Name: Heinrich Himmler, Founder of the SS Paranormal Division
Bio: An unusual interest in the occult, a little background research into the family tree and a temperament to make Hitler proud all pointed Himmler to his destiny. Gathering the most ardent occult followers and chasing down a myth—a tale from centuries past—has yielded a glimmer of light. His labs and dungeons are haunted by walking undead and monstrous creations and filled with screams from prisoners who know they will never be released from his horror.
Name: Wilhelm Strasse, high-ranking German scientist with the SS Paranormal Division
Taking the fortress means close-quarters shooting and house-to-house fighting. It’s a scenario paintball game, not the streets of Baghdad, so there will be times when you need to offer an opponent the chance to surrender rather then get blasted at 10 feet. (Photo by Ted D’Ottavio)
Bio: Hi skull-like visage and twisted scientific research have earned him the nickname “Death’s head.” Strasse is close to Himmler, but does not subscribe to any of the man’s occult beliefs. Strasse has two passions: science and machinery. He has spent years on his Projekt Uber Soldat, fusing metal and flesh with horrific results. His experiments have spawned creatures that are no longer human yet not fully mechanical. He gives credence only to that which is tangible and fights guns with guns.
Name: Marianna Blavatsky, Oberfuhrer, SS Paranormal Division
Bio: Madame Blavatsky has studied the black arts. She has established herself as the premier practitioner of the occult within the borders of Nazi Germany. As such, she has the ear of Himmler and vast power within the SS Paranormal Division. Blavatsky has mentored many in the occult. With patience and study, the Oberfuhrer has compiled information that could point the Nazis to a power greater than any yet known to the modern world.
We have a winner! National manufacturers like Tippmann Pneumatics will give away products as “door prizes” at big tournaments and well-attended scenario games.
Name: Helga von Bulow, SS Paranormal Division
Bio: This headstrong woman has studied under Marianna Blavatsky and does everything she can to help her teacher. Helga has become a leader in her own right, establishing the all-women Elite Guard to further the cause of the Division. While she has learned much from Oberfuhrer Blavatsky, von Bulow tends to be impetuous. She tries too hard sometimes, running headlong into situations where discretion may be necessary.
On-Site Information
To receive the discount for pre-registration, player entries must be postmarked by October 8th, 2003. The field will open after 9:00 AM on Friday to accommodate early camping, arrivals and recreational vehicles. Registration will be open on Friday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and re-open at 7:00 AM Saturday morning.
A mandatory player orientation takes place at 10:00 AM Saturday. “Game on” is from noon Saturday until 2:00 PM Sunday. Event admission is $50 per player prior to pre-registration deadline and $60 after the per-registration deadline and on the day of the game.
Your admission includes: official embroidered series event patch; character ID card; laminated event badge; entry into the prize drawings; a BustNBalls “Free Money Instant Win” game card; and a 26-hour event. Pre-registered-only players are guaranteed an event rocker; entry into the “Tippmann Reach Out and Tag Someone” drawing for a Tippmann Custom 98 and Flatline barrel system; entry into the Crossfire magazine FREE subscriptions giveaway and a chance to take home the “BustNBalls Mystery Grand Prize” at the end of the event!
The only paint will be PMI event paint. A 2000-round case is $80 on site.
Air fills: CO2 is $4 each fill for any size bottle or three for $10. Compressed air is $18 for the weekend with unlimited fills.
Team Joint Fury will produce “HOLLOW of HORROR II” on Friday evening. Starting with an Octoberfest-style banquet from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, free for the first 200 registered players in line, compliments of Joint Fury. The Friday night fun will continue as players participate in the “Haunted Castle Arrrrgh” game, complete with ghouls, goblins, assorted lights, prizes and killer fog from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.
At 6:00 PM on Friday evening, there will be an Armotech Zeus “Top Gun One-On-One” competition for the first 20 registered MXS scenario players who sign up for it. The winner of this competition will take home a new Armotech Zeus semi-automatic pistol! Participants must sign up with MXS prior to the competition in order to compete.
The Scenario News Costume Contest on Friday night will begin at 9:00 PM. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of the costume contest by celebrity judges.
The traditional EMR Player Party will take place Friday night as well, with the Rec. Center open until midnight for ping-pong, pool, foosball and music. A volleyball net and horseshoes will be set-up during the day. E.M.R. will also have a bonfire on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tasty Tyme Caterers, owned and operated by Rich Barchock of Team Damage, Inc., will serve the player’s lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday!
Home away from home: There are 22 bunkhouses available free. They range from 12 to 21 bunks each. These must be reserved through EMR and bunk assignments are made on a first-register, first-get basis. Players must register a group of 15 people to get their own private bunkhouse. Otherwise they will be put with other players in a bunkhouse. The faster that players pre-register, the better bunkhouse they get. There is also free camping onsite.
Players are invited to cool their heels at the field and play some recreational ball on any of EMR’s 24 fields after the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon until 6:00 PM, and are welcome to stay overnight on Sunday.
All participants need to know and/or to fill out: the story line, MXS Rules of Play, event registration forms and MXS Waivers, EMR Field Waiver, hotels/motels and directions to EMR Paintball Park. Please visit EMR’s Internet site for additional information.
INTERVIEW: BLUE’S CREW
I asked Blue how he made his choices for teammates, writes Blue’s Crew “Press Wench” Amy “The Girl” Chantry.
“Well, I was looking for a certain type of player,” Blue replied. “I wanted this to be a team of aggressive players, not afraid to charge, real paintball warriors! But I know many excellent players out there and I couldn’t choose all of them! Plus, I wanted to reward the players that have maintained their loyalty to EMR (my paintball park) all these years and helped my business grow. We really have a family here and when you get an opportunity to do something like this, you want your family with you.”
Michael “Blue” Hanse says he has been in paintball practically since “day one,” since the invention of the game. These days, he still plays the game, manages an internationally famous paintball scenario team called “Blue’s Crew” – named in a way after himself – and, with his wife, Sue, operates the highly successful EMR Paintball Park in New Milford, Pennsylvania. (EMR stands for Endless Mountain Recreation.) During his paintball career, Blue has been involved in manufacturing markers and wholesaling gear. So, as far as paintball goes, Blue is about as well rounded as a 40-something married kind of guy can be.
Blue began playing paintball in 1983 when he bought four Splatmasters and chased friends around in the woods near his home in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Eventually he became a “suit,” specializing in the office products and office design business. “I was smoking four packs of cigarettes a day,” he remembers, “had an ulcer and