Paintball "sniper" or "Marksman"

Woodsball marksman preparing a long shot with camo paintball marker.

Paintball Marksmen are players who are dedicated to unparalleled accuracy on the paintball field. They are often characterized by their cool mentality, and a passion for excellent shots. Woodsball marksmen are best known for their ability to sit back from the front line, safely out of harm's way, and flank the enemy positions from with effects as great, if not greater than those of the infantry on the front line. Due to their characteristic accuracy and stealth, they are often observed in teams that are known for ambush operations, ghost flanks, and stealth maneuvers in general.They are a must for any good paintball team.

Woodsball marksmen are often used as special operations elements in specific situations. While this is seen mostly in scenarioball games, it occurs in woodsball as well, in cases like a hostage extraction operation, a VIP elimination operation (for example, assassinating a 'general' or 'president'), and other such games. Classifying marksmen as special operations elements in such games should be done with hesitation, however, as often players from many other positions are utilized as special operations forces as well.

The term 'paintball sniper' can be controversial. Critics of paintball snipers argue that the function of a military sniper cannot be carried out by a paintball player, as paintball snipers in general cannot make kills at distances substantially greater than any infantryman. This is partially due to the fact that, unlike firearm weaponry, paintballs cannot be adapted to have more effective range, and due to velocity restrictions, they cannot be fired with greater force than other markers. However, it is important to note that being a paintball sniper depends on superior camouflage rather than superior targeting abilities. Being camouflaged in Paintball allows the player to get close enough to the opposition so that they can make one, sure shot. Thus, due to the lack of camouflage that is being used in paintball games today, the less controversial term "Paintball Marksmen" is now making it's way into players' vocabulary. Paintball "marksmen" do have an advantage in accuracy in that their concealment tactics allow them to take greater time to aim, allowing shots made with greater accuracy, or at least with less paint used.

Proponents of the term counter that the difference is great enough to warrant a class distinction. Their argument is based on the concept that even if a paintball sniper is unable to hit a target at greater range than a standard rifleman, he will expend far less paint in doing so. For example, a riflemen may use 30 or more rounds to hit a target at 100 feet, while a marksman may only use 3 balls to hit the same target, if not less. As a kind of unwritten compromise, the term 'paintball marksman' is emerging in various areas throughout the world, which is more widely accepted than the original term.

A rifleman in combat. Another great paintball position.