Introduction
Airsoft is a game in which people go around shooting each other with replica guns. But how does Airsoft work?
To answer this question, we must first take a look at how Airsoft can be played. By this, I mean what is the goal of any player on an Airsoft field? The goal, or objective, may differ, depending on the game mode being played.
To use the video-game language, there are many different “game modes” in Airsoft. Some examples of Airsoft include Capture the Flag, Capture the Point, and Team Deathmatch. If you want to see my in depth guide of all of the Airsoft game modes and how they are played, you can click HERE. It is important to note that, depending on what game mode you are playing, the information I am about to impart to you may be irrelevant.
Disclaimer
I am in no way, shape, or form an expert on Airsoft. If any of the information in this article is incorrect or incomplete in any way, I deeply apologize. It is also worth mentioning that some information may be opinion-based. Your opinion might differ; and that’s okay!
Alrighty then! So, in a lot of Airsoft game modes, there is something called a role. The word is used similarly to how it is used in acting.
Definition: A “role” is basically the part that a person has to play in the Airsoft game or something that a player has to fulfill in order to complete a certain task.
It turns out that there are several roles in Airsoft, and – for many different game modes – many of them need someone to fill them.[1]
It seems possible to choose an Airsoft role in roughly three (3) steps.
3 Steps to Choosing an Airsoft Role
1. Reflect on your physical abilities, your interests, and…your budget.
You should first brainstorm to generate a list of skills that you have. Be honest about it! If you want, write your thoughts on a piece of paper, or type them into a word processor. You’ll want to catalog your strength and your weaknesses.
Think about stuff like this: Are you quick on your feet? Can you jump? Do you have good aim? Are you stealthy? Etc.
Part of being honest about your own abilities is being able to take criticism. Ask your friends to list your strengths and weaknesses – especially if they’ll be your Airsoft teammates.
Also ask yourself what you would be happy doing. You could be a medic (see below). But if this role won’t give you a satisfying level of involvement, then you might want to choose another one – even if you’re physically well-suited for it.
Another consideration will be your budget. Some of the roles will require some fairly serious firepower. And the kind of weapon that produces heavy firepower will generally be more expensive than a less powerful gun. So, that will be something to keep in mind as well.
2. Understand the range of Airsoft-role options.
After you’ve catalogued your abilities, you’ll need to make a study of the Airsoft game itself. Basically, the Roles of Airsoft are as follows: Team leader/Section commander; Tactical officer; Rifleman; Medic; Recon; Marksman; Squad gunner/Support gunner; Sniper; Grenadier/Explosives expert. Let’s go through them in a bit more detail.
· Team Leader/Section commander.
Team leaders often utilize automatic weapons, that are typically electric and what is known as a “rapid fire system” which allows the player to fire both semi-automatically, which is more accurate, yet only yields itself to firing one shot per individual trigger pull, and fully-automatically, which is less accurate, and is better for close ranges due to the player being able to empty the magazine quicker, and potentially on one trigger pull. However, if the player desires to use a spring powered or gas powered assault rifle, it will most likely work fine. Team leaders typically tell the squad of additional players where to go, and act as mid-range support, or front line assault.
· Tactical officer.
The Tactical officer helps the Team leader make decisions on where to go, when to make an advance, etc. They should typically use the same weapons as the Team leader or Rifleman, but they can use other weapons as well.
· Rifleman.
The role of Rifleman is usually best suited for beginners, due to the guns that most riflemen use being relatively cheap, and easy to use. However, riflemen tend to be the people who get shot the most, so if you are just starting out, maybe you should go with a squad gunner (more on them later). Riflemen tend to make up the majority of a squad, and deal with a plethora of ranges, from close range to ranges sometimes exceeding 150 feet. They can typically use any weapons that the team leader uses, these tending to be assault rifles. Riflemen tend to be in the front lines, and as a rifleman, you are going to have to be relatively okay with being shot many times.
· Medic.
In some game modes, when a player is downed, they can call a “medic.” It is the medic’s job to respond to this call, and “revive” the player. After a player has been revived once, she cannot call for a medic again. A revived player does not have to go to the respawn area and can keep playing until they are shot again. A medic must stay by the player for a certain amount of time (which may vary from field to field), without getting hit themselves, and after that period of time, the other player is revived, and both the medic and the other player can go back to shooting at enemy players. A medic will typically want to use a close-range, fast-firing weapon, like an SMG (Submachine Gun). A weapon sling is basically necessary, because you have to put your gun down (i.e., let go of it) while reviving; and putting your gun down on the ground is a great way to get it damaged, dirty, or ruined.
· Recon/Scout
Short for “reconnaissance,” recon refers to a unit that is in charge of scouting out an area, in order tell the team where enemies are, where a good sniper spot is etc. A recon player can also assume the role of medic if there is no medic on the team. A recon will typically utilize a close-range weapon, but he or she can also use a mid-range assault rifle.
Sometimes, a “recon” is considered the same things as a “scout.” Other times, the two roles are differentiated. When they are treated differently, scouts are basically thought of as the long-range equivalents of recon players. They will usually use a mid- to long-range assault rifle, and they can do anything that a recon can do. They provide long-range support, while recons provide close-range support.
· Marksman.
A marksman is a sniper that doesn’t use a sniper-specific rifle. A scout can be a marksman, but typically, marksmen have assault rifles that are only useful for long-range combat. Additionally, scouts should usually have a weapon that can get them out of close-range scrapes. A marksman will hang back, taking out enemy players when possible – and advantageous. The reason that your team should have both a marksman and a sniper is because, while a sniper is more accurate, he can only fire one shot at a time. A marksman, on the other hand, can fire multiple shots, and can therefore be useful for cover fire.
· Squad Gunner/Support gunner/Heavy gunner
Squad gunners often require a weapon that fires automatically, but also has a large magazine capacity to sustain the rate of fire required for this role. In games of Airsoft, a player should really only fire in bursts for two seconds, followed by a one-second pause between bursts. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, it’s due to the danger of the gun overheating. Secondly, there is commonly a rule that most Airsoft playing fields have which states that you should “Never fire in full auto.” (To see my article on all of the general rules that an Airsoft playing field has, click HERE [#Shamelessplug].)
Gunners tend to use a lot of ammo. They also tend to utilize a tactic referred to by most as “Spray and pray” – a tactic so named due to the player spraying at his or her target and praying that one or two BBs hit the opponent. This spray-and-pray tactic is typically frowned upon, and most seasoned players say that you should never do it. Deliberately aimed bursts will earn you respect, and they will be more accurate. As a first Airsoft weapon, a squad gunner’s weapon would tend to be very expensive and fairly heavy. Squad gunners support the squad with large amounts of firepower and use their large and heavy weapons to suppress the enemy team while the rest of the squad moves forward. This can be an expensive role as well, and a squad-gunner gun may not be an ideal choice for your very first Airsoft gun. The actions of the squad gunner are easy to master, so it really comes down to your budget.
· Sniper
On the most basic level, a sniper is a player who uses a sniper rifle. A sniper rifle is a weapon that is effective at ranges that far exceed those required by any other role. As such, you are going to have to have a fair degree of accuracy. And, in order to be a truly effective sniper, are going to have to be comfortable gauging things such as wind direction and wind speed, as well as taking into account the gravity “drop” of a BB. This makes this role a bit more precision and, dare I say, mathematically oriented.
Players in this role can either provide long-range support for the squad as they push up against the enemy, or they could just go solo and take out enemy players from completely different positions. Part of what makes a good sniper is the ability to make quick, tactical decisions under pressure.
To be fair, every role in Airsoft requires this sort of quick decision-making to some extent. But snipers require it the most.
While it is a greatly enjoyable and highly interesting role, it can cost quite a lot of money to have your first Airsoft weapon be a sniper rifle, due to most sniper rifles having to be in peak condition in order to operate as intended. Sniper rifles tend be spring powered, and these spring powered sniper rifles are typically referred to as “Bolt-action Sniper Rifles.” Thus, playing the role of a sniper can be another expensive proposition. However, it can certainly be challenging, and extremely enjoyable.
· Grenadier/Explosives expert.
A grenadier is the “king role” when it comes to room-clearing and aggressive team “wiping.” If you want to go on a spree where you kill five players at once, then you should probably pick this role. A grenadier will use a grenade launcher to fire grenades into enemy clusters, and they will use hand held grenades for the same purpose. If you are feeling highly explosive, and you have the speed and agility for it, then…Pick. This. ROLE. 😉
3. Choose the Role That Best Matches Your Abilities
And this last remark is a fitting segue.
For the final step is simply to combine what you know about yourself and what you know about the available Airsoft roles.
This is easy to say, but harder to do! Based upon what you discovered about yourself and based on what you apprehend about the possible roles in an Airsoft game, you’ll literally choose the role that best realizes and utilizes your skillset.
For instance, if you have great aim, but lack speed, you could become a great sniper. If you have explosive speed and energy, then maybe think about being a grenadier.
Then just… give your provisional choice a chance. In other words, try it out!
Again, solicit feedback from friends, spectators, and teammates. Give it a good “college try,” as they say – meaning…don’t quit after one go. Play your selected roles in numerous games.
If it seems to be a good fit, then you might have a winner. If not, then simply repeat the three steps! Don’t get frustrated. It’s just a game, after all. Remember that you’re supposed to be having fun!
Final Remarks
Of course, it is possible to adopt multiple roles. But it is better for your training if you specialize in just one or two – at least at first.
Also continue to keep in mind that not every Airsoft game will utilize every role.
This is just meant as an introduction.
Let me know if you think that I missed anything!
Be safe; happy Airsofting!
Notes:
[1] Like I said before, not every Airsoft game mode has the need for roles, but most do.