( click to enlarge )So, me and a few guys took another trip to Ground Zero Woodland last Sunday.

Firstly I have to say we all had a good day and the change of terrain and scenary was a refreshing experience from our normal local site, as good fun as it is it's always nice to try something different. All but 1 of us had been there before so kinda knew what to expect, and with the weather being nice we had a fun day. The site is welcoming and the playing arena is open but with plenty of bunkers, dug-outs and buildings to really spice things up.

However, I do have an issue...

The ''Bang Rule'' is, as far as I know, one of the universal rules of Airsoft, the guns are not by any means lethal but at ranges under 3m they can hurt! With this in mind all of us had, during the day, come across enemy players within this range, either sneaking up behind them or them stumbling into our bush! so we naturally called BANG, and they took it.

That is until a bit later into the afternoon when Mike, visiting GZ for the first time and a relative newcomer to the sport (5 games under his belt) spotted an enemy player (or 3) in a bush above the path about 10m from a re-spawn point! He shouted BANG thinking he was a bit close to blast, however, the enemy players were not so concerned. They turned and opened up on the 3 players on the path hitting 2 with multiple (read 'a lot of') rounds at fairly close range. Obviously miffed, and quite annoyed - our players took the hits and walked the short distance back to the dead-zone. They were understandably verbal about ''what the hell is going on'' only to be told by a couple regulars that GZ had abolished the Bang Rule a few months ago. WTF! this is the FIRST airsoft site I have come across with this mentality.

We were told the change in rues was due to players not taking Bang kills and arguing ''I banged you first'' so they simply gave up on the rule. Way to go GZ, top marshalling!

What's more, one of the players that had opened up on Mike and the others took the time to walk to the dead-zone to then tell us that there was no bang rule, he had obviously heard us complaining. Now here is what really annoys, they get a guy shout bang, he thinks he is too close to fire and would rather call Bang than cause injury and pain, quite considerate and honourable I think. The other player and '' GZ Elite '' is not so considerate and opens up, he doesn't hesitate, he doesn't call back that there is no bang rule, no - he returns fire without warning. Very un-sportsman like.

Players with that attitude are not common thankfully, and they would certainly not be welcome at our local site. If GZ really think they have the ''most honest players in the country'' (as was hammered into us in the 15 minute briefing of how good GZ is and how good their regulars are) they really don't see it from the visitors point-of-view.

The 'breifing' was all very self indulgent and very little information about the game and little site specific info. They didn't even mention that they can not and do not enforce one of the most honourable rules in airsoft, bye bye Bang Rule at GZ woodland.

Sometimes trips away, while fun, really make you appreciate what you have at home :)