1. Wrong positions
2. They can't look
3. They Don't Move!
4. Not enough Communication!
5. They don't shoot
1. Wrong positions
A beginners first concern is usually to protect themselves rather than being a threat to their opponents. They choose the thickest bush or the deepest hole available and settle down right in the middle of it. They don't see anything and are unable to provide information or cover fire. But they think they're in a great ambush position.
Those who go further go too far and have to dive behind a tree which roots they decide to closely examine. They don't even shoot back to improve their situation, nor ask for help. And when hit, they'll wait for the incoming paint to stop pouring before they stand up and walk away, which means they'll get out wearing two or three layers of bright colors.
Choose your first shelter before the game starts. A good shelter is one that will provide you with reasonable cover, while allowing you to look and shoot around. So you must be within range of your opponents, but not too close so you can still move behind your tree/barricade. If the shelter you're behind is so small that you can't stick your head out, make sure you'll have a teammate behind you to pin down your opponents at times, so you'll have openings.
2. They can't look
Usually, if you see your opponent before he spots you, you've won. But beginners think that if they stick their head out, they'll be an easy target. So they never look around. Those who decide to use their eyes focus them in one single direction. To concentrate on such a wide area, they close their ears to all noises, especially those coming from their sides.
Don't be afraid to look around. You need as much information as you can get. Of course your head will be a target, so look by the side of your barricade rather than above the top of it. If you decide to look above the top, don't do it for more than one or two seconds. It'll take that long for your opponents to: 1-spot you, 2-aim at you, 3-shoot at you and have the paint travel.
3. They Don't Move!
They don't move enough. If you're not useful where you are, don't stay there. For instance, deciding to stay behind to "protect" your base is ALWAYS a mistake: if the rest of your team breaks through, it means they would have done better with you among them and anyway, there are no opponents left to protect your station against. If the rest of your teams gets beaten, it means they'd have done better with you among them, and when your opponents arrive to your base, boy will you feel alone... Another example. Look at a newbie who's being shot at. He's trying to make himself as flat as possible. As flat and useless as a flat tire.
When you're in a position where you are easily pinned down, with no close help at hand, there are only three things you should think of doing:
- Going away as fast as possible
- Shooting back
- Yelling for help and indicating your opponent's location. Yell, if they're shooting at you, it means they've spotted you, so don't be affraid to give your position away.
Another wrong -or lack of- move. When a beginner spots you, he focuses on you and become blind and deaf to anything else. Most of the time, he won't even imagine that you, sly as you are, have moved to a place where you'll shoot from a different angle.
When you are spotted (when you shoot at someone, you usually are), be prepared to move so your opponent won't know aither where you are nor from where your next shot will come.
4. Not enough Communication!
Beginners very seldom talk too much. Most of the time, a beginner who talks is a) drunk b) in the dead zone. A beginner keeps his problems to himself (he doesn't ask for help when needed) and doesn't brag about his knowledge (he doesn't tell you about the opponents he's spotted).
The only good reason to be quiet is to remain stealthy. But once you're spotted, there's no reason not to yell, scream. You'll get the help you need, and give your teamates the information they need to kick in. Only exception: be careful when asking for paint, unless it's in your face you want it.
5. They don't shoot
Usually, beginners are very accurate and seldom miss a player who's 10 feet away, aspecially if he is on the same team (told you, they can't look). They imagin that a marker is a gun, and try to nail targets 100 yards away (thus giving away their position). They shoot too soon, and at averything that moves. The opponent who doesn't shoot (yet) will know where to find them (they never move), and will pick them out when wanted.
If you haven't been spotted, your first shot must take your target out. Wait until the flight path is clear, or until the opponent sees you. Be patient, especially when you're defending.
The price of paint being what it is, they think that a ball that doesn't end on an opponent's camouflage is lost, so they never provide cover or intimidating fire.
Sometimes, you have to shoot at opponents you can't see. To help a teamate out of a dear situation, to make an opponent nervous behind his tree, to keep his head down while one of your teamates is closing in on him, to make noise to distract their attention... In my team, we all share the cost of paint because we know that our front players (who use less paint) can only play if someone behind them throws paint, but you need a team to do so.
