FAQs, Beginners Tips, Starting Out etc.

[Airsoft-Ed]

Just wondering if people would care to list things they get asked often and get tired of talking about, or explaining.

I'm thinking of doing a series of videos on my channel about airsoft's most frequented questions, they'll be in the style of video blogs, but I wanted to brainstorm you guys for ideas. If you help me tailor them then they could even serve a purpose on the forums as a pinned topic or something. Some people might find it easier to watch a video than read a wall of text.

Might even use quotes from this page to help reinforce points.

So far I've thought of a handful of things that need a mention:

How to get started:
- How to find a local site
- What guns to look at/Not look at
- Reputable retailers
- What you need/don't need for your first game
- Things to look out for and avoid; Be mindful of site rules, don't shop at JBBG etc etc.
- Understanding UKARA/Two Tone
- Why a sniper is not a good starter weapon...
- Schools of thought; people playing for fun vs realism, milsim etc
- The importance of the basics; Taking hits is more than just a rule, it's the whole game.
- FAQs; breakdown of commonly used phrases/jargon, does it hurt etc. anything I could add?
- Basic overview of AEGs, GBBRs, Snipers and sidearms
- A word on maintenance, or lack thereof. I see too many videos about spraying silicone down the barrel...

Whether everything will get a video of its own remains to be seen, I'll have to try and keep the videos short and to the point so I'll probably just sit and talk for a couple of hours, going over everything, and then cut and paste it all into a different order and cut it up into different videos or something, have to see what happens when I get started.

After that I thought about doing a series for the regular players, just past the beginner stage, maybe tips on how to improve your game.

Things like:
- Think things through
- Making the best use of cover
- When to shoot and when to move
- Awareness, knowing the game area, angles of engagement, cornering
- Basic tactics
- Magazine choice - Lows, Mids, Highs
- Looking to upgrade? Part names and functions.
- AEG vs Gas vs Spring

Any input on any of this would be great, I'm thinking of contacting a retailer to sponsor the series and provide some guns as props or something to help flesh it out a bit so it's not just me sat talking at a camera. It'd be nice if I could work my first channel giveaway into it somehow too.

 

[Ian_Gere]

Boot types & importance of etc.

Types of eyepro - myth of BB fragments hurting eyes / anti-fog methods.

Otherwise i think you've covered everything.

If you plan to just sit and talk, i'd at least have a bullet point list behind the camera to remind you of what you plan to say about each topic. Props are a must for keeping people's interest if you talk for more than 90 seconds and you'll get far more info over to them in a few minutes by referring to diagrams/photos etc than you will just talking, so maybe a whiteboard, or even a powerpoint presentation edited into your footage and, if you split screen it, you can refer to a prop in your hands and use a diagram at the same time.

If you watch recent documentaries they have really jumped on recapitulation as a technique to make the info memorable - personally i find it insults my intelligence, but having said that, if i'm doing a few things at once then the recap is often the first time i've really paid attention to the point anyway...

 

[NickM]

Personally I would suggest doing a video index, youtube allows you to put links to other videos in the series, so how about doing an intro video where you can explain the premise of the series and do a short rundown of the sorts of topics you will cover, when you talk about them add a link to that particular topic over the video. Also think about how you might link them, maybe make a paper plan showing how the various topics interlink to help you understand where it is all going, and don't be afraid to link to other people's channels or webpages, perhaps even get others involved in the series like get someone very tech orientated to do videos on maintenance of guns you are unfamiliar with. For example a topic like the VCRA and the legal situation in the uk is a biggie and could be linked to many of the vids so perhaps make it a stand alone.

I would go with a simple starter video followed by a series that would take you through actions/purchases over say the first year of airsofting.

Want to start playing airsoft, what you need to know before you go. in this I would include

- don't buy a gun first with some reasons, a very brief outline of VCRA/laws in the uk, in like 2 sentences, (you may want to make a whole separate video to cover this in more detail that people could follow the link to)

- how to find your local site,

- basic kit list of things most people will have at home that are appropriate to take, eg walking boots, a bottle of water, some snacks and money, clothing wise, old sturdy and think about the environment/conditions, warm/cool, light or dark colours

- a basic outline of some common game types,

- some common mistakes people make when they first start playing, or suggestions of some successful basic tactics, make these generic so they fit CQB and Woodland.

Played your first game and loved it, now starting to collect some kit and go more often.

- don't buy a gun yet, again reasons, suggest trying different RIF's for other players

- Mesh vs Lenses, eye pro only or full face coverage,

- Gloves, other protective kit

- A short rundown on load out types/impressions starting with the basics, eg camo types vs pmc style. Suggestions that people could start with something simple like a camo type that can be built on, eg dpm cheapness. You could do a whole series of videos starting with modern vs historical, realistic vs fantasy, etc

- A brief explanation of the differences in game style between CQB and Woodland, some common tactics to both and some differences in tactics.

Played several games, you have a defence sorted and want to buy a RIF.

- The decisions you have to make, and the ones to avoid, like you don't need a pistol and you shouldn't get a sniper first, leave this for at least a year.

New vs second hand, pro's and con's

Rank of manufacturers in terms of quality and price

Buying in the UK vs buying from overseas if going new.

Types and their advantages disadvantages.

Peripherals to your primary, batteries, chargers, spare mags, highcaps/midcaps etc.

Bought a RIF, tired of having stuff in pockets.

- Rig types, chest, PC, belt, webbing

- how to weave molle correctly.

- positioning of pouches for optimal use

Played many games, starting to think about becoming more specialised in terms of game play,

- CQB vs Woodland,

- Rifleman

- Support gunner

- DMR

- Sniper

- what kit you might need for each, what is common to all.

- comms setups and choices.

Choosing a pistol that suits you.

What do you need it for?

How to maintain your AEG M4, and a second on your AK

How to maintain your Gas RIF

You could link to common videos like how to clean a barrel, magazine, high cap, midcap and gas mags for pistols and primaries.

Trouble shooting common problems, my AEG fires bb's straight up or into the floor. Gearbox is making a funny sound.

A series of vids on

Heard about milsim, battle sim, filmsim, WW2 themed etc, ( perhaps this is where you could get sorted with "interviews" with organisers or players who can go to town on what they do)

 

[Samurai]

Don't forget to add explosions and boobs so people will watch it.

There are many things about giving a speech or a lecture. Probably the vids would benefit from using rhetoric methods, like how to keep interest up, etc.

What I have found useful is to give a quick summary before the speech so the audience will know what to expect. Then use rhetoric questions, pictures, sounds to keep the attention.

One of the most memorable things about giving a speech was when a speaker made a handstand at the beginning and then spoke about how to do unusual things to catch and keep the attention of the audience. He was right, it was 10 years ago and I do remember it.

I think you got the topics covered just fine.