Where to start?
Let me say a special thanks to everyone who put in their time and hard-earned cash into the game. Cargo for the patches, Missy and Jim for putting togther the players packs with the badges and maps as well as building all the props and running the scenario on Saturday, Maverick donated markers for the prize package, Gunslingers put stuff in, little giveaways and T-shirts from Adult Swim(thanx to RageBengalli of MarshalRadioX.com) and a raffle for the Joe Jansen Fund.
It was an amazing weekend, and I really want to thank everybody who showed up.

I caroused for three days with the people I love to be with, I went through two cases of beer and almost four bottles of rum(plus gave away four cases of homebrew), I gun-whored my little brains out to the tune of $850, I spent my nights in an air conditioned hotel room with my first-mate Xerlina, and thanks to the ultimate good form of Amhildreth the Hand is back in it's resting place. (which is all I wanted to begin with)
As far as I'm concerned, it couldn't have been more perfect.

I'll concede the point that the Pirates were thoroughly spanked. I could offer up excuses but the fact remains that the Militia are a force to be reckoned with. I salute you all! Can-Cons I saw up front (who forced me to shoot my own foot rather than surrender) and Geeks around the base...OH!,Oh! I had a story about that...
I was making a re-con on a boat, assuming I couldn't shoot or be shot. I paraded around the front of the Castle singing "Drunken Sailor" to see if Andy would come out to play. Apparently he was being held prisoner by his own people because he did admit later that he had heard me singing. I then went up the hill (following my lost Helmsman) and went through the center field.
At this point Rathbaster realised who it was and had his point on me from exactly the 20' away mark and keeping his marker dead on. Keep in mind I had put down the KP but was still wearing my stock harness with a holstered Splatmaster
One of the refs obviously noticed the fact that Rath was drawing down on something, following through the tall grass and taunting me to let go the rope. The ref came running up and I heard him yell "He's not even armed!" At which point Rathbaster responded with "Oh yes he is!"
I took it as a compliment.

The bit about the waterwings. There were a couple on the pirate team who took it kinda harsh. It was unfortunate but for myself, I have to admire a scoundrel. I actually laughed my arse off when I realized I had been "out-pirated" That's what makes scenario games so great.

Sure, I could focus on the things that went awry. I was particularly disappointed in not being allowed to do the stage theatrics we had planned for before and after the game but you know what? I don't care. I had the best weekend I've had since I lost my virginity in 1972.

Thank you all!
:D

Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about.
And also, Wevo Paintball also donated a brand new Phantom for a giveaway (which somehow nobody got a picture of including me :blush: )

Really, despite whatever, I had so much fun just seeing everyone again and being around so many incredible people, I was on a time warp the whole weekend. What really was maybe 18 hours of fun (I didn't get to stay Sun), felt like 36 on Monday.

Hanging out with Six at the Castle, walking through the woods with Rath, brain storming a master plan with Andy, Mav, and Golden. And everything else was just awesome.

For me, this was my one and only paintball mecca event for the year. If I'm lucky I'll get to see Maverick and everyone down in Flordia for Feburary. Otherwise... Heck.. I'm ALREADY looking forward (and planning) for next year.

Also big thanks to EVERYONE on the forums (SCP/McB/etc) and in general who love and support Pump Paintball. If it wasn't for you all, I would never be here.

Guess I should throw my two cents in finally.

Thanks to all who put everything together. In particular, Missy & Jim for not only the cool props but putting up with Last Rites in the bunkhouse for the second year in a row. BTW, gotta look for a frame for the map that Missy so carefully crafted.

Pyrate, sorry I let you down Saturday, but the heat had my brain on full boil and I was having a hard time thinking straight. Had I been in full control of my faculties, New Sheridan would have fallen to a full broadside salvo. Had a couple of great ideas that I think were within the rules, too bad I had them on Wednesday.

Truly enjoyed seeing everyone again and meeting some new people that I hope to see next year. Had a blast "socializing" with folks Saturday night.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

How could you Andy?!

Next time we get an interesting prop in our hands, we're keeping it! Forget giving it to the general, they can't be trusted to do the right thing... torment the opposing general.

Oh yeah, and it was a great game too... If this is going to become a regular event I may just have to get my own pump, instead of borrowing Rath's extras.

Ok, I guess it's my turn.

First of all, it was great just being back up there. It still feels like home.

The game, well, no sense in beating a dead pirate (you guys did enough of that already). Things didn't go smoothly but fun was had and paintball was played and after all, aren't those the things that matter? I spent the day playing with guys I didn't know and that had it's ups and downs. But hey, there are always going to be "those" guys.

After the game, well, my liver still won't speak to me. And for those I didn't get to speak to in person, I'm sorry about the show tunes.

Thanks to everyone for a great great time. I've missed the game, I've missed the scenery, but mostly, I've missed the people. This was a great way get back into things.

Newtonium. As fun as it was to tease the pirates with, the hand needed to go back to its proper place. The 12gram hand was the last thing that Jim and his dad made together, and it meant a lot to him in having it back. 'Nuff said. Zerlina - your gameplay, theatrics, and showtunes were "mahvelous, dahling!"

The Militia retains the rights, and the effects of the 12 gram hand, Its very essence stays with us, as does the good fortune it brings. However, it also has an alter ego which requires its physical presence, and of that we could not, in good conciounce deny. There will be another hand version 2 (or 3 if you count =p's "evil hand" ) for future events , which will have the same qualities and spirit of hand V1. So, the end result is the same, we "own" the hand yet again, we have simply relinquished its physical presence, because it was the right thing to do, and it will have a new body for futre events, but it will still be "the hand" we all cherish so much, itll just look a bit different. :D

I salute the Pirates, for their efforts, and especially Pyrate and Zerlina for providing us with hours of entertainment, both on and off the field. In the realm of alcohol consumption, they were indeed the winners, and showed their true pirate nature in their ability to have fun, and consume copeous quantities of mixed and assorted variety of rum and other pirate type booze and ale...

Having no official role in the big game, except perhaps that of "military advisor" for militia command staff (and and excellant job they did!!) i must say i thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunatly i didnt need to assemble the "wrecking crew" , which was to be a special team with hand picked members to create chaos and destruction, but i had a blast anyhow. calling the wrecking crew to arms as a unit wouldve been, simply put, excessive and cruel, and the militia wouldve had even less targets to play with after the first few hours.. :P

It was great to see all of you, i had the priveledge of renewing old friendships, and making some new friends, and playing on a field of honor with some of the best players in the world (litteraly!) For that alone, this even was a HUGE sucess, and with over 175 pump players on the field, one for the records books! perhaps next year well give Guinness World Records a call, and have them creat a new catagory for us :D