This article is geared toward one man tactics, mainly on large wooded fields, or in events such as scenario games. These tactics are not easily applicable to small fields where the teams can see each other before the game starts, or speedball type games. They are not about head to head firepower contest. They are about playing smarter than your opponent, and in a lot of cases require room to maneuver unseen.

The key to becoming a sneaky bastard lies in practicing tactics which will allow you to spot your opponents before they spot you, and allow you to maneuver unseen into an advantageous position. The advantageous position may not necessarily be one which results in the elimination of your opponents. In fact, if you are severely outnumbered, keeping out of sight until your opponents depart the scene may be the best you can hope for. However, if you feel the odds in an engagement are manageable, becoming a sneaky bastard can increase your chances of success.

How do you spot the opposition before they spot you? Partially, by not being where they expect you to be. Everyone knows the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so it's not unreasonable for your opponent to expect to find you somewhere along that line. No matter where you're going, there's an obvious way to get there from here, a way that's not so obvious, and probably quite a few ways that are completely unexpected. Being sneaky requires taking one of those unexpected routes, even if it seems out of the way - consider it the "scenic route". In paintball, limited fields of play help to establish expectations. Players have a relatively good idea from where their opponents will be coming. The more unexpected your path, the less likely the chance of someone looking for you in that direction. While it may seem like there isn't enough time to maneuver out of your way, keep in mind that one advantage to taking the unexpected route is the road less traveled often leads to less resistance, and you may actually be able to move faster. This is an especially effective thing to remember in scenario games, where accomplishing a specific mission is a goal often placed above eliminating opposing players.

Being in an unexpected position alone will not guarantee success. How you get there can also have an impact. When it comes to being sneaky, few tactics seem to be quite as effective as maintaining a low profile, at least in my experience. Most paintball players I've encountered simply aren't expecting someone to be in a kneeling or squatting position. Staying low should also be practiced while moving. It makes you harder to spot at a distance, and can allow you to use the lay of the land to mask your movement. Even bending over slightly while moving can cut about 25% off of your total height, which is a substantial amount when you are at a distance where you are already somewhat difficult to spot. The speed of your movement should be determined by the situation. In most cases, it pays to be patient, however, quick continuous movement can also be mandated when you have a limited amount of time to get where you are going. The main thing to keep in mind is the importance of knowing where you are going, and the steps you'll have to take to get there. When possible, the steps in your movement should be planned ahead and executed precisely. For instance, if you can see you're goal 100 yards away, plan a route to that goal by using cover points in a connect-the-dots fashion, pausing briefly at each point to scan the area before moving on.

The cover you use does not necessarily have to be the typical big trees everyone else uses. On one occasion, I was sitting in an open piece of ground with no trees within several feet, and one of my teammates made an interesting comment about my position on the field. The teammate was tucked in behind a large tree to the left and above me on a hill. He said something to the effect of "how the hell are you sitting out in the open without taking fire while I'm getting pounded behind this tree?"  At the time I made some smart-assed remark about "magic powers", but it was simply the result of a habit I've developed after years of playing in the woods. The fact is, while it appeared to my team mate that I had no cover at all, my cover was actually better than his. Rather than use a tree directly in front of me for cover, I was using a combination of the lay of the land and trees somewhere between me and my opponent for cover. At a distance, even objects with a smaller width than your body can provide sufficient cover, and staying low allows you to additionally make use of small slopes in the land. Add to that the fact that my opponents probably never expected me to be in such a seemingly open area, and suddenly I am in a situation where I know where my opponent is located, but he is unaware of my presence.

Once you are able to spot an opponent first, you move slowly, yet deliberately to put an object between the two of you. Remember quick movement will catch someone's eye, so running to the position can be a mistake. In a lot of cases, if the object you choose provides good cover, not only will he not be able to see you, but likewise you will not be able to see him. Your advantage comes from knowing he is there. At that point, you anticipate his movement. While this may sound difficult, with a little practice you will find most player's movements are fairly predictable. Which direction was he traveling when you spotted him? If he hasn't spotted you, he is likely to continue in that direction. See if you can catch a glimpse of a shoulder, or gun to confirm the direction. As he moves, you should rotate about the cover object in an opposite direction. Keep in mind your goal is not to necessarily see your target, but to keep the cover between the two of you until you are in an advantageous position.

One of the biggest mistakes made by newer players is firing way to soon. Often, newer players will drop the trigger on an opponent as soon as they spot him, forcing a head-on confrontation which offers only a 50/50 chance of success. If you have the advantage of catching your opponent unaware, the last thing you want to do is waste the opportunity on a risky shot. The biggest opportunity offered by spotting your opponent first and effectively covering your presence is the possibility of a superior firing position. By superior, I mean a position from which you can fire off a volley of shots without an immediate response from your opponent - preferably from the side or back. Once you are able to maneuver into a superior firing position, the next step is to make sure you take full advantage of the situation, ensuring you connect with the target when you pull the trigger.

There is one sure way of improving your chances of eliminating your opponent within the first few shots - move closer, or stalk your target. The concept works best when you can maneuver behind your target, and he is traveling away from you. Your movement technique should continue to include cover to cover and staying low. However, your timing should be dependent on your opponent. Again, the key is to anticipate the movements of your opponent.  To minimize the chances he'll hear you, you should only move when he is moving, even if you have to move faster in order to get to your next cover point. If your opponent happens to stop, turn around and look in your direction, you want to make sure you have cover, or are at least in a low profile position. If you have no cover, keeping a low profile and remaining still can sometimes (but not always) work. I personally have had opponents turn to look in my direction without noticing me. However, I was prepared to fire just in case, which is something you should always be ready for when stalking.
 

As you continue to close the distance on your opponent, keeping your gun in ready-to-fire position, try to remember the question "then what?" What happens if your shots do not connect? Do you have adequate cover? What is your plan of action if you are stalking two (or more) opponents? Will you be able to take out them both out quick enough, or will you need immediate cover to keep the second one from getting you? The best strategy is to try and take your shot from a covered or low-profile position, with quick and decisive action. Once you are in no-miss range, eliminate your target quickly and immediately move on with your plan. Despite the trends in modern-day paintball, it is not necessary to fire off a dozen shots to eliminate an opponent. One or two shots will suffice, especially when you are at close range shooting someone in the back. Additionally, taking fewer shots draws less attention to your position. If you know your shots broke (at a no-miss range you should be able to tell) your concentration should then turn immediately to your next target, or next goal.

Playing sneaky takes practice, and it requires the development of habits which are outside of the conventional norms of paintball play. For me personally, there are few things in this game as satisfying as catching an opponent completely by surprise, eliminating him, and moving on without him ever having fired a shot - that is what being a sneaky bastard is all about.