feature!
The weather on November 8 was pefect. I appreciated the turnout from local players and from those who drove a long way to attend!
I was up to my ears looking after details of the day and failed to take any photos. Chris Leung sent me a link to some of his Youtube material. Go to the following url to see Chris's material as well as a lot of other shots of Merrill Dunes airsoft events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNwE6p-GFeM Thanks Chris!
The Mission Game clearly has a bit of a learning curve and I will try to repeat it several times next season so players can become familiar with the details and team strategy can impact the results. It was an education to see what can go wrong with equipment and with team strategy. I think the Mission game is a winner but repeats are going to perfect it and make it a classic game.
One somewhat shocking event was seeing a defensive player come into the kiosk with all three of the attack team's Info Boxes - still unopened! The attacking team conceded that half of the game shortly after the blow occurred. Once players become familiar with the game, I am sure I will never see that error on the part of the attackers occur again! Never clump unopened Info Boxes, especially without lots of armed guards!
Watching the defensive casualty flow flipping reactivation tokens into the old bus fare collector was also an interesting sight and sound. Almost needed ear protection muffs at times!
As the day ended, my head was buzzing with improvements that could be made. We are struggling to get our indoor operation up for the winter months, so Mission Game innovations may have to sleep for a while, but hopefully by the time the spring season rolls around, we will be ready to offer Mission Game Plus - as I often point out to people, Wayne Gretzky's comment that "you are only as good as your last shift" is valid - you've got to keep pushing if you want to have fun and keep life interesting for yourself and everyone who has to put up with your presence!
Thanks to the Airsoft Gang who came so reliably to the Dunes in 2015. I wouldn't have had much excitement on the back 40 if I had been hanging out by myself, there, or in my workshop. Enthusiasm is contageous and the Airsofters have lots of it to spread around!
An interesting note: Dean Flaman is working on a dramatic scenario game for July of 2016. From what I have seen, it looks like a really professional production is in the works. We will post info and links to Dean's material as it becomes available. He has been to some impressive games and has put a lot of work into coming up with something that should bring a unique experience to Saskatoon.
Geo Manning / Merrill Dunes
