I've read quite a few articles on using code words & code phrases during paintball skirmishes which help deny the opposing team info. If you haven't you should they are quite interesting & helpful. What I'd like to discuss is using the complete opposite to confuse/inform your opponents by using 'mis-information'.

How often have you been pinned down or sole survivor & you know you're in a bad situation? Everybody makes mistakes its what you do to capitalize on your situation which may give you added time or a better opportunity to turn the table in your favor. Here's a few situations & possibly ideas to try to gain advantage using false information <these tactics work better with more teammates> to throw your opponent's concentration on something hopefully other than you.

You're the last man left, you see opponents closing on you,what can you do?  Frist off, You start to talk loudly to your imaginary buddies. Call out their name or call sign and misinform them further using code phrases. Make your opponents stop, look for others, be more cautious, now they're thinking Crap, well there's one player but he's talking to his buddies and I can't see them so were are they and can they see me? You'll make them more cautious, they'll slow their advance. We're all brave when we know there's only one opponent left, and we all get like sharks when we smell 'blood'.  We become very aggressive to get that last guy but we hear him talking to 'buddies', and think uh-oh, better stop, re-evaluate, scan around and guess what.....you've just changed opponents mindset from aggressive to wary....especially if he thinks he's walking into an ambush.

You and your team are closing in on objective/flag/last man/ or just entering a firefight, once again mis-information can help psych out opponents. Try organizing a few friends before battle with a few code words so they know what you are doing. You also know, keep it simple even colors work like 'code blue guys' which means the 'BS' factor is in effect. 'Code green' hey this is the true info and such. Ok back to subject, closing in...why not make your team bigger? More spread out? Even behind opponents? All you gotta do is mis-inform opponents by telling them!! Try things like ok guys, lets pin these guys, "FRED's" team is almost behind them keep them down. Or Holy cow guys, I see "FRED's" already around these guys he's gonna get the flag! Now tell me when you hear other opponent yell this you aren't gonna get whiplash whipping your head around looking for "FRED".

By misinforming your opponents, keeping their minds on other things, you'll be surprised how often it'll give you a little breathing space or advantage over your opponents. Remember also, that the best lies we tell our opponents are the ones that are partly true.  If you're flanking opponents and you are discovered, try yelling to teammates hey my guys are almost around them, and because they see you <even though you're alone> you've just reinforced the fact, in the opponents mind what you want them to think. "Uh-oh, we're being flanked", "There's one guy, where's the others?", "Crap, this isn't good", "Do I move, Shoot at him and expose myself?", "Wait to see others?", Yell at teammates "We are being surrounded look around there's more, you see them?"  See what I'm saying?

SUN TZU, a Chinese philosopher on war wrote over 2000 yrs ago "The Art Of War" which still applies today especially certain things which you can use paintballing:    <I've shortened quotes to apply to paintball>

"All warfare is based on deception; therefore; when capable feign incapacity, when near make it appear you are far away,when far away that you are near"
"Offer the enemy a bait to lure him; feign disorder <hmm my guns jammed?> and strike him"
"Anger his general and confuse him"
"Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance"
"To win a hundred victories is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."
"Thus, what is of supreme importance is to attack the enemy's strategy."
"The enemy must not know where I plan to battle. For if he doesn't know he will be weak covering many places. And were he covers many places he will be weak in any one place I choose to fight. For if he prepares for a front assault he will be weak in rear.  Prepare in rear weak in front, the left his right is weak, the left his right is weak and when he prepares everywhere he will be weak everywhere."

By understanding these quotes and applying them to paintball I feel you will improve your game. 'Psychological Warfare' using mis-information as an aid, that when employed, will help you to 'psych out' opponents and change bad situations to good, and good to great.  Remember; it doesn't work all the time but what does. And if you get it to work once, well then it was worth it!!

Happy Balling!

Joe Allen
MPN Columnist