I played a few times over the years, but recently I've really been getting into it with some friends.  I just got my own gear the other day, used for a good price.  It's great not having to pay for rentals anymore, and it's fun to upgrade and maintain.  It makes all the difference owning your own stuff.  I just have a basic tippmann 98 (platinum series) because I play woodsball not speedball, and I'm getting a nice 12" lapco barrel and a dye i4 mask soon in the mail, as is my friend.  Can't wait to try the barrel and mask in a couple weeks.
edit:  and now I've got a Tippmann A5, with e-grip and double trigger, a good air tank, a barrel adapter so I can use that same 12" barrel with t98 threads, and a proto pro axis camo mask.  Woo!  I'm all set.  

These asshole punk kids play paintball in my backyard, don't be one of those asshole punk kids.

What are kids doing in your backyard anyhow? 

I used to be into paintball, but I've gotten out of it lately. Just don't have the time or money really. 

Good call with the Tippmann 98. I've found that the biggest problem with most guns is not accuracy, weight, etc, but the durability and reliability. Sure, a Smart Parts Ion shoots wonderfully, but in my experience, it only works a percentage of the time. The early Tippmanns definitely deliver on that front; they've been called the AK-47s of paintball - that's to say, practically indestructible, and always work consistently. 

Here's a tip with the Dye i4, though. It's a really nice mask, looks awesome and has a great field of view, but it uses a thick anti-fog coating to prevent fog. This coating can come off easily - even a day in rain will be enough to remove it. Once the coating is gone, it'll fog up consistently, and will never be as clear. So I'd be careful with the lens; if it can be helped at all, try to avoid rain.

paintball = cool

" @Mattalorian:  Thanks for the tip.  That's a bummer.  Are all the masks like that?  I heard it has very good ventilation anyway, to help avoid fogging. "

" @Mattalorian:  Alright, cool.  I was just worried because I bought two i4's, for myself and my friend, and didn't want to be disappointed.  Anyway, we both have a backup mask that we could use in case it rains.  "

I played a few times over the years, but recently I've really been getting into it with some friends.  

have fun. i played paintball a couple of times. i had a crappy spyder it got worn down and things. i think my friend might have broken it or something because it doesn't keep pressure. it doesn't fire anything.

I don't play Paintball, but I do play airsoft (Paintballs are quite a bit more expensive than Airsoft BBs, and me and my friends are all tightwads...).  I love the sport a bunch, we use a friends field beside a small valley, and we have a barn and built two bunkers in the valley, so we play there a lot.  I have a Classic Army Sportsline M4 and JLS FN SCAR.  Me and my friends are actually getting an official league thing started.  We started making a local group, and now we're trying to get sponsored by some site called Evike.com.  Really fun stuff.

" @Mattalorian:  hey man just thought I'd let you know, I emailed Dye and asked about getting water on the lens and they gave a lot of useful info and what they had to say about the water was this: "I can tell you that water or rain getting on the inner layer of the lens will not destroy the Anti Fog Coating. If any cleaning product or Chemical is used on the lenses this will have an effect. Some people think that washing liquids or Glasses cleaners are mild enough to not affect the lens, this is not the case. The best way to clean the lens is with a Soft Microfiber Cloth. You shouldn’t need to use anything else at all."   So I don't think using it in the rain is bad for the lens, but I still wouldn't do that anyway because it's probably not good for the foam.  "

Wow, the Dye i4 totally doesn't fit me.  I'm about 6 foot 2 at most, not outrageously tall or anything, yet my chin sticks out below the mask.  I'm not surprised because I was warned it isn't for big people, but I just thought they meant like fat people.  So here's a tip, the i4 is made for short people.  I've exchanged it for the Dye Proto Pro Axis (camo version), which is a very awesome mask as well.

                Dye Proto Pro Axis

I've been needing to play again soon.  I used to own a super-modded Tippy 98 Custom (first manufacturing line). Solid beginning gun, I really liked it. Got soooo accurate with it as well, it's a great feeling when you can become "one" with the marker.
 
Right now I'm rocking an A-5 with aftermarket external grips, stocks, and a custom air supply system. I also have that same mask, although I found camo paints/decals don't often make much difference. Try a ghillie suit., they work wonders. :)