Tactics: Bases
By: Gold Hawk
I will begin this topic with a simple question: What is a base?
When I checked the nearest dictionary, it defined a base as; "something used as a foundation or starting point for further work".
With that said I will classify three of the most common forms of a base.
1. Outpost: An outpost usually is very lightly armored base placed (a fair distance away) around a main base. This is to provide early warning if attack on a base is imminent, and to stall the enemy for enough time that reinforcements can arrive. Depending on your terrain and climate, different materials may be appropriate. While scouting around Victory Park (a fairly wooded park near me) in preparation for the HydroHawks' upcoming VP War, I found two trees narrowly spaced apart, near where a base will be. The day before the war, I plan to place a large sheet of plywood against the trees creating a forward outpost.
But you can use cardboard, plywood, even fallen trees as an outpost.
2. Main Base: The base that is the root of all of your operations. It is where you want your flag in Capture The Flag and Soak The Flag. Your base can be constructed around a tent, or a shed, or a bunch of closely placed bushes.
Now I know we've all heard of this method for constructing a command center: "Take some posts, stick them in the ground, tie strings around them, put cardboard over the strings...", I don't want to continue on the subject.
Really, how you construct your base depends on the terrain.
Open area (open backyard, field, etc.): Use a tent if you're in a field, a shed or a garage if you're fighting in an open backyard. In there, store maps, plans, and anything that could get ruined if wet. Outside, use containers to store ammo, extra weapons, water balloons, etc. If you lucky enough to be fighting in a wide backyard (like my fellow soldier Eric [Panther] with his wide backyard) construct your base around a hose or other water source.
Now for defenses. Use cardboard. Yes you heard me: cardboard. Use the string and post method, except build fortifications, not an actual building. Or just pile up cardboard boxes or those big Rubbermaid containers.
Area with lots of trees: Find some sort of clearing, and use a tent or the post-string-cardboard technique for your command center. For the rest of the base, use most of the same ideas for the open area, except look more for natural defenses like fallen trees or tightly spaced trees which you can lay sheet of plywood against.
Urban enviroment: If you can't construct a base in this environment, you do not deserve your status as a soaker warrior. It's the easiest type of battleground to build a base in. Use defenses that are already there. Hedges, trees, walls, buildings, even cars (note: cars may not stay where they are for the entire battle).
This is the enviroment around my house. When protecting the hose (and a refilling teammate) from enemy attack, we use the large hedges in front of my house as natural walls. So be smart: look for defenses that are already there, and only construct extra defenses if it seems like they will desperatly be needed.
3. Filling station: If you have enough troops to defend it and your main base, construct defenses around the hose, water fountain, etc. If you have only a small handful of troops, just construct your entire main base around the filling station.
Summary: I hope you've enjoyed this insight on base construction, and that you will win every water battle using my techniques. Cause if you do, I'll be amazed, because...and this may be a bad time to mention it.......I haven't actually used most of the techniques mentioned.
Posted: 20080311
