Start lines

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

If a start line is printed out and posted at the start position, is a longer start line an issue for you?  When I say a longer start line, I mean something like this, “When you see me coming you best step aside.” or “I don’t guess any of you would care to surrender.” or even “You tell ‘em I’m coming and Hell’s coming with me.  You hear?  Hell’s coming with me!”

 

Thanks for your input.

Possum

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Possum,

 

Most folks abbreviate or make up a line that they think is a funnier version. Or just say I'm ready.

 

Rev. Chase

[Hells Comin]

You tell 'm Comin and Hells comin with me.  Just the right length. 

 

  Hells Comin 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

I am all for the shooter having exactly as much fun as they wish to.

 

If that means a simple "Shooter Ready" or if that includes a more lengthy starting line than most - more power to them.

 

BUT...

 

I have seen the embellishment of the starting line frustrate timer operators as WE don't know exactly when the shooter is going to be done with their recitation.

 

I have, more than once, thought the shooter was done and given a "Standby" - and then had to jam on the brakes because they still had another line or two to go.

 

And now I've thrown them off stride and we end up starting the whole thing over.

 

[Barry Sloe]

I don't mind saying the line, but I don't want to get out of breath saying it. 

 

BS

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

To me a 3 or 4 word starting line is plenty, I don’t want to recite a paragraph.🤠

 

Randy

[Bingo Montana]

5 minutes ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said:

To me a 3 or 4 word starting line is plenty, I don’t want to recite a paragraph.🤠

 

Randy

I'm with Randy, I just don't have the mental capacity to remember more than a  3 or 4 word a starting line. 

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

31 minutes ago, Bingo Montana said:

I'm with Randy, I just don't have the mental capacity to remember more than a  3 or 4 word a starting line. 

Line posted right in front of shooter along with start position.

No need to memorize…

[Captain Bill Burt]

I prefer my starting mental state always be the same, so "Let's shoot" is what I say every time.

[Silver Creek Jack]

In my old aged mind ima tryin to remember the scenario, “let’s go” is my go to starting line. No offense intended to the stage writer!

[doc roy l. pain]

I don’t think a starting line has to be long to be effective.  Basically it’s the shooter letting the TO know he is ready for the beep. I do have a pet peeve about feeling it should be something cowboy. I’m alright with “giddy-up” or “say when”, something as simple as that. I hate it when I hear “shooter ready”. After all, it is a fantasy game so I like keeping with the western theme as much as possible and I don’t think it’s asking too much of the shooter. But then again, that’s just me. 

[Eyesa Horg]

I do my best to remember them, short or a little long. It's part of the fun in our game. I have been known to modify them a bit!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

My favorite line is:   "You're a Low Down Yankee Liar".

 

But, I'm happy with 'Ready'.  or. "Lets Go".      Heck, I once shot a stage where the starting line was....."Widdermaker Ready".

 

The stage writer really put a lot of thought into that one.....

 

..........Widder

[Sixgun Seamus]

What Doc said. This supposed to be fun. I post the lines on every stage but don't care what they say. When I am TOing at a club that doesn't post the lines and someone doesn't remember and asks me, my answer is the same. I tell them the line is "Seamus is my hero". They laugh and lots of folks actually say it. 

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

44 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

My favorite line is:   "You're a Low Down Yankee Liar".

 

But, I'm happy with 'Ready'.  or. "Lets Go".      Heck, I once shot a stage where the starting line was....."Widdermaker Ready".

 

The stage writer really put a lot of thought into that one.....

 

..........Widder

Let’s see: was the line (your alias) Ready ?

 I want to know how many said actually that: “your alias ready!

[Anvil Al #59168]

I'm with some of the others.

Short and sweet. Then I will try and remember it and say it.

But if it's long at all. I will shorten it or say something else. 

I do like them posted right in front of the starting point.

But even if posted right in front of me. My eyes will be on the target 

or my first gun. So still needs to be short.   

[Hells Comin]

I haven't read a line in over 20 years until last month. The line was on the stage description so I placed it at the start position. I Read the very long  ridiculous line  kinda. "Beep" shot the rifle and shotgun no problem ran down range pulled the first pistol then  pulled the second pistol and  I froze had no idea what the sequence with - shot it anyway "P". I won't be reading any long ridiculous lines again ! If you like that sort of thing have fun with it.

  

[Hoss]

I generally try to hit close to the line, often with a little embellishment. But usually not more than 3-4 words. 
 

we used to have a shooter who made up really long lines, they would frustrate TO. 
 

in our neck of the woods a default starting line is “Big Iron is awesome” 

[John Kloehr]

Within my limited experience, on forgetting the line I went with "that's easy for you to say!"

[Rye Miles #13621]

My fav is “ Say When”

 

I absolutely hate when they have the TO say something and the shooter has to answer!🙄

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

19 minutes ago, Hoss said:

...in our neck of the woods a default starting line is “Big Iron is awesome” 

 I was thinking the same thing. 

 

I like to have fun with the starting lines.   If I get a laugh, so much the better.  Although I probably should spend more time thinking about the scenario than my comedy routine.

[Rip Snorter]

I like "Whatever" or “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”

[John Kloehr]

8 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

I like "Whatever" or “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”

Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front

[Krazy Kajun]

"You gonna pull those whistles or pistol Dixie." 🤠

 

Kajun

[Frontier Lone Rider]

When I forget, I just say "let the fun begin".

 

Of course, there is always the standby, "kill them all and let God sort them out".

[La Sombra]

1 hour ago, Hoss said:

in our neck of the woods a default starting line is “Big Iron is awesome” 

Proud to say that while shooting in Texas, I have never told anyone that Big Iron is awesome. That might change now!

 

La Sombra

[Hoss]

9 minutes ago, La Sombra said:

Proud to say that while shooting in Texas, I have never told anyone that Big Iron is awesome. That might change now!

 

La Sombra

It’s especially helpful when he is TOing! 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Even when posted at the starting position they need to be short. Your examples are too long.

[Jefro, SASS#69420]

I don't mind a wordy starting line or two or three. We also post them in plain sight, but if it's too much to handle "Shooter Ready" is an okie dokie option. 

 

JefroRelax-Enjoy 

[Jack Spade]

This may just be my thinking but I have always felt like starting lines are part of the stage and are there as an added element of the stage.   Just like a knock down or pop up target they are meant to be engaged as part of the stage.   It can be argued that shooters who say "let's go" or "shooter ready" are gaining a competitive advantage over a shooter saying the whole line.  

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

7 minutes ago, Jack Spade said:

This may just be my thinking but I have always felt like starting lines are part of the stage and are there as an added element of the stage.   Just like a knock down or pop up target they are meant to be engaged as part of the stage.   It can be argued that shooters who say "let's go" or "shooter ready" are gaining a competitive advantage over a shooter saying the whole line.  

 

I've been waiting for someone to bring that up. 

Are you seriously suggesting assessment of a 30-second "Failure to Engage" penalty to shooters who ad lib the starting iine?? 

REF: SHB pp.12, 13, 23, & 43

 

[Captain Bill Burt]

24 minutes ago, Jack Spade said:

This may just be my thinking but I have always felt like starting lines are part of the stage and are there as an added element of the stage.   Just like a knock down or pop up target they are meant to be engaged as part of the stage.   It can be argued that shooters who say "let's go" or "shooter ready" are gaining a competitive advantage over a shooter saying the whole line.  

Me too PWB.   I seem to recall a cowboy stating a while back that he assessed Ps for failure to use the starting line.  

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

4 minutes ago, Captain Bill Burt said:

Me too PWB.   I seem to recall a cowboy stating a while back that he assessed Ps for failure to use the starting line.  

 

IIRC, in a previous related discussion, one TO suggeted refusing to start the timer until the proper phrase was said. 

 

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

I feel like we have lost a big part of the fun of our sport in our pursuit of speed.  However, the participants have spoken and I will ensure brevity.

[Jack Spade]

I was afraid I might be opening a can of worms lol!  No I am not advocating for penalties to be assessed.  But there is some thinking involved in our game and saying a whole starting line may or may not disrupt or slow down the shooters mental process of shooting the stage where just saying one or two words may not disrupt the process giving an advantage to the shooter not saying the line.   Maybe relate it to football in that saying the starting line is like taking a time out to "ice" the kicker.  It is meant to add another element to the stage.  

Edited September 26 by Jack Spade