Semi-auto gameplay

[Edric]

So, this weekend we had an all day rule stating semi auto fire only.

What did everyone think of it and how has it changed your perspective on the game of airsoft?

[SCRAMBLE]

I usually only play on semi but I enjoyed not having to deal with swarms of BBs. I do not think that the ability to lay down firepower was at all limited since most weapons are capable of very rapid single fire but instead it limited the amount of "hell, it is worth a try" as operators attempt to chew through brush or reach way out past the operational distance of their weapon. I feel it eliminated the "getting lucky" aspect.

[Komissar]

I enjoyed it, and originally thought I was going to hate it.
My role on the team is that of Point most of the time, and I am generally on full auto when doing this. If I run upon the enemy, or are surprised by them, I use a controlled suppression to allow my team the time to get to cover. This Saturday I was not in that role, so I have yet to find out how it will affect my tactics. I can only speculate that it will put more pressure on the #2 man who job it is to suppress when the Point goes down.

This brings me to the second thought, which is that when carrying a SAW in the #2 mans spot, it will have a more significant role. This has traditionally been where the spot for the SAW, however in airsoft, where the weaponry is so similar in ability, the SAW gunner is simply carrying another AEG that can only fire-full auto. (Honestly, I think very few operators ever fire anything but full auto). This leads me to think that SAW gunners will have a "truer" support role on the field.

I agree with Scramble, that it did remove the "untrained third world" type spray-and-pray behavior you unfortunately see used by airsofters today. It did change things, including the operators frame of mind, toward the more realistic feel of how we should be thinking about our effect on the field. I believe we have reached another 'evolution' the realism of how airsoft should be done. Thank you Edric for the original post, and thanks to everyone posting.

[Spidedd]

Yeah I usually use semi auto all the time, both because i prefer hitting my target in one shot, and i'm cheap when it comes to buying more ammo :P But i much prefered the semi auto rule, I'll always be on semi except occasionally when it gets real close quarters etc where i switch to 3 round bursts. And it eliminated the whole me on semi, then i'm being fired upon by somebody just spraying like no tomorow so i'm forced to do full auto on this guy waisting 100 bb's in a couple seconds which is unrealistic to start with. I also could tell which operators were used to using full auto because their tactics involved more open battles where you can just spray and move by, because they couldnt do this they were found in difficult situations and were easily picked off. All in all I much prefer the rule of having to do semi auto

[Tank]

well im used to doin bursts and spraying bushes was not an option during this game i gotta admit i didn't hate it but i didn't totally like it either but i will play it anytime

[Edric]

Ok, so I am fairly certain that I have made it clear in several other posts on this forum that I prefer the trained, controlled shot over the common street thug style of "spray and prey". On several occasions, as I am sure we all have, I have had the displeasure of being on the receiving end of some rather nasty sprays. One specifically sticks out in my mind. An opponent lit me up with nearly 100 bbs over the course of 30 seconds as I screamed out and waved my gun over my head. Naturally, his excuse was that he did not hear me. Firing at semi-auto, or in controlled bursts (for Tank) would really eliminate this as a major issue in my opinion as the noise of your gun wouldn't be as intrusive to your hearing.

A major bonus to this kind of play style is that you hardly ever have to buy BBs. I reciently switched to using Mid-Caps. I went through about 5 mid-caps all day. This translates into about 650 bbs. Now about 100 of these were to help sight and chrono my new rifle in the morning, so 550 bbs over the course of the entire day. With a bag of 5000 bbs thats about 7 to 8 games. 15 bucks...

Eventually, I might even switch to standard mags as my aim, patience, and skill as a designated marksman improve. Thats 30 rounds per mag by the way.

As an after thought, it also might help with team kills. If full auto is not an option... you may be less likely to think that spraying that bush over there, where you saw movement, is a great idea.

Ooorah!

[Spidedd]

Very well worded Edric, That is exactly what I think of it. Since I spent all my money upgrading my Famas I didn't have extra for another mag or even ammo, but through the entire day (hop up adjustment etc beforehand) I refilled the 300 round mag once and then only used about 1/3 of it. So about 400 rounds the entire day. The Famas only has a 300 round hi cap or the 60 round low cap and I'm going to be going to the 60's if i get enough money. Semi auto and occasional controlled bursts just make the gameplay (and wallet) feel alot better

[Nolan Kyle Scharf-Townes]

I was not there for this game, but I have played a few semi only games, and I will say this: on some teams this is the difference between day and night, and with others there's little to no difference. Whenever I have played at SC village down south if they had a semi only game EVERYTHING changed. People would be more tactical, call their hits more, and generally a more fun game was had. When I played it at airsoft playground (also down south) it was ridiculously boring since no one called themselves out, even if they reacted painfully. With a small group of friends I play with down in tustin I find that they don't change much other than a bit more missing and less magazine changes. When it comes down to it I LOVE the idea, and think it should be done from time to time to show everyone what they're doing, but for me it doesn't change how I play (as I have only carried 30 rounders for my SCAR back when I had it, which makes full auto a hindrance sometimes).

[Robcat]

Sorry to necro on this but i have a bit to say on it...

Something I have been doing in the Objective based games we play out here is limiting the teams to single fire until they have accomplished a specified task...

I build three crates panted them green and lettered AMMO nice and big on the top and sides.

The basic premise is that until your team has brought back (Either found, bartered or stolen) one of these AMMO crates to the base of operations, your weapons must shoot semi and all drum fed true support guns must stay at the base of operations on defense.
I have since modified the rule to allow 1 support gun per squad of 10 or more and being fed by high cap magazines =< 600rnds but any drum fed Support gun must stay stationary. It works out as most SAW's (M249, RPK, MG36) can work on highcaps but the 60's and mg 3's end up being base security.

It has really altered game play as well, some times a team gets multiple AMMO crates and two teams end up either joining forces or bartering for other objectives...
we have had teams go the whole day just completing other objectives and letting other teams fight over the AMMO crates...
We had one team who captured all three one game and were so cocky that they had the whole game in their pocket and that no one would find their base, but a few minutes before they were about to form an assault on an enemy base I had to call them over their radios to let them know that they left they're unguarded and all three of they're AMMO crates were stolen and they had to go back to semi...

I like adding some aspects of realism to longer games, I think it makes it interesting.

We also have run three part games where the teams are 2/1 ration and the larger force is a civilian force and the smaller is military and depending on how well the civilians do against the military decides how many "stolen crates" of full auto they get the next round.

Just some ideas

[Komissar]

Great post! This is scenario material in the making for us out here in the west. I love getting proven ideas!
Again, thanks for the post Rob, I am going out and looking for my hammer!

[Robcat]

I drove around and found a bunch of pallets then bought 1/2 inch fence board to make the side walls.. the crates came out really nice... if you want i will send you my scenario info and materials i used...