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Border War 5 "Warhammer" Sets New Records

OptimusPrime

In the past years, determining the biggest airsoft event on record was a tough one. Most of the biggest events are either held in Europe and in the Philippines where over a thousand players can be massed for an intensive event. The top three were actually in Europe where Berget (Sweden), Ground Zero (United Kingdom), and Border War (Czech Republic) rule the roost. The number of participants in these events were always close, around 1,500 to 1,800 players gathering for a single event.

But for this year, Border War's 5th iteration, called "Warhammer",  wich was held last 26-28 of April 2013, breaks away from Berget and Ground Zero in terms of participants, as this is the first time that a major airsoft event is recorded to have over 2,000 players, 2,300 players according to the organisers. But according to the Border War News (BWN) team, it's not only the number of players, but there are more records set:

  • Largest Airmobile deployment in the airsoft history (200 players)
  • Largest LARP city with on-the-spot built structured buildings in the Airsoft history (Including the 3 storey complex of the Bank of Alisi) (25 constructed buildings)
  • Most advanced medical and safety standard of any Airsoft events in Europe (Role 2 Achelon medical set up – 30+ professional medical crew on spot)
  • Largest organizing the Crew ever performed in organizing an airsoft event in Europe (Maybe in the world)
  • Largest usage of PES (Personal Eye System) by Milsistematika on an Airsoft event (104 devices)

Those are indeed impressive stats and we don’t know if other events are looking into topping the numbers. This event entailed massive logistics which took 10 months of planning and over 140 members of the organising crew. If you have been part of the organising group or as  a participant, you better be proud as you were part of something unique in airsoft in the world.

Furthermore, it was also a charity event where a part of proceeds was devoted for the children's homes in Central and Northern Bohemia. The Czech Defense Ministry also supported the events, putting an up an exhibit in the safe zone of Czech forces in Afghanistan as part of ISAF.

As for the scenario for this event, I'll let the BWN team explain it:

The scenario of Operation Warhammer brought players to the equatorial Kingdom of Zagra, where the King's Royal Army launched a massive offensive against rebel forces of the People’s Army of Zagra (PAZ). The main points of interests of both fighting sides were diamond and silver mines in the Lungo Norte province. The fighting armies managed to hold silver and diamond mines as they fought each other in the hard battles. Getting the slum town of ALISI to support any of the game side and hiring PMC forces to support the operation were demanding special tasks that had to be considered very carefully by HQs of both fighting armies. Border War 5 was freely developed on the story line of Border War 1, held in 2009, and was actually started with a Border War - Black Ops pre-event in September 2012 as a living scenario where the Operation Warhammer closed the developed campaign of other pre-events.

With 2,300 players, the event is a Milsimers' heaven. But if you think that it's a target-rich environment, which in fact it is, engagements happen on a massive area that regular airsoft skirmishers will hate as you will have to go far and wide to achieve objective or get into contact with other forces. For those with no patience, this is not an event for them. But for Milsim players, this is an event that has most of the ingredients of a major war, with the exception of a naval/water component, given that the Czech Republic is a landlocked country.

Whilst it's really heavy in the airsoft milsim component as compared to some events, Border War also is great in socialisation and some "behind the scenes" activity like this "Non-Official" video below which you should take in a light-hearted manner. After the event, a Border War Photo Contest sponsored by Gunfire, Voodoo Tactical Europe, and Airsoft Community Europe. By the way, G&G Armament was a major sponsor of this event.

Within the next few months, preparations for Border War 6 will begin, and for those wanting to experience the largest airsoft milsim event in the world may want to get their slots early on as there will be a cap in the number of players to a maximum of 2,500 players. It will also give you more time to prepare for the event such as having your team together and raising enough funds to travel and be part of an airsoft of adventure of a lifetime.

The Border War News Team have put together a very long After Action Report (AAR), which we suggest that you read. For future and present airsoft event organisers, it's something to learn about. More photos at the Border War Facebook Page.

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