What is your definition of Mil-Sim?

[Komissar]

The enjoyment of Airsoft stems from good organization, planning, and attitude.
Let me clarify that the events we host and attend most of the time are skirmishes. A skirmish is a force on force, occasionally with a couple of objectives thrown in for diversity. Our "Mission" days are versions of skirmish events.
An Operation is more elaborate. It involves consecutive, sequential missions in a themed scenario. These often have props, vehicles, or third persons in participating roles. These events usually incur some expense to both the host and the operators involved, and allow the operator a more immersed experience.

1) What is your definition of Mil-Sim?

2) What do you expect out of Mil-Sim?

3) What do you want out of your Airsoft experience?

4) What are you willing to do to make your experience satisfying?

5) What makes a good OP?

6) What is the role of Admin/Marshals during an OP?

7) Is the number of people in the OP a factor in your fun?
(Does a larger group of people make it more fun?)

A better understanding of an operators expectations makes it easier to present a better event.
We are working to make your Airsoft experience more enjoyable!

[Phoenix]

Hey another picture with me in it. Not the best shot, but good enough.

1) Mil-Sim: An event that plants attendees into realistic military scenarios. A good example would be the Civil War re-enactments I do. Teams would have a chain of command with an overall chain of command for each "side". Ideally a mil-sim event would be composed of two distinct teams, for example Diamond Corps vs. Cimmerians or have enough members to create two distinct teams. Another thing with Mil-Sim that can be expected (though not often seen for good reason) would be team/side weapon restrictions (i.e. NATO for example, will not be going out with AK-47's) and uniform standards (i.e. US style camo vs foriegn camo).

2) what do I expect? Min 20 people, the attendees formed into specific units (from the 5-man fire team to the full platoon) all tasked to complete a single mission objective or a series of objectives for an overall victory on the field. There'd need to be a command authority, established communication systems etc. Simply the Cimmerian events seem to exude my expectation.

3) I'd like my airsoft experience to be fun. From the typical DRAEX skirmish to the complex Civil War Re-enactment, I enjoy the things that make them what they are. If I'm doing a Civil War event I expect orders and a military setting. At DRAEX I expect a loose team of operators trying to complete missions (although sometimes the "loose" can be detrimental). A Mil-Sim can be fun, but there needs to be a lot of structure.

4) Whatever it takes. I'm working on personal changes to my MY experience fun for me (better weapon, better ammo management, etc). If the plan is to switch to mil-sim I'd be willing to be subordinate to someone else (or a commander for others) and develop the military simulation at all levels. My post on my idea airsoft team kinda explains my ideology.

5) A good op is well planned, well staffed and executed with respectful, mature operators.

6) To ensure the OP goes smoothly. Often, once the adrenaline gets flowing, hits don't register in our head. The Marshals keep us honest.

7) The number of people would only affect the enjoyability if an acceptable number of people show up. If we're planning a mock Tet Offensive event, obviously 5 people per team won't work, and it will lack something. The same goes if we're planning a small combat event (say an assault on a small outpost) and 100 people show up.

I think Diamond Corps can move forward to Mil-Sim but members will have to be willing to take on superior and subordinate positions, be willing to participate in regularly scheduled events, and be part of an organization.

[Tank]

agreed and also i think that some people would have to be apart of a few different Mil-Sims to get a good view of what a real mil-sim is like.

[Phoenix]

I agree with Tank, but also think that those of us who have experience with mil-sim (regardless of era) should be able to set the tone for those who haven't. Doesn't take much more then a consistent positive example, a willing participant, and a few minutes explanation to get someone on the right path. In this sport a run with a team like the Cimmerians can't hurt, but in the end accomplishes the same as the "lead by example" set up.

[Sproket]

I think a brief definition of MilSim could be that the players have a real designated role in a team, and the team has an objective, and they share a uniform.

Other characteristics would be that the weapons should match reality - as I would put it - 'in parallel'. To me this means that snipers DO have a much greater range, and that they take the time to stop, set up, and aim. The way to make this work is long minimum engagements, maybe beyond the normal range of an AEG. Also, players don't unload 500 rd mags unless they are at an established base which could hold that much ammo, and they have a belt weapon or drum mag on a MG.

Also, players try not to die. ;-)

[Tank]

i gotta say my first milsim was awesome i thought it was cool but not diamond corps missions which are fun and the ending is not decided in milsim the outcome is always decided

[Phoenix]

Mil-sims need not be pre-destined. You can mixed the typical Mission day at DRAEX with a mil-sim environment and establish a point system.

[Komissar]

Most of the events held at DRAEX field are competitive skirmish actions. The reason being is that we have so many new operators, and guest teams who are unfamiliar with our system and field. Sooo, we keep it simple. I have always enjoyed having the skirmishes based around an objective or two, because force on force gets boring very quickly. For this reason, we have developed the mission card system which allows operators to run a variety of micro-OPs within a 1 hour time frame. It also can be introduced and reset quickly with very little explanation or effort.
Easy to manage, fun to watch or participate in. The downside, is it took a good deal of effort and planing to put it in place.
But that part is all over now isn't it!? Isn't it? Always room for improvement, and the new bigger and better! I am on it!

[Tank]

very true on both accounts the card system is great i love it but like you said it takes a while and also a few great looking props

[Joseph Aguilar]

Personally i don't have alot of experience with real Mil-Sim games. My experience goes about as far as Diamond Corps. The only thing i can say about what i expect out of a Mil-Sim is i would really enjoy airsofting at presentable and believable sites. While going pure woodland is fun and very entertaining i would like nothing more than having some good old fashioned urban combat experience. The battle of Stalingrad is one awesome example that i would love to recreate and participate in. Airsofting in a real town with real buildings that you need to clear out would be really awesome, and i feel that you don't normally see that kind of level with airsoft Conversely i think a really fun and badass OP would be a zombie apocalypse that would actually last some 2-3 weeks with teams banding up and a huge volunteer group of about 300 zombies.

[Phoenix]

Wow, you're a real go-getter on this. I like the WW2 recreation idea but something along those lines (dense urban comabat) would require a field like at Fort Ord and even there, its not going to be as dense as what an urban assault would entail.

Its a real shame that WW2 style uniforms, gear and airsoft guns can be so expensive (yes the Thompson isn't that bad but have you seen the price on the BAR?!?!) cause that would be lots of fun to do. All K-98's, Mausers, M1 Garands etc...Komissar can pull of a mean...well Komissar impression and I think I know enough German to pull off an un-swastika'd german soldier.

[Komissar]

Thanks for the plug Phoenix.

[Phoenix]

I just remember us at Winter War with you playing the Komissar, it looked awesome.