What is Scenario Airsoft or MilSim (Military Simulation)?

"O.k., so what's the difference between airsoft and scenario airsoft?"

 Well, the difference is this.  Airsoft is simply the name of the game.  Airsoft can be as simple as taking a bunch of guys and/or girls and putting airsoft guns in their hands, goggles on their eyes and sending them out into the woods to light each other up all day long.  Be it with teams or every man for himself.  This is typically known as airsoft skirmishing.  Simple games of capture the flag and such could also be lumped in with airsoft skirmishing as there is nothing more to it that just grabbing the other team's flag while trying to wipe out the other team while they try to do the same to you.

Scenario airsoft on the other hand is where the game truly gets interesting and in our opinion...fun! 

The biggest defining features of scenario airsoft games in my opinion are:

1.  Set single or multiple objectives that may either be simple or complex in their scope that each side of the scenario has to complete.

2.  Some aspects of some of the players doing some "role-playing" as specific "characters" to support the plot of the scenario game.

3.  The game has some sort of a plot to it as the scenario develops.

4.  The game has props or objects that are used, other than just airsoft weapons, to spice up the game.  Some examples of props that we have used in the past are mock-ups of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), demolitions explosives charges, artillery pieces, bombs, laser designators, rocket launchers, nuclear warheads, and a fully functioning "technical" jeep.  These are just some of the props that our group has come up with.  You will be able to learn more about props and building/buying props in the props section of the web page here.

5.  Multiple scenarios can be strung together to form a whole day or even multiple days worth of scenario games that all share te same back-ground or theme.  This is typically called an operation or an event.

Another name for scenario airsoft is "milsim" which is of course short for military simulation.

Basically it all boils down to a scenario game being a big, adult version of playing make-believe war with rules that allows the individual player and team with an imagination the ability to immerse themselves in a simulation of a military or para-military operation.  They get to be the good guys that try to save the day or the bad guys that are hell-bent on getting their way or else.  Often times, more often than in the movies, the bad guys come out on top.

Scenario Airsoft or MilSim does not necessarily mean non-stop action either.  I have written scenarios where the recon team is supposed to avoid contact all together and just retrieve some intelligence in order for them to get full credit for a completed mission.  For the right kind of players this can be just as exciting as a firefight.

Scenario Airsoft or MilSim is not for everyone.  There are those players that prefer to just engage in skirmishes and leave it at that.  But there are many players out there that desire something more, something more immersive and enjoyable.  That is where Scenario Airsoft or MilSim comes in.

Putting a good scenario game together can be a time and effort intensive task for a group let alone a single individual.  In the end, if done right, the effort and time is generally worth it however.

Airsoft is a product of the far East and is now available in the Western world.  It has spawned a sport, a growing following, and an industry that spans several continents.

Airsoft replicas
Airsoft guns are full size 1:1 scale replicas of real world firearms. They shoot small plastic balls, 6mm in diameter with approximately 1 Joule of energy.  This energy level is very low when compared to most other shooting genres and is a safe energy for use with both paper and human targets (i.e. you can be hit by a BB fired from one of these guns and barely notice it, but it can usually still put a small hole in a paper target).

These replicas are commonly made entirely from plastic with only a few metal parts inside to increase the reliability and durability of moving parts.  Construction quality varies wildly from model to model, as does the use of materials.  For example, a Marui made MP5 replica has a well made, but creaky plastic body, where as the ICS MP5 has more detailed full-metal body parts installed and is a far more rigid overall structure.  This makes the ICS a better and stronger replica, although it does cost slightly more.

Airsoft guns can be powered by electricity (from a battery pack inside the gun), by spring (the user manually compresses the spring before each shot) or using an expanding gas (refrigerant gas is commonly used from a reservoir either inside or outside the gun).

Collectors enjoy airsoft because of the excellent level of realism in the replica models.  Airsoft also represents the only available legal way that the general public can enjoy owning and using these small objects of desire.

Military fans enjoy airsoft because the replicas look identical to the guns used by Armed Forces.

Law Enforcement groups around the world now use airsoft replicas to improve their training scenarios.  Airsoft provides them with a reliable weapon that is safe to use for training, while providing a level of realism not found using any other training device.  The comparatively low cost of using Airsoft for training purposes also helps to ensure that the officers have as much training time as they need, without financial restraints kicking in.

Airsoft - the game
A new sport is rising throughout the UK, the US and Europe.  Commonly known as 'Airsoft Skirmishing' or 'Airsoft Wargaming' and similar in essence to paintball, two or more teams are pitched against each other in a game of skill, speed, accuracy and tactics.  Originally designed to simulate a war zone with far more realism than can be achieved with paintball, these games are played on privately owned and insured sites dotted around the country.  Normal Airsoft replicas are used and strict safety limits are imposed in order to make sure that everyone has fun and no one gets injured.

A days play will usually cost you about £15 to £20 (about $25 to $40).  This normally includes all games during the day and hire of eye & face protection.  Some sites will even provide lunch.  Airsoft Skirmishing is generally far cheaper than paintball.  For example, 100 paintball shots will usually cost around £6 (approx US$10).  100 Airsoft shots costs about 15 pence (about 25c in the US).  Put simply paintball ammunition is about 40 times more expensive than airsoft ammunition.

Airsoft games can have many scenarios that are unworkable in paintball, but there are some old favourites that bridge the gap.  "Capture the flag", "hostage rescue" and "last man standing" are popular paintball games that have been adapted for airsoft, but as airsoft has more flexibility, games such as "Pistol duel", "Close Quarters Combat" and true 'Re-Gen' simulations (games where getting hit means that you are only considered 'out' for a few seconds before rejoining the action) become possible.

To play airsoft, you must be wearing the correct protective clothing.  As with many other sports (fencing, motor-sport, horse racing, cricket, etc...) you're only safe if you are properly dressed.  After all, you wouldn't expect to see Michael Schumacher getting in to his formula 1 racing car wearing his favourite t-shirt and no helmet!  An Airsoft BB hit on bare skin will leave a small mark on the surface of the skin that will look and feel like a bee-sting.  The more powerful the airsoft gun, the more it will hurt if you get hit, but with site energy limits in the UK being largely 1 Joule, there is no possibility of a BB causing a penetrative injury.  With this in mind, airsofters wear eye & face protection, sturdy boots and tough clothing.  For extra protection gloves and a scarf can be worn to give cover for your hands, neck and ears.

Looking for beginning airsoft players in these areas who would like to get together with other players for games & practice. If anyone is interested, drop me a line at snakeyes37@sbcglobal.net

Website: http://www.myspace.com/teha...

Thank you