Hunting Predators in the Moonlight

By Jordan F. Ricks

August 19-20, 2005 – Produced by Paradox Games in conjunction with Millennium Paintball, the sixth annual scenario event took place in the northern Utah mountains, cradling the city of Logan, and involved approximately 150 players. The scenario game typically involves the highest number of paintball players to attend an event in the state of Utah.

According to the storyline of Aliens in the Rockies, the scenario game took place on the Planet LV-529, and pitted the Colonial Marines against the Weyland-Yutani mercenaries. In addition to fighting for control of the crash site of research vessel Elizabeth-5, both forces also had to contend with alien Terminators and Predators, who were both granted with exceptional powers that made them more difficult to eliminate, and more difficult to defend against. Ultimately, the Marines defeated the Mercenaries, 122-108.

After the first afternoon of play, the two teams had battled to a near-even point tally, and as stars slowly filled the sky during the dinner break, players were anxious to get the night game underway. However, prior to the evening contest, each team was issued colored “glow necklaces” to wear for the duration of the scenario event’s night game. As Colonial Marines, we (Team SpecOps) received blue glow sticks, while the Weyland-Yutani mercenaries received red.

We lingered around the campground and burned our increasing collective energy by exploring creative ways to attach the blue necklaces to our “person or marker” in anticipation of the nighttime battle. I don’t think any of us wore the glow stick as a necklace. Something about wrapping an illuminated bullseye around our necks didn’t sit right, so players on both sides chose their own unique way to wear them, keeping in mind that the glow stick had to be worn outside of the clothing. (I later discovered that players were supposed to put the glow necklace around their markers, but apparently, the matter was unclear to most, and the majority of ‘ballers attached the glow device to their clothing.)

Though players on both teams received color-coded glow necklaces, none of us were thrilled with the concept of playing a night game with a light attached to us. We also knew it was an invitation to cheat that would be too tempting for some players to resist, but we hoped for the best. However, the players most disappointed with the glow stick rule were those with night vision equipment. Their huge advantage had just been whittled down some, but without question, night vision would still offer a crucial advantage throughout the game.

The glow stick rule didn’t apply to Terminators and well-concealed Predators who were empowered to eliminate any player who wandered within 30 feet of the costumed creatures.

Early in the night game, the aliens wreaked havoc on the Marines. Almost two patrols had already been eliminated by a single Predator that was hiding behind a ridge in the thick woods about 300 feet away. Frustrated with the inability to move our squads directly to the front lines along the main supply route, one of our officers asked for a group of “volunteers” to join a fellow “Marine” (who owned a Gen-1 night vision spotting scope) and track down the Predator. Five of us immediately left HQ and headed for the dark shadows 100 yards away. 

By the time we reached the vicinity of the Predator, only two of us remained in the hunt. For some reason, the other players broke off as we advanced into the Predator’s territory.

Jeremy, the Colonial Marine with night vision (ATN MO4-1 Gen 1 Night Vision Monocular) and I peered over a ridge and into the darkness in front of us, passing the device back and forth in hopes of spotting the creature.

We carefully moved forward and scanned the landscape once again. This time Jeremy’s keen eye caught an abnormality among the thick bushes.

“I got him,” he whispered.

Jeremy had to point out the location of the Predator 2-3 times before I finally spotted him. Whoever it was playing the role of Predator, he was good. He remained motionless for several minutes, and had it not been for Jeremy and his expertise with the night vision, I may not have ever seen our opponent – until it was too late.

As Jeremy held the front line, I moved as quietly as possible in a wide arc before pinching back in and establishing a forward position on a ridge 50-60 feet to Jeremy’s left. I couldn’t see anything. I could only guess where the Predator might move, and I tried to use the surrounding landscape and moonlight to my advantage. I stopped my heavy breathing and waited.

Before long, I heard some faint sounds to my left. Though the sounds were relatively quiet, I could tell that something was very close, and it was getting closer. My eyes were starved for movement in the darkness, and suddenly, I spotted a ghillie-clad Predator emerging in the faint moonlight, just 20 away. He was climbing to the top of the ridge where I was, so I slowly pointed my A-5A2 and waited until he was fully exposed by the moonlight. I squeezed the trigger and delivered the five shots necessary to eliminate the Predator. It crumpled to the soft dirt in a mock death, and I dashed back to Jeremy’s position. The night vision had made it possible to be the first to spot the opponent, which usually means the difference between being eliminated and doing the eliminating. Night vision gave us the initial advantage, but “listening” is what allowed me to “notch the kill”.

During the battles throughout the night, owners of night vision gogs enjoyed their advantage over the players without night vision, but the advantage was far from a “guarantee”, as several players demonstrated their nocturnal skills without the aid of night vision.

If you play much night paintball, fortunately, Gen-1 night vision devices (NVDs) are relatively affordable, generally costing upwards of $300. But learning about the various NVDs on the market is crucial, and no purchase should be made prior to diligent research. Dual tubes (binoculars) tend to provide a clearer picture, but one of the most essential features a Gen-1 NVD should have is circuitry protection. With circuitry protection, if someone with a bright spotlight decides to “blind” you with a powerful burst of light, your NVD won’t be fried. Without the bright light electronics protection, your Gen-1 device will be rendered useless, and become nothing more than an odd-looking paperweight.

Night vision is categorized by generations. Each generation of night vision contains different “grades” of quality, but there is no standard naming convention – which can make purchasing a night vision device confusing for potential buyers. One of the most important things to understand is that there are only three generations of night vision, Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3.

For more detailed information on night vision, see our other night vision articles, published by our friends at Paintball Sports Magazine (December, 2005 and January, 2006).