Okto Eight Milsim

Depends where you are going to play. You dont need lasers and lights in woodland for example. How about a sling, a foregrip if you dont like holding the fore rail and an optic, in that order of importance ?

There are a few good ones around and theres some dross around as well as sites try to capitalise on an increase in milsim interest. My suggestion would be to study the fine detail of what they offer. Most organisers have their own little twists and additions to differentiate themselves. Its a pity there is no directory or way of comparing the different games around. We did make a matrix describing our games to make it easier for people and to avoid misunderstandings. It would also be great if there was a milsim calendar where people wanting to participate could see what is on where. It was suggested on one of the general milsim groups on FB but never went anywhere.

Agreed. Okto is somewhere in the middle of those extremes. We do play by full milsim rules and there are no breaks or safe zone. Our games last eight hours and once you are in the battle area, you do everything there and carry everything with you into the game zone (no access to car boots allowed). This gives players a flavour and they have to plan and think about kit. I think I once amused one of the Tier 1 guys by describing Okto as the nursery slopes for them. I wish I could afford to spend two grand on NVG. Would be pretty pointless though as we dont do night games.

http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/27447-the-m25-airsoft-group/

Yeah but the rebels were being funded by the Americans at one point. Where did all those AKs come from in the handshaking photo on the M25 thread ??

We use the basic Gunman rules as we use the same insurance. However, a lot of our rules have come from the players. Based on feedback after games, we have actively modified some rules (those that don't affect insurance or safety) to satsfy the players. At the end of the day, its their game.

On the basis that a picture speaks a thousand words and all that, I've put some photos up in the M25 thread. Big grins all round. The rebel leader enjoyed being searched by the special forces guys a little too much for my liking though !!!

There are some milsim games like that out there. I think the key is that "milsim" is not a fixed prescription. Its just a tag and it covers a lot of different game styles. Another thing is that there is a belief that for it to be good, it has to be held in an MOD training ground, which is not the case. I would say that our rebels probably have the best time of all the game. They dress and act like rebels. Saturday evening gets a bit raucous and next game, one of them is having a tongue-in-cheek pistol duel with one of the PMC guys because they had a (good-natured) online disagreement. It was suggested that rather than keep trading insults and jibes on Facebook, they should just take a pistol each, load it with one round, stand back to back, walk 15 paces, turn and fire. Gives the guys some entertainment round the campfire !!!

Thats a valid point. I don't think we can ever be accused of being Gucci. One of the benefits of staging a game in a run down ex-soviet state - there's a fair degree of freestyle in loadout and weapons !!! We know a few special forces guys, past and present and their "loadouts" are pretty unorthodox. Not what you see on the SF airsoft groups.

Oh I dont know, we probably would Mil-sim is not the best of titles is it. Film-sim is even worse = Film Simulation - what does that mean ? I don't think anybody is pretending to simulate anything. They are just airsoft games where teams agree to wear specific loadouts i.e. DPM/Flecktarn etc or MTP etc so that teams are identifiable without having to wear armbands. Instead of lots of little skirmishes with breaks, its usually one backround story with lots of individial and interwoven missions without breaks and where there are lots of props coming into play and actors playing neutrals. The various forces also tend to plan and work together rather than people just running around and doing their own thing.

Here are some photos from our games at the two sites: Kings Langley and Eversley

Our games are weekend games. Bear in mind that we dont allow two tone weapons and we still have a minimum age of 13 when playing with a parent. In saying that, we have people flying in from Denmark and Germany for our next game. We are exporting airsoft product to help the UK with their balance of payments ! not many people doing that!

Near the M25 motorway in London. One is right next to J20 and the other is about 20 minutes from J12.

I thought TM but doesnt the VFC have a metal slide?

We have a 16 years old limit unless players come with a guardian/parent but Gunman, our sister organisation have a 13-year old limit I think for their games.

Really why is that ? Too young or too old ?

Can't help noticing that there are many new players on here, which is always healthy. Got me thinking about some of the prejudices and preconceptions that new players have about milsim games when they have just experienced skirmishing. I must start by saying that I have met some dyed-in-the-wool milsimmers who have very "pure" views about milsims. In fact, we have experienced prejudice from established milsim players who say that you have to be wearing specific real world kit and only 2 or 3 day continuous games are worth doing. Everybody is entitled to their view and there are milsin organisers that cater for this need. Our games were deliberately designed for players who didn't subscribe to this. On our first game, we had people who had never played airsoft before and rented from us. They followed the loadout rules, played as rebels and had a fine old time. They brought their imaginations and really that was all that was really needed. In subsequent games, we find a lot of players have never done any milsim before. Last game, we had more milsim virgins and they are coming back for the next game. A lot of skirmishers get the idea that milsim is deadly serious and you have to salute and call people sir and wear about 2k worth of real steel gucchi gear. T'aint so !!

Wind it until it clicks or the sound noticeably changes. Keep winding it every time you take cover and arent actively shooting.

Some sites get a bit twitchy about CO2 guns. You might find some resistance.

Just wanted to add that the village at Eversley is not normally open to airsofters (its used for other non-airsoft themed games), but we are opening it for this milsim due to the special nature of the game.

We nearly provided CIV-POP for somebody elses charity milsim game at UCAP (the game was cancelled in the end). Its a good site, so worth a look. They play skirmishes as well.

One of the joys of our game is that our players love to use Russian based airsoft weapons. We have our fair share of NATO weapons, but many revel in using AK derivatives, of which there are many. Dare I throw another mix into the ring - VSS Vintorez.

SVD's are lovely rifles and quite a few of our regulars use them. Lots of choice on the market from springers up to the gucchi Real Sword. They are very long to handle so aren't that mobile and they look a bit naked without an optic - the decent Russian clone optics are quite expensive.

Noticing how lively the Essex thread was, thought it might be an idea to start up a thread for all those airsofters who play around the M25. There are a lot of sites in Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and Hampshire. The M25 is a double edged sword - its a commuters nightmare but its also a magic carpet for weekend airsofters, enabing players to access sites on the opposite side of London in 60-90 minutes that wouldn't be possible without it. Where do you play ?

Always check the UK shop as some have been known to sell manufacturer sprung guns. As a precaution, suggest you verify what they are selling it at, if they dont list it on their website. Some retailers mark the box as they chrono/test prior to despatch. Don't think its practical to keep changing springs for different games. Probably easier to have a short weapon for CQB and a long for outdoor games when you can.