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Paintball is any one of several game variations where two or more players attempt to "mark" each other by firing "paintballs" at each other from a "paintball marker". A player is marked if a paintball contacts, bursts and sheds its colored fill on him or his marker. A typical rule of thumb is that the splatter should be contiguous over an area the size of a quarter but not all fields use this.

In addition to paintballs and markers, players also need a "hopper" to hold their paintballs and an air source (like a bottle of CO₂) to propel the paintball from the marker. Players are also encouraged to don a paintball mask and goggles (preferrably goggles with "thermal lenses" to avoid fogging) to avoid serious injury to the face and eyes. Regulated fields require masks, goggles and marker plugs to play on the field. The plugs are used to prevent accidental firing of a paintball while not engaged in a game. Paintballs travel about 280 feet per second and getting hit with a paintball usually stings and leaves a welt or bruise on the skin. Obviously if you are closer to the person who shot you, it hurts more and is more likely to leave a mark. If you are far away it rarely hurts or bruises. Paintballs that do not burst hurt more.

Players usually fall into two categories: recreational and tournament players. Tournament players take the game seriously investing up to and well over $2,000 in paintball gear. A top of the line best of the best paintball marker can run $1500-2000. A recreational marker can however be purchased for $100 to $200.

Paintball variants

• Bambi hunt, the players targets are nude women
• Airsoft is a sport similar to Paintball, but uses a different type of projectile and gun.