Why are night ops so important?

[Fenix031882]

The black cloud op in April will be my first overnight airsoft op.  i have noticed that over the past few weeks night ops have become a pretty focused topic and I've spoken to some players that hate them, some that like them in moderation, and a very few that think games should be 24 hour milsim marathons. 

Now even though this is my first airsoft op, it is not my first rodeo so to speak.  I have been to overnight paintball ops in the past and the only thing that came of attacking another team/players camp was people getting pissed and almost coming to blows, and in other cases I've seen/heard of people tripping or falling in the dark and getting mechanical injuries (broken legs, arms, rolled ankles, etc...etc..). 

I am actually considering (and my wife is concerned as well) not staying on site during this overnight period because I have far more important things to do with my life than get injured or get pissed at someone for messing with my tent.

My question is this:

     Does it make me less of a player to not want to partake in these activities?  I have spoke to my leader and he has expressed that he holds no ill will toward me for not wanting to stay, but I feel slightly guilty for letting my team down in the chance that something happens and I'm not there to help.

[Supercell]

Nope, you are fine.  I feel the same way.  I would only consider Eastwind if I was ever going to do a night op.  Aswayze knows what he is doing.  Other than that I haven't seen it work very well.  But everybody has their own opinion and like different things.
Airsoft is suppose to be fun.  If it isn't going to be fun then why do it.

Your leader is correct in telling you that.  Sounds like a wise guy.  (at least this time around. lol Rev)  Of course I am guessing you are talking about Rev.  If it is someone else.  They are still telling you right.  Don't worry about it.  Do what is right for you.

Jon
So go Airsoft
Supercell
SA Admin

[det. mcclane]

To be perfectly honest, unless the game is being run by someone who has a lot of night operation experience, my advice is to stay away from the night part of the game. And this comes from a lot of experience. Night ops can be incredibly fun, or they can be absolutely horrible and I have seen both. I went to an overnighter in KC some years back, and while it was fun for a while it kinda got crazy in a hurry. A poorly setup ambush turned into a spray and pray hosefight and even after turning on my red strobe after being hit, I still got repeatedly lit up at close range multiple times. That hurt, A LOT. Not learning my lesson, I went to another one sometime later and had to stay up and moving all night because of near freezing temps that were not quite like the weatherman had predicted. This IS March and it may get pretty chilly at night, so unless you are bringing the correct gear for that type of situation, my solution is to just avoid it. And it's worked out pretty well so far.

Supercell is absolutely 100% right on this one. If you have a shadow of a doubt about it, don't do it. In fact, I'm planning on leaving the op for the night as soon as we start losing light. I'm behind you 100% on this, so don't feel guilty about the team or anything like that, it's just a game. Now if you were in the actual military then not wanting to do night ops could be a problem (lol), but this is only airsoft. It's just for fun, and that is what airsoft should be. Forget all this "hardcore milsim" and just enjoy the day parts of the game. That is what I plan to do, besides you can always come back refreshed and ready to fight the next day.

[Fenix031882]

Thanks for the input guys, I really think that night ops could be fun, but in this case I just dont see a point in them.  To me 50% of the fun of airsoft is the "after game" conversations, the time when new friendships are made and you can just decompress.  The thought of someone storming into a camp where people personal items are (clothes, food, hygiene items, fire, knives) just screams dumb and dangerous.  Even in the overnight paintball ops I had gone too, camps where off limits, and the sponsors of the event where smart enough to see that players needed a place they could go if they needed to step out or just simply wanted to sleep/eat. 

I understand Missouri is a MilSim state but I also think that there are times when so much emphasis is put on trying to recreate a realistic war environment that the fun of the game is pushed aside for a futile attempt at realism. 

In closing I'd just like to say that I saw airsoft in a few online videos and I loved the fast play style, cool looking guns, and tactics....BUT I took the step from watching to playing when I saw all the close friendships and great stories people told.  These are the reasons I play, and these are the reasons I'll stay in this game. 

David "Fenix" Edwards

[Jbagel21]

From experience, a true military night op is a dangerous thing, and only done as small close knit elements for a reason (not to mention the proper gear, which most airsofters do not have). Carrying the risks over to the airsoft world they become ten times worse: most people are not trained in night ops, can't communicate or identify friendlies, or even move quietly enough to survive in a hot zone. Not to mention they can't seem to shoot (since they no longer can walk their rounds in), so tempers always flare because players refuse to believe they are shooting that poorly. I must admit though, if you are in a experienced squad that works well together, and several people have tracer units, a night op can be an unforgettable experience... there are very few things like low crawling under a barrage of tracer rounds in a pitch black night!

[Reverandff7]

We actually have a thread that is for night ops... there are links to a few video's on that thread aswell.