What's the Big Deal?

By TAG (Texas Death Dealers)

Knowing your basic payload capacity is an important part of planning for a game. It also helps when organizing teams and squads. Simply put, a “basic load” can be defined as the amount of ammunition you can effectively carry and shoot until you must disengage completely to reload.

There are two factors in calculating your basic load. The first factor is the number of paintballs you can carry. The second factor is the number of shots your air/CO2 source will shoot. Ideally, try to shoot for a balanced paint-to-air load, but also try to aim for a higher air basic load that will allow you to fire 100-200 more rounds than you carry. Paint can be borrowed on the field. Air can't. This helps to keep shooters in the fight longer during tight situations.

For example, my current harness allows me to carry four 100-round pods. Add that to my A-5 hopper (200), and my basic ammo load is 600 rounds. My current air source is a 68/3000 air tank, which allows me to shoot approximately 750 rounds. That is important to know, because that means I can borrow one pod in an emergency to extend my fight time if I can't readily go reload. So, I figure I'm good for 750, even though I only carry 600.
Knowing your basic load also allows better team formation and mission/position/role assignment. A shooter with a basic load like mine of only 600 rounds is probably not going to be the heavy gunner. However, because of the relatively light load, mobility can be increased, which may give you natural scout or Dagger candidates. But they must be balanced out with a shooter that has a higher basic load for protection. Now we have the makings of a hunter-killer team, or a basic fire team element.

Some places where a working knowledge of basic load is an advantage:

·  Planning mission types: Lighter loads facilitate speed missions such as scouting, demolitions, sniper assaults, etc.). Heavier basic loads are more appropriate for firefight missions (i.e., assault/patrol/defend/ambush).

·  Planning unit composition: This knowledge makes sure you can keep everybody balanced and protected by the proper battle buddies.

·  Borrowing troops: Being able to communicate your ammo payload enables cooperating units to integrate more easily during joint operations or missions.

·  Role/Position selection: Sending a shooter out with an inappropriate load rating for the job at hand is doing that shooter a disservice. It can lead to blown plays, missions, and even games, which can discourage and frustrate the shooter. If the player is constantly being thrown into situations in which he is obviously under-equipped or under-prepared, that player’s long-term confidence in his leader will begin to erode, which ultimately leads to more severe problems. 

·  Building good leadership: A unit leader that can keep a working recall of his/her shooters' basic loads can increase the unit's combat effectiveness because the group’s fighting capability is well understood. The unit leader knows what types of fights and missions “favor” his personnel, and can commit his forces accordingly. Being aware of the unit’s ammo supply and demands increases the chances of success and lowers the risk of engaging in battles that are likely to result in heavy losses.

Knowing the “basic load” of your teammates can be very beneficial. Players can be utilized more effectively, and your overall team strategy can be more efficient. Accounting for your players’ payloads can help your team to more successfully partner with other players, run missions, implement tactics, etc.

This is one of the things I have learned to look for as a shooter, battle buddy, squad leader, and team officer. It helps! It will seem unusual to remember this at first, but having everyone on your team know each other's basic load capacity can be the start of your team getting closer and tighter - and deadlier.