[TA Events] The Ashes Of War

ASI Casper wrote:

Stuff to consider bringing. Not everything is essential. But all of it is worth considering.

• Decent torch ( and batteries! ). It tends to get dark quite a lot during any 24hr period! Especially in buildings with no lights. Headlamps are quite useful.
  Something with a red filter is even better.
  
• Decent sleeping bag & roll-mat. You may not intend to sleep during the event, but you'll find that what you intend to do and what you actually do may be two different things. And you'll need these for Friday night anyway. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. 2 people whom shall remain nameless, neglected to bring these at a previous event and as a result had to 'sleep' in plastic bin-bags on cold concrete. Don't make the same mistake. It will be BALTIC at night in March. If you only have a thin / summer sleeping bag, you may well need two of them! Plan accordingly.
  
• Warm gear. It will likely be cold during the day. It will be baltic at night. Especially when you stop. Outerlayers or underlayers, just make sure you bring them and hat and gloves. Even in buildings at night, there can be a very real risk of hypothermia ( and has happened before ).
  
• Waterproofs. Well worth considering. Keep your eye on the weather forecast a couple of days before the event.
  
• Radio & headset. These are pretty much essential if you want to be able to find your squadmates after regening, as they may not be where you last saw them. Also essential for co-ordinating attacks. Headset is especially important. And don't forget spare batteries!
  
• Map. You should be issued one of these at sign-in. Make sure you bring it out into the game with you even if you think you know the site. Anyone unable to identify their current position over the radio or unable to consult a map to make their way to a position / building number they're given over the radio, will likely be treated with the contempt they deserve. Do not rely on someone else to have one. It may be an idea to make your own laminated tacical size version before you arrive. And put it somewhere easily accessible, it's no use in your backpack.
  
• A hydration bladder / system. Underestimated by those that don't have them. Ridiculously useful for events like this. Camelbak ones are one of the more expensive ones for a reason btw. They represent good value despite their price as they're ridiculously good quality.
  Bottles of water are no good to you if they're in your backpack and you have to stop, take it off, open it, get the bottle out, open the lid, drink, close it, put the bottle back in bag, put bag back on every time you want a drink. A hydration bladder allows you to drink easily and when you need it, without stopping.
  
• More batteries for everything. Gun, radio, torch, camera, tactical vibrator etc.
  
• Pistol. A secondary / backup weapon is pretty much essential for a low ammo-limit / CQB event of this nature.
  
• Boots. Everyone should obviously already have these, but if you don't have comfortable ones you're going to be sorry by the end of the 24hrs. Two pairs of thin socks or a pair of thick socks may be a cheaper option if you're stuck though.
  Note: A 24hr event is not the time to break in a new pair of boots.
  
• More mags. In case it's not already crystal clear to everyone, this is a lowcap / midcap only event. NO high-caps. You should preferably have enough mags to take you up to your full ammo limit ( 600rds for most people ). Mag compatibility with your squad-mates is also something to seriously consider here.
  
• Red-dot sight. These are incredibly useful for playing at night. Ever tried using iron-sights at night? Even if you have a decent torch, you won't be able to use it in all situations as it'll give your position away and would be an instant BB magnet. Red-dot ftw!
  
• Sling. Obvious really. I'm assuming everyone already has one, but I'll say it anyway. Carrying an AEG about for long periods is heavy work. And you'll need to be able to go hands-free without putting your gun down for various things.
  
• Kneepads. Again, obvious really. There'll be plenty of buildings and roads. That means hard tarmac and concrete. Kneeling on that is never comfortable. Kneeling on it when it's covered in BBs and pyro casings is even less comfortable. Dropping or falling to your knees on them is just outright painful.
  
• Cheapo digital watch with a backlight. This'll be very useful. Not only for co-ordinating attacks and so forth, but also for accurately keeping track of your bleedout time when hit. Look at your watch as soon as you've taken a hit.
  
• Stove & mess tins. If you want hot food and don't want to use the burger van, you'll need to cook it in your HQ / safezone.
  
• Tools! Multi-tool, Hex-keys, screwdrivers, micro-screwdrivers and the like. In case of gun / gear breakage. Obviously EVERYONE doesn't need to bring these!
  
• Food & water! Do a supply run to the local supermarket (there's a Morrisons in Warminster) on the Friday after dumping your gear at the site. Unless you're planning on using the burger van onsite, make sure you get enough food to do you for the Friday night, Saturday & Sunday morning. Get plenty of water, as there is none available on the site.
  
• Change of BDUs. If it remains dry, these won't be needed. These are for changing into if you get soaked, not simply for freshening up because you got all dirty. For those that have never been to an event of this nature, you'll find that you won't have time, or a suitable place to get changed unless you're soaked and really need them.
  
• Toilet bag. There are no washing facilities at the event but some deodorant, tissues, wet wipes, tooth brush, etc are good to have. Plus shower gel & shampoo for the hotel on Sunday or overnight ferry depending on your own travel arrangements.
  
• Money. You'll need it for when we stop for food on the journey coming and going. And if you wish to make any purchases of pyros and BBs and so forth on site. And for purchasing food & drink supplies at the supermarket. Bear in mind you may have problems handing over NI banknotes in some shops. So bring Stirling notes or withdraw from a cashmachine when we arrive in England. Also bear in mind that there's still £40 of the game fee to pay upon arriving onsite.
  
• Photographic ID. This is REQUIRED for the ferries!
  
• Black tape!

Things you should NOT do or should NOT need:

• Tent. We'll have buildings to sleep in on the Fri & Sat night. A camping area for tents will likely be set aside for the event for those that want to bring tents, however, there may not be room for items that bulky in your vehicle, so don't bring them or check with whomever is bringing you.
  
• Your entire gun collection. Check with whomever is bringing you transport-wise as there may not be room for ridiculous and unnecessary amounts of gear. You should have 1 reliable AEG and 1 pistol as a secondary. That doesn't mean no spare guns at all should be brought, but don't go overboard. Consider bringing the likes of a machine pistol or SMG as a spare, rather than a full-size rifle.
  
• Do not bring food & water for the event with you. There will likely not be space for it in your vehicle if several people bring bags of shopping as well as all their kit. By all means bring ration-packs with you if that's what you intend to use during the event, but everything else should be bought when you get there.
• Fold-out camp beds and the like. Again, check with whomever is bringing you in whatever vehicle, as there may not be room for these. Rollmat and sleeping bag is the way to go.
  
• Do not go out into the game with huge amounts of kit weighing you down. People are warned about this before every 24hr game and yet they still do it. Keep things light and tight. Do not bring anything unneccessary out into play with you or you WILL regret it later. This isn't a Sunday skirmish at your local site.
  
• On a related note to the last point: Kevlar vests or vests with real-deal ceramic plates, forget them. Do not bring. You will regret it.
  
• Folding spades, machetes, bayonets, fixed-blade knives and the like: Do not bring!