Editing Mike "Blue" Hanse (section)

== Castle Conquest ==

=== Origins ===

[[Castle Conquest]] became one of EMR's signature paintball events.

The event centred on a large fortified playing structure and featured teams attempting to capture or defend the castle.

=== Game format ===

Castle Conquest developed around an attack-and-defend format.

The attacking force generally outnumbered the defenders.

The defending team attempted to hold a fortified position against a larger attacking force.

=== Castle Aaarrgh ===

One of the event's central structures was '''Castle Aaarrgh'''.

The castle incorporated walls, elevated positions, corridors and multiple defensive areas.

Its layout allowed players to experience large-scale attacks against a purpose-built fortification.

=== Event development ===

Castle Conquest became a recurring event.

WARPIG's December 2006 review of the Castle Conquest XXI DVD documented the event's development and the facilities at EMR.[1]

The numbering demonstrates that the series had already reached its twenty-first edition by that period.

=== Large attendance ===

A WARPIG report from the 2003 Skyball tournament described Castle Conquest as an established event expected to attract more than 1,000 players that year.[6]

The figure was a contemporary expectation rather than a verified final attendance count.

=== Castle Conquest XXI ===

The twenty-first Castle Conquest was documented in a DVD reviewed by Bill Mills for WARPIG in December 2006.

The review discussed the park's history, its playing facilities and Hanse's management of the venue.

=== Castle Conquest XXIII ===

A video of Castle Conquest XXIII, held in September 2007, was later included in the World Classic Paintball League's collection of paintball films.[7]

The event featured Blue and his Crew participating with the attackers while Joint Fury led the defenders.

=== Historical importance ===

Castle Conquest became associated with the growth of destination-based scenario paintball.

Its format differed from conventional tournament speedball by emphasising large playing areas, fortified positions and substantial numbers of participants.