Editing Tactics Paintball

'''Tactics Paintball''' was a commercial paintball field at Bethells Beach in west Auckland, New Zealand, owned and operated by [[Dave Pellet]]. It provided recreational paintball and hosted the continuing scenario series ''Revolution in Bethels Republic''.[1][2][3]

== History ==

Pellet’s profile preserved in February 1998 identified him as Tactics’ owner and operator. He stated that his involvement in paintball began in 1985 through contact with [[Steve Constable]]; this date refers to Pellet’s involvement rather than a documented opening date for the field.[1]

[[Ian Southern]], later the inaugural director of the [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|New Zealand National Paintball League]], stated that he discovered paintball at Pellet’s Tactics field.[4]

A historical account published by [[Mercenaries Star]] subsequently described the Tactics site as having been subdivided.[3]

== Playing fields ==

The contemporary New Zealand field directory described Tactics as having several steep, densely wooded playing fields and a village scenario. It also reported that the rental equipment was maintained and reliable.[2]

The Mercenaries Star account described a large area of native scrub on either side of a ridge, with staging and safe areas on the higher ground.[3]

== Scenario paintball ==

Tactics hosted ''Revolution in Bethels Republic'', a recreational series intended to introduce newer participants to regular players and offer tactical variety beyond conventional capture-the-flag games.[3]

The playing area was divided into five fictional provinces contested by opposing factions. Results influenced the direction of subsequent games, creating a continuing campaign involving established teams and individual players.[3]

== Equipment history ==

[[Grant Fraser]], a former Tactics employee, preserved photographs of early paintball equipment associated with the field. A photograph reproduced by Daniel Bacci in 2015, tentatively dated to approximately 1987–1988, shows several markers associated with [[Pursuit Supplies International]], including a PSI M16, a bulk-air-converted K1, a PSI 1200/Hornet and a Commando/M-16 Stinger.[5]

Bacci also reproduced a photograph from the December 1990 issue of ''Paintball Sports Magazine'' showing Pellet working on a PSI 1200/Yellow Jacket marker.[5]

== See also ==

* [[Dave Pellet]]
* [[Ian Southern]]
* [[Grant Fraser]]
* [[Pursuit Supplies International]]

== References ==

# [https://web.archive.org/web/19980204164230/http://www.webel.co.nz/whpellet.htm Dave Pellet — Who’s Who profile]. ''New Zealand Paintball'', archived 4 February 1998.
# [https://web.archive.org/web/19980204164036/http://www.webel.co.nz/fields.htm Fields, Clubs and Stores]. ''New Zealand Paintball'', archived 4 February 1998.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Scenarios/BRev.htm Revolution in Bethels Republic: Guidelines for a Recball Series]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# [https://web.archive.org/web/19980204164230/http://www.webel.co.nz/whsouth.htm Ian Southern — Who’s Who profile]. ''New Zealand Paintball'', archived 4 February 1998.
# [https://paintballhistory.com/steve-constable-and-early-new-zealand-paintball-history/ Steve Constable and Pursuit Supplies International c.1985–1988]. Daniel Bacci, ''Paintball History'', 9 January 2015.

== External links ==

* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Scenarios/BRev.htm Historical Revolution in Bethels Republic scenario guidelines]

[[Category:Paintball fields in New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball in Auckland]]