Rules of Engagement
Safety: Always wear protective gear, especially eye protection.
Hits: When you're hit by a BB, you're out. Call your hit by shouting "Hit!" and raising your hand or using a red rag.
No Blind Firing: Always aim while shooting.
Engagement Distance: Some fields have a minimum distance for shooting, especially with higher-powered guns.
Honesty: Airsoft relies on the honor system—players are expected to call their hits.
There is no limit to the creativity you can apply in constructing game modes for Airsoft. However, the following are the modes that are widely used. Some are designed for maximum fun while playing while others require you to be somewhat tactically inclined. Furthermore, Airsoft is an honor-based game. The game loses its charm if players aren’t honest and don’t play with integrity. It is important to call your hits and abide by the rules set by the Marshalls.
Team Deathmatch (TDM)
Objective: Two teams compete to eliminate the opposing team members.
Gameplay: Players respawn after being hit or wait until all team members are out, depending on the variant. It’s fast-paced and focuses on quick engagements, teamwork, and strategy.
Winning Condition: The team that eliminates all opponents or has the most kills by the end of the time limit wins.
2. Capture The Flag
Objective: Each team has a flag located at their base, and the goal is to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to your own base.
Gameplay: Teams must defend their flag while trying to infiltrate the enemy's base. Speed, stealth, and coordination are key in this mode.
Winning Condition: A team wins by successfully capturing the enemy's flag and returning it to their base.
3. King of the Hill
Objective: Two or more teams fight to control a central point (the "hill") on the field for the longest amount of time.
Gameplay: Teams must push into the hill and defend it from other teams. Control can switch frequently, and it requires strong defensive and offensive tactics.
Winning Condition: The team that holds the hill for a predetermined amount of time or accumulates the most time wins.
4. MilSim - Military simulation
Objective: This is a longer, more immersive game mode that simulates military missions with realistic objectives like search and rescue, bomb defusal, or area control.
Gameplay: MilSim events can last from several hours to multiple days. Players often have roles (e.g., medic, squad leader, sniper) and must complete specific objectives. There’s usually a strict rule set regarding ammo, radios, and respawn times, making it more strategic and tactical.
Winning Condition: Teams complete their objectives, which could range from securing locations to rescuing hostages or eliminating high-value targets.
5. VIP Escort
Objective: One team must escort a designated VIP to a specific point on the map, while the opposing team attempts to eliminate the VIP before they reach the extraction point.
Gameplay: The VIP usually has minimal protection (sometimes limited to a pistol) and relies on their team's cover and tactical movements. The opposing team focuses on ambushes and cut-off points to stop the escort.
Winning Condition: The escorting team wins by getting the VIP to the extraction point alive, while the opposing team wins if they eliminate the VIP.
6. Bomb Defusal - Search and Destroy
Objective: One team has to plant a fake bomb at a specific location, while the opposing team must prevent the bomb from being planted or defuse it if it's already planted.
Gameplay: The attacking team must infiltrate the defense, place the bomb, and hold off the defenders until it "detonates." The defenders try to stop the bomb from being planted or defuse it in time.
Winning Condition: The attacking team wins if they successfully plant and detonate the bomb, while the defending team wins by preventing the bomb from going off.
7. Hostage Rescue
Objective: One team is tasked with rescuing hostages held by the opposing team.
Gameplay: The rescuing team must breach the enemy's defense, locate the hostages, and escort them to a safe zone, all while under fire. The opposing team must prevent this by holding defensive positions.
Winning Condition: The rescuing team wins by successfully extracting the hostages, while the defending team wins by stopping the rescue attempt.
8. Zombie/Infected mode
Objective: A small group of "zombies" must infect the rest of the players (humans) by hitting them with BBs. Once hit, humans become zombies and join their ranks.
Gameplay: The humans start with a limited amount of ammunition or defensive positions, and the zombie team has unlimited respawns. The humans must survive for a certain period, while zombies try to infect them all.
Winning Condition: The humans win if they survive for the specified time limit, while the zombies win if all human players are "infected."
9. Domination
Objective: Teams must capture and hold multiple control points scattered around the field.
Gameplay: Players need to secure these control points and defend them from the opposing team. Points are accumulated based on how long each team holds the objectives.
Winning Condition: The team with the most control points at the end of the game or the team that holds the points for the longest time wins.
Each of these modes offers different challenges and requires varying levels of teamwork, strategy, and skill. Depending on the event or field, rules and variations might differ slightly, adding more fun and variety to Airsoft games.