So you want to play paintball. Before you get excited about every thing you need to find out if you like the game. The best way to do this is to find a field close to you and call them up and ask, do you rent guns, how much does it coast to rent a gun and to get in, and how much is paint. I have heard a lot of stories about kids that go out and buy $200 guns and go out and play and hate the game. So you really should go out and play at a field first and rent a gun before you decide to put out the big bucks for an automag, spyder or any other $200 to $300 gun.
Ok now you have decide that you like the game enough to go buy out and buy a gun or a "marker" as they call it in Paintball. The first thing you need to do is you find a Paintball store near you. When you look for a gun there are a lot of things you need to consider about your gun. One is can you handle the gun good. Is it light enough or is it heavy. This is one thing you need to think of while buying a gun. Second does it have good distance when you shoot it? If it does not then you will be upset when you go out on the field and people are out shooting you about ten or twenty feet. Third is does the gun have good accuracy. If it doesn't then it will be extra hard to hit your enemy. The fourth and last thing does the gun shoot consistently. This means does the gun shoot the same speed every time. Like I said before at the top, you need to chrono your gun so that it shoots 290fsp. If the gun is not consistent then you will shoot 240, 260, and 250. That means the distance the gun shoots will fluctuate a lot.
Next you need to find a mask that fits you good. Some masks have a lot of good features like tint, anti fog lens and visors. You can find a good mask for about $40. When you start playing the game a lot and you buy another gun you may want to get better mask later.
After buying a gun you should ask the guy at your local paintball store if he knows what type of paint works best in a gun. If you buy cheap paintball you will be braking balls in your gun a lot the next time you go out and play. ONE THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU GET YOUR PAINTBALLS IS THAT YOU NEED TO ROLL THEM AROUND EVERY OTHER DAY SO THAT THEY DO NOT GO FLAT ON ONE END AND BRAKE OR SHOOT FUNNY IN YOUR GUN!!!!! This is very important so that you don't loose $70 worth of paint.
Also when you go out and play for the first time you will be scared to get hit. Once you get over the fear of being hit you will have reached the next level of paintball. When you get to the point when you are not afread then you will have a lot more fun and you will make a big difference in your team.
Last thing if you are nervous when you first go play it is ok. When I first went to go play I was very nervous but when I got out there everyone was very nice. You can make some easy friends in paintball, I have. I hope this has helped you. Have fun :)