Keeping this alive...

^ Keeping this alive?" Bah.

Inactivity is not an option for this idea. I'd actually like to create a section specially for league development, we just need to agree on a name first. I really like "American Water Warfare Association" [neat things could be done with the logo since it is symmetric], but don't let that influence you if you don't like it!

If you're going regional (America), why don't you aim for Northeast? Or Atlantic if you want the symmetrical acronym, although could be some ambiguity regarding which side of the pond we're on.

Eh...two more years for me...

Regions could be divisions [East, Central, West, Far East? ]. I think that trying to cover the world is too ambitious. We could get Europe and southeast Asia, but even that is a stretch.

Yeah I agree. It would be really hard to get many other(if any)countries. I like your idea abbout the "American Water Warfare Association". That seems like a good name for us to me.

Though it would be nice if our region was included, I think it would place too much strain on the league just to stretch all the way over here, jeopardizing the organization of the other teams in the U.S. Hence, I agree that just America would be most suitable. Besides, if water warfare advances to the level of airsoft in the U.S, it would only be a matter of time before it reaches here naturally.

On a weird note, I had a dream (a night dream, not a day one) of a small group of team members going to the U.S. to particpate in such a League, as well as meeting some of the prominent members of soakerdom. I only had a Vaporizer and a sidearm on me at the time though, which is true of my personal armoury in real-life. Pity it didn't continue into combat. Freud would have a field day with that.

How would the Singapore system strain the league? You guys have the largest organization we know of, and it seems like you're one of the best groups to hold the league together. B)

In some ways water warfare is bigger than paintball/airsoft, and in some ways it isn't. The problem is it's too widespread and low-key, and people don't consider it seriously like they do other sports. Thus, hardcore water warfare probably can't go mainstream in the current state of things.


Maybe it'll be possible someday...perhaps for the league, perhaps just because a good opportunity turns up. I'd like to see a hyped-up league or traveling contest like Street Wars (or whatever it was called), but for team-based wars, and not assassins. Maybe it could have a war in a few major cities around the world with admission fees; then the winners get an free or reduced-charge trip to an international war...

While we do have the ability to organize and execute large scale water wars, the distance alone makes either us travelling there or you guys coming here expensive and difficult to fit into time schedules. By extension this makes the utilization of our advantages hard. Although if someone does come over here, it shouldn't be too hard to arrange a small battle. We're aren't a dedicated water warfare group, its more of a side activity, though a few members including me have it as quite a high priority and handle organization and tech for the whole group. Despite this, I doubt we're the best group to hold a league together, though we probably can make some contributions.

I think the understanding of the starting points are in need of more clarification. Then again, perhaps my understanding isn't quite right, either.

This league should preferably not be localized to a country or region, etc. What would be needed are guidelines to explain what would be required of members/teams that are part of the league, guides on how to hold and record "official" league games, some sort of online directory of league membership, etc. What would not be required, at least not right away, would be for league teams needing to travel far distances to battle one another. League groups can hold their own regional wars and locally decide, based on league rules, which is the dominating player and/or team in the area. If a group or player gets a chance to travel, they can arrange to have a multi-regional or international battle. However, to start, such longer-distant battles would be optional, but not necessary to be part of the league.

That's how I see how this could start, anyhow.

B)

The Moubis Militia from Ohio is in!

Fighting each other across the country would not be necessary. And as I recall, we suck at that pretty badly, even in a small region. Thing is, we have no established tradition of it. Nerfers have been traveling interstate regularly for over a decade.

If we really build up the league, I'd love to see prize money and/or prize guns in future years. Maybe in twenty years we'll be able to watch the World Series of Water Warfare on ESPN!

Hi everybody,

I'm new here, but I wanted to comment on Silence's post (quoted here):



I think this is very true. In fact, I actually think that the widespread and low-key nature of water warfare is an advantage. After all, everybody has had a random water fight now and then. (In fact, I was just involved in an unexpected one at a party this past week...I had no idea it would happen!) Not everybody has done paintball or airsoft, etc.

Which brings me to my main point: I think sometimes people are scared away by the somewhat "hardcore" image of paintball and similar "sports." The equipment, the tactics, the macho seriousness of it all... It's too much for people who are seeking mindless entertainment. Whereas water fights are just plain fun, without the bruises. Maybe if we want to form leagues or hold tournaments, maybe we should be a little less gung-ho about "tactics" and "mods" and a little more easy-going with the whole thing???

I dunno... Don't flame me, I just wanted to know what people think about this. So, whaddya think?

@DX: little steps and almost anything is possible. I think the problems with trying to establish one before was loose interest, but not enough drive to get basic guidelines set and people trying things out locally. I think the interest has always been around for some, but need a set of guidelines so that people know exactly what we're talking about instead of some amorphous concept.

@intrepid: welcome to the forums! You make a great point:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Maybe if we want to form leagues or hold tournaments, maybe we should be a little less gung-ho about "tactics" and "mods" and a little more easy-going with the whole thing???<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

For the beginning and perhaps later to be split into divisions, it'd be good to have one part of the league set-up to cater towards the "amateur" water warrior. However, there must still be a fine balance and the suggestion of tactics is needed to some extent, but I, too, wouldn't go about over-emphasizing the need for full camo ghille suits, etc. As for modded or homemade soakers, I suggest that whatever the league games end up being, they also be categorized based on the type of water blasters allowed for a game (i.e. stock-only, mixed battles, modded-only, homemade-only). This would be similar to how, in car racing, you've got stock car races, Formula F1 car races, funny car and drag racing, etc. I'd probably be primarily promoting either stock-only or mixed-battles with a max-power cap (no firetrucks, please )

My thoughts on how to explain this haven't quite crystallized yet so I'm waffling a bit. Basically, need a balance between promoting the organized aspect which would undoubtedly lean towards need for tactics and such. Homemade builders and modders should definitely also be encouraged, too, but not to the extent to make those who prefer stock soakers to feel left out.

B)

Welcome to the water warfare forums! I agree with iSoaker, you make an excellent point.

I personally like the less intensive nature of water warfare. It's cheaper, more cooling, more "legal" (since you don't really have to go to an expensive field), and just as fun as paintball and airsoft. I guess you pretty much summed up what I was trying to say: that a league or tournament should not be trying to woo hardcore enthusiasts (even though many people here in Soakerdom are very serious about their water fights).

Regardless, if there were a tournament or round-robin style setup, I should think some type of dissolving tag would be the best way to keep score. Somewhat like Hasbro's SoakerTags, but with a custom logo or something, so that you can't buy and bring your own to supplement the tags handed out.


I'm also somewhat of the opinion that homemade and modded water cannons have no place in a tournament - although I'd still love to have some sort of gathering someday. (Note that many Nerfers are in college, meaning they have much more freedom to go places... <_< .) There aren't enough people with such water guns to support an entirely new branch of the league or tournament. On the other hand, is it really unfair to mix everybody together? I know for a fact that some people will go in with water pistols and others will go in with CPS cannons.

Another potential idea would be to get Buzz Bee Toys/Water Warriors or another company to sponsor a tournament. That would ensure that only stock-quality water guns (if the sponsor supplies all of them) would be available for use. There'd also be money for publicity and travel, although I should think the entry fees would cover those costs after the first water fight, provided the tournament doesn't fail. Plus it would mean more publicity for the sponsor.

My idea for the League was to have a place to post events online and have lots of information about the events afterward (like StreetWars). One thing I'm not seeing consistent even in Nerf is a place where you can check where all or most events are being held. I've seen some sticky threads, but no serious organizational effort.

This would work great for those just looking for a place to stop by and have a water war. Of course, some level of security and such would be necessary. I think some sort of bracelet thing would do well to identify who exactly is in the war.

One thing I also considered but never discussed was getting T-shirts for the League that contrast well when wet. The shirt also could have some URLs on there for interested people. Of course, no "uniform" would be required because I want everything to be low key and more than anything else, FUN! That's what keeps them coming back. The camo and ghille suit stuff isn't what water wars are about.

I don't think divisions or seriously limiting power-caps are necessary. We don't have enough people to have one division, so don't get ahead of yourself iSoaker. I know you think that homemade water guns are somehow unfair. Thinking that better CPS water guns such as the CPS 1500 can't compete against homemade and modified water guns is seriously mistaken. A homemade water gun is not to a stock water gun how a Formula 1 car is to a stock car. There is an advantage to having certain performance goals, but no serious advantage like the SS 50 versus a squirt pistol. Homemade water guns should remain still a minority choice still, so any divisions would make their wars that much less fun by removing the vast majority of people, as SilentGuy noted.

Of course, I think a banned items list should exist, but it should be limited to obviously dangerous things such as cars, ATVs, larger gas or electric water pumps, bikes, and other things like that because they are obviously dangerous.

At the moment I am considering registering wwleague.com for this purpose. I think we need to get moving to get things done. In fact, that's how you get things done. I've found that once I start something, I'm done much quicker than my previous guesses.