Border War MILSIM XII – THE STORM LORD organized by the Border War Crew took place in the middle of September as the only large-scale International Airsoft Event hosted in Europe in 2020. The BW crew didn’t give up in March as European pandemic situation in Europe blocked the original April date and moved the event to September with the main point of focus on player safety, massive usage of game props and plenty of updates based upon players wishes from BW11. The BW crew’s readiness and large investments enabled the event in the maximal safety standards possible declaring itself as an player safety-oriented benchmark event with continuous 12 years of history. Border War MILSIM – THE STORM LORD set another benchmark in the airsoft history in terms of anti-covid measures on spot and active approach towards making the event happen rather than postponing it to the next year.

Border War MILSIM 12th Episode – The Storm Lord was held in Czech Republic in former military reservation Ralsko and took place in the first half of September. The event hosted players from 20 countries of the world. People came from all around Europe even in difficult times. Participants undertook intensive infantry MILSIM battle across a massive scale terrain. This year’s event focused on large scale infantry tactics in a forest with thick vegetation and use of motorized heavy armor elements.

Border War 12 (BW12) again upgraded the player services compared to previous events. Very smooth registration, all participant temperature checks with latest possible technology, professional chrono, medical services on spot and enforced player logistics assured Border War MILSIM status of a world-leading event proving itself as a benchmark in many aspects of Airsoft MILSIM event organizing.

BW12  traditionally hosted historical vehicles this time including heavy armored ones, 20 WW2 fortified bunkers, antitank obstacles, in-game vehicles, ammo crates, large scale rockets, and satellites and much more including completely new 3D printed game props were seen across many game locations built for the purpose of the event.

STRICT PLAYER LIMIT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

Starting from BW11 a strict player limit have been introduced to increase infield game quality. This was due to the pandemic that reduced maximum limit to 1,000 participants available for BW12 due to governmental restrictions.

“Our aim was never to be the biggest but the best, therefore we didn’t have the problem to stick to the new limits and will do so as well in the future,” said Mike leader of the Border War Crew.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM

Border War MILSIM as a leading airsoft event on the planet started making new achievements in corporate responsibility program supporting the local region already from the 10th Anniversary, with a focus on supporting kindergartens, airsoft camps and local municipalities. The Border War Crew also worked together with natural park authorities working on rare and protected biotopes cultivation.

SPONSORS AND SHOPS

Specna Arms, Gunfire LCT, G&G Armament and Evolution Airsoft were the main sponsors of the event. The event was as well supported by Bohemia Airsoft Shop, Border War Armory shop and Night Tec shop.

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

The Off zone offered a large variety of airsoft products, goodies to take from the sponsors also shops with equipment for the airsoft players, gifts and samples from sponsors were given to the players for free. Also, the players had a chance to try their hands on new products. Traditional professional catering accompanied the event with excellent food at reasonable prices and great non-alcoholic Czech beer.

BEHIND THE SCENES

BW12 took 14 months to prepare. Due to the Border War professional organization, it was allowed to use for the event a large area of the natural park for the seventh year in a row. The BW crew received very positive feedback from authorities for very their professional level of organization as always.

PLAYER SAFETY AND MEDICAL CARE

Border War MILSIM’s main focus is safety of players above all, with professional medical services provided by company Davepo. Ambulances, paramedics on jeeps and quad bikes together with doctors were present throughout the duration of the event and with the medical readiness for higher level of risk environment. On the sport Security was arranged by professional Security Company Čechy men known for working on large festivals and NATO days in Ostrava.

Of course, the event was as well supported by local firefighters and police department. Safety of the players is the organizers’ priority.

THE UNIQUE POINTS OF BORDER WAR MILSIM EPISODE 12

• Fastest registration for the event on Border War so far – sold out in few minutes in July 2019
• New game props for day and night gaming never used on Border War MILSIM before
• Player rules available in 4 languages
• Brand new player kits distributed before the event
• All day convoy operations transporting players from the base to the frontline and back
• Nature friendly event – strictly BioBBs, pilot project of recycling and new beercups
• Largest game battlefield ever used in Europe, maybe in the world
• Probably the only large scale international game in Europe in 2020
• Enforced player logistics to get to bases using Humvee and trucks
• Most advanced medical and safety standard for an airsoft event in Europe and probably in the world. This includes enhanced anti-Covid-19 measures and technology for temperature scanning and swimming pool for disinfection.
• Several trucks of game props were transported and used in game
• Corporate Responsibility Program – supported local region through various activities
• More than 1,000 meters of fences and foil was used to make the base walls
• New enhanced night missions
• General Game rules update was introduced

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

The Border War Crew organizes large scale international Airsoft MILSIM games from 2008 having in its portfolio more than 125 organized events since 2003.

Border War MILSIM was seven times voted as the best Airsoft event in the world by readers of Popular Airsoft for the Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards when Border Wars 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were voted as the best Airsoft events in the world. Border War MILSIM was inducted to the Hall of Fame of Popular Airsoft’s Airsoft Players Choice Awards in 2017, thanks to 5 awards in a row, the first for an event in the history of the Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards.

ABOUT THE SCENARIO

The fictional scenario brought players to Northern Chena where the military forces represented by Task Force Viking supported by DOD operatives and local sheriffs units are fighting against tribal militias. Militias were aiming to take control of governmental property in order to scavenge resources as well to demand ransom from the government. Task Force units defended the local rocket battery installation’s antennas and as well mining facilities against the rebels.
 
Weather was nicely warm and tested participant’s endurance and resistance in terms of physical activities under 25 degrees Celsius temperature. The temperature then drops to 14 degrees Celsius at night.

SHORT GAME FLOW SUMMARY

Game Scenario outcomes and achievements

High level point of view – all game sides managed good and successfully fulfilled main tactical objectives.

Friday Action:

Task Force units rapidly deployed on FOB Patriot with the extended support of armored convoys from MOB Liberator. Fighting erupted between Task force and Militia units over Jefferson Farm and Signal Tower and by Friday afternoon the objectives changed ownership several times.

Due to this ongoing fight, militia units didn’t have their hands fee in trying to take control over the FOB Patriot on Friday. Task Force units managed to operate all rocket launchers, sending strategic bombardment towards strategic objectives of the entire campaign. Armored convoy remained intact and served effectively for the TF’s purpose. Heavy fighting consumed the local village where villagers were happy to survive several exchanges with the front line dynamically changing between HLDF and DOD operatives as they clash with militias over a water resource area.

The local tribesmen lost their princess at the hands of a militia warrior pushing the village’s tribesmen to fight alongside the TF during Friday. The militias managed to push back SOG units from the old bunkers and seized the AT rockets from the secret ammo depot in one of the fortresses. By dusk, the TF infantry units rolled back to base and replaced the infantry who experienced several hours of heavy combat deployment with SF operatives and TF Night Operators equipped for night operations.

Friday night was basked in the light of the moon and it was dedicated to nocturnal raids over several areas of strategic importance generating plenty of strategic points for both of the sides of the event for use in the next day. During Friday night, TF and allied units managed to fulfill all objectives and afterwards pulled back to FOB Patriot where they remained until dawn when fresh troops took over their position.

Saturday Action:

The TF attempted to quickly roll in with a full force into the village in the morning and met with militia-motorized recce. Heavy fighting started and Task Force units lost several juggernauts and transport vehicles due to massive AT fire from the militia side. A TF APC managed to push into the village but was significantly damaged and put out of action.

The Militias managed to capture several prisoners and the APC crew. Task Force units focused all forces to make keep the militia units occupied along the frontline and the Coal Mine and Petroleum rig. Again all locations switched sides several times generating production for both game sides. Frontline fighting and the distraction helped SOG members to create diversionary attack on the militia base where gate sentry units fought with SOG operatives and a second SOG group sneaked into the militia HQ, stealing militia flag and killing all HQ personnel. 2 targets on the wanted list were eliminated; trophy flag was taken and displayed on the TF base.

Militia reaction was fierce as regrouping units hunted down SOG operatives at FOB Patriot and fierce fighting consumed entire area. The TF units pulled back to MOB Liberator to defend their position from fortified ground. Militias successfully collected a parachute drop of extra AT rockets and moved the supply to the frontlines. Finally, militias have attempted to siege MOB Patriot causing heavy damage to some of the base facilities. The TF general was wounded by an infiltrator but no TF flag was taken though.

Saturday night focused on COIN operation along the key highway with the aim of limiting militia forces to receive extra resources and supplies for the Sunday fight.

Sunday Concluding Action

The battle of the fisherman village started with a slowly, leading to a fierce close quarter combat in the village. The village priest ran away, the doctor got shot and tribesmen used their bows and arrows to defend the remaining supplies of food from the hands of hungry militias and in the same time ruthless TF and DOD units led by local sheriff to restore law and order in the village at all cost.

The last shot was fired slightly before lunch time and the battle was over leaving the battleground open for further conflict escalation.

After calculating all strategy and resource points accumulated, both sides were successful in achieving tactical victories – with overall scenario ending with no significant winner or loser. Player feedback from game considered that TF units have played very well this year giving the Militia a tough fight.

For that reason, TF and allied forces agreed to a new offensive into Northern Chena in April 2021 and tribal militias called for help to all remaining tribesmen to defend the sacred grounds of Chena Valley. This paves the way to the opening of BW12’s Operation Storm Lord Chapter II!

The BW Crew would like to thank mainly all brave MILSIMers who came to the event in these difficult times! The BW Trustees, Game Masters, Coy Commanders and PLT commanders for leading the players to their objectives --- you made very good job.

We have carefully evaluated the feedback from the players received electronically via our questionnaires and we are proud to say that we have again received a very positive feedback. It is much better as compared to BW11.

“In conclusion, BW12 was a successful event, creating a significant milestone in airsoft history in this difficult pandemic times. We are proud that we managed to overcome all complications bringing in an epic experience to our fans and not caving in from the Covid-19 pressure in an already a bit special airsoft season of 2020. Also, we are very proud that we managed to make the event in the same year without 12 months of postponement,” said Mike Von Bulow.

Thanks one more time to all players for their trust and loyalty. We are looking forward to see you next year at the Border War MILSIM 12th edition - Second Chapter in April 2021.

- Mike von Bulow and the BW Crew.