Water warfare
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Water warfare can be most simply defined as a fun fight or mock combat using water-dispensing devices from buckets to balloons to water guns and even cupped hands cradling water. There are many different levels of game play used by those engaging in water warfare from quick, casual water fights to long, objective-oriented-style water warfare campaigns, and tournament-style games. In most but not all cases, the common objective is to soak (spray with water) one's opponents while trying to remain dry. Below further discusses different aspects of water warfare and offers references for further reading as well as links to sites of interaction between water warriors worldwide.
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[edit] History of Water Warfare
It is unknown precisely when humans first began splashing their friends with water. Water play is even exhibited by other animals such as monkeys or even elephants opting to spray themselves and others in an attempt to cool off during hotter months. This sort of activity is likely how water warfare began, though its specific evolution appears lost in time.
Splashing others with water has likely been around since humans first discovered that a cupped-hand can be used to cradle water within. As mankind evolved to use various natural objects, then tools, the ability to carry and pour/dispense water upon others became more possible. One still used ploy is to simply fill a wide-mouthed object (i.e. a bucket or pot) with water such that one can heave a wave to water towards another using one's arms. Though accuracy and range of this type of water attack is minimal, at close range, it is quite possible to significantly soak another. This form of basic water combat is still employed today, particularly in Thailand during the Songkran festival.
Water warfare has evolved through the ages. Specific details remain lost in time, but there is little doubt humans have been splashing each other with water, particularly during hot days, as it seems to be a virtually instinctive act. Small infants and little children all enjoy splashing about in shallow wading pools or in the bathtub. Adolescents and adults often play pranks involving carefully positioned buckets of water atop doors or water balloons. However, these acts do not quite fall into the realm of the modern water warfare definition, but do explain aspects of its origin.
Modern water warfare is derived in many respects from actual military warfare. However, unlike actual combat, water warfare is meant to either cool down during a hot day or to safely simulate some aspects of combat without the danger of inflicting life-threatening injuries.
The primary objective, as noted earlier, is most typically to soak an opponent or opposing team without getting soaked, oneself. In less organized or casual cases, often the main objective is to cool down during a hot, summer day. There is still aspects of competitiveness present even in the most disorganized 'Soak-Fest' in that those who can deliver more water onto others is sometimes considered the winner, even though he/she made also be well soaked/drenched.
Unlike other mock competitive warfare games like Laser Tag or Paintball, determining whether a water attack is successful is still the topic of some debate, particularly for attempts at creating an organized game as opposed to a simple free-for-all (See Game Types below).
[edit] Water Wars
There are a number of different methods used by various groups as means to judge which side has won or lost.
[edit] Methods of Scoring:
[edit] relative wetness:
this is a rather subjective means usually done by eye. Water warfare participants simple do rough approximations regarding the amount of their clothing has been soaked through versus how much dry surfaces remain. In the event all participants appear to be fully covered with water, sometimes participants opt to wring their clothing as further means to show how wet or dry they are. Winners are often declared upon consensus by the group;
More precise methods of determining the amount of relative wetness are also available. This usually amounts to a measurements of the size of a single or multiple spots of water on an individual's clothing or equipment as predetermined before a battle. This method of scoring, while obviously maleable is most often noted in its most popular form, the "fist sized splash" rule. In this way, a participant who has a "fist sized" splash of water on his/her clothing is "out" for a period of time specified earlier in the game. Variants on this method include using this as a "kill" which dictates a "respawn" either instantaenously or after a set period of time.
[edit] direct-stream/balloon-hit:
this method of judging a hit relies on the agreement and honesty between players as to what constitutes a direct vs. glancing water stream hit. Some groups employ the rule that a 'fist-sized' area should be dampened on an opponents clothing to be counted as a hit while others are more liberal, allowing almost any level of water contact (apart from simply mist) as counting as a hit. Depending on the type of game being played, a hit would count either as a point or may result in a player being temporarily eliminated from gameplay;
[edit] tag-based system:
this method of scoring relies on some form of tag (either water soluble or colour changing when wet) to determine whether a hit or elimination is successful. This is a more objective means of determining points or soaks compared to the methods listed above. However, many argue that use of a tag is not necessarily accurate as tags tend to be small, only on one or two areas on a player's body, and can be much more easily covered/protected unfairly during a water warfare game, making it virtually impossible to score;
[edit] water-collection device system:
some would ultimately prefer a device that could record or report the amount of water actually received by a player during a water fight. However, the problem is that this type of device is hard to find and few are willing to wear them. Presently, there is only one known company distributing such a device (See: Water Tag Vest). Soaking level as recorded by such a device would arguably be the most objective and suitable method of scoring for a water war fight, but as this type of additional piece of equipment is hard to find, costs more (than simply estimating wetness), and is not particularly accepted by most water warriors, this means of scoring remains used by relatively few.
[edit] Popular Game Types
[edit] Free-for-All (a.k.a. FFA, Soakfest, Drenchfest, All-Out-War)
The most common, unorganized water fight; everyone fends for themselves and there are no particular rules apart from no intentional physical contact between players. In general, players are allowed as many refills as available and gameplay continues for as long as players are willing. There are no clear winners in a soakfest, though group consensus may declare an individual or group of players 'leaders' based on general ability to deliver more water onto others as opposed to receiving it themselves.
[edit] One-Hit-Kills (a.k.a. OHK, One-Hit-Eliminates)
this is one of the most basic forms of organized water warfare. Drawing upon paintball rules, the idea is that a single water stream hit counts as an elimination from the game. Games are played until there is only one person or one team remaining on the playing field. However, unlike paintball, there are some debates regarding how best to determine whether a hit has occurred (See: Methods of Scoring above).
[edit] One-Hit-Lives (a.k.a. OHL)
variation on OHK, but instead of player elimination, a point is awarded for a soak, but the soaked player continues to play shortly after
[edit] Capture The Flag
[edit] Soaker Tag
This game works like the simple game of tag, but using soakers and stream hits to determine who is 'It'.
[edit] Common Tactics
[edit] Water Dispensing Devices
The original water guns were made of metal and fashioned after actual firearms.[citation needed] These early pistols did not dispense much water, but would likely be used to taunt or annoy others. Modern water weapons are much more capable of delivering larger volumes of water over greater distances.
[edit] Hoses and Sprinklers
Common water dispensing devices, but are considered as unfair or for refilling use only in most organized games due to the 'unlimited' nature of their water supply.
[edit] Water Balloons
[edit] Water Balloon Launchers
Examples:Stationary pull-back water launchers. An inovative that resembles a bazooka that launches water balloons is currently being developed.[citation needed]
[edit] Squirt Pistols
Examples: small, trigger-based water guns; Super Soaker Lil' Squirts, Water Warriors Kwik Grips
[edit] Syringe/Single-Pump-Based
Examples: large cc syringes, Super Soaker Power Soakers, Shield Blaster Cruncher 5000
[edit] Motorized / Battery Operated Water Guns
Examples: Entertech Water Hawk, Larami Uzi
[edit] Air Pressure-Based
[edit] Pressurized Reservoir
Examples: Super Soaker SS 50, Water Warriors Hornet
[edit] Separate Firing/Pressure Chamber
Examples: Super Soaker SS 100
[edit] Split Air vs Water Pressure Chamber
Examples: Water Warriors Aqua-Master Pre Charger Series
[edit] Constant Pressure Based
[edit] Super Soaker CPS System
Examples: CPS 1000, CPS 2000, Monster XL
[edit] Water Warriors Hydro Power System
Examples: Water Warriors Piranha, Water Warriors Blazer, Water Warriors Hydra Pak
[edit] Hybrid Systems
Examples: Water Warriors Scorpion, Water Weapons (Lanard): WaveBlaster
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Peristaltic Pump-Based
Examples: Shield Blaster 3000
[edit] Miscellaneous Information
When did squirt guns begin being used? There is a mention of one in a historical fiction book based in the 1880's in the United States. Is there any historical evidence that they existed then?
