It’s fine to play virtual war games in Call of Duty on your couch, but it’s something completely different to strap on a mask and sweat in the heat of the paintball gridiron. Feeling a little cooped up as of late, I decided to strap that mask on myself. Pittsburgh Paintball Sports Complex

3458 Harts Run Road, Glenshaw Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (3 to 5 p.m. for the twilight special)

You must book a time for the rest of the week

www.pittsburghpaintballsportscomplex.com/

It’s fine to play virtual war games in Call of Duty on your couch, but it’s something completely different to strap on a mask and sweat in the heat of the paintball gridiron. Feeling a little cooped up as of late, I decided to strap that mask on myself.

The Pittsburgh Paintball Sports Complex — about 20 minutes north of campus — is the closest paintball field to Pitt’s campus with open hours that do not require advance reservation. With the additional knowledge that it was the home of Pitt’s paintball team, I found my way to the Glenshaw complex on a Sunday afternoon.

After looking online for advice, I came prepared with a light hooded sweatshirt and a pair of loose jeans that I wouldn’t be too angry about staining. A pair of sneakers you can get dirty will work fine on the AstroTurf field. The complex also requires a signed liability waiver form that I found on their website.

The square field is surrounded by paintball-proof netting and contains a series of inflated “bunkers” that provide cover for teams that attack from opposing sides. A hit with a paintball that breaks anywhere on your person is considered an “out” and requires you to move back to your team’s netted cage until the next round begins. The winner is the team with the last man standing.

Taking advantage of the “twilight special” for play after 3 p.m., I paid a $10 fee to rent the gun and a face mask and theuse of the field itself. With the addition of $20 for a bag of 500 paintballs, I was ready to go for two hours of shooting. Play for the whole day — starting at 10 a.m. — costs $25 with cases of 2000 paintballs starting at $55.

A little intimidated by the veteran players around me performing some fantastic athletic feats, the field’s referee assuaged my fears.

“The people are all really nice,” Nick Zidek of Greensburg said. “Don’t be too worried.”

And the players reassured me that it was not all about winning.

“It’s not just a matter of skill level if you’re going to a field and renting equipment for fun with your friends,” Pitt paintball team President Dakotah Quintiliani said. The sophomore chemical engineering major plays a competitive version of the game, but still appreciates the more casual experience. “You’re focused on the experience rather than just the skills.”

After introducing myself to my teammates — some of whom were also playing for the first time that day — I moved into position and got ready to advance.

“Far side ready,” Zidek began, “near side ready.” After a countdown, the charge of paint-spitting warriors began.

I moved to the right side, hunkered in a running squat until I reached the safe side of a paint-covered column. As I had practiced before through numerous PlayStation-based scenarios, I shot paintballs off in a frenzy as chaos reigned around me. My efforts were quickly dashed, however, when a blue paintball splattered on my mask. I raised my hand in the air and signaled my wounded status.

“That’s why you always make sure you’re wearing a mask,” Zidek said. And with three more paintballs hitting me above the neckline that afternoon, I could see why.

Undeterred by my early setback, I prepared for a second round with a bit of strategy.

“Make sure to just peek out from the bunkers,” advised one of my first teammates, Shadyside resident Trevor Swindell. “Don’t present a target.” Swindell helped explain the tactical ideals, but he also reinforced the idea of fun.

“Just go out and start shooting,” he said before Zidek counted off and we began again.

During this round, I shot a few more paintballs off, but I ended up with only a few missed shots before I felt a bitter sting on my side. I looked down to see a splash of yellow on my chest and I raised my hand once again in defeat. It hurt, but the sting was motivation for the next round, as well as part of the fun. I was going to come back.

“It does leave bruises and welts,” Quintiliani admitted. “But as far as injuries go, it’s next to none.”

By the time my paintballs were running low and my fatigued legs felt like jelly, I had met many kind comrades and even played in a few one-on-one matches that made my paintball gun feel like a cowboy’s shootin’ iron. I didn’t go out and buy a paintball gun after I left the field — happily covered in paint and mud — on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean I won’t rent one sometime again soon.