Paintball is like a production of Hamlet: it's exciting, demanding, and by the end everyone has pretend-died. Take paintball arms against a sea of troubles with today's Groupon: for $20, you get admission (up to a $15 value), gear (a $10.28 value, including gun, tank, hopper, barrel sock, goggles, and pod belt), and 500 field-grade paintballs (a $15.89 value) at Proving Grounds Paintball in Sheridan (up to a $41.17 total value).

Proving Grounds Paintball releases pretend warriors onto newly updated paintball fields where they can safely stalk, ambush, and battle other humans. Painters can survey the fields and then choose a battleground, all of which feature large barricades and strategic obstacles, based on playing style. The popular castle-themed field beckons stealthy riflemen with a two-story rampart surrounding a courtyard and a high tower, an ideal setting for players to pose as bards, sing songs about free music downloads, and then snipe anyone who comes out to listen. PGP also has speedball fields with inflatable barriers for airball and pipe bunkers for hyperball.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food; however, PGP also nourishes hungry players with on-site concession stands that satisfy military-grade appetites with hot dogs ($1), Hot Pockets ($2.50), bottled water ($1), and soda ($0.50). Paintballers are advised to wear clothes that make them invincible, and to bring cameras to capture memorable, funny, or embarrassing moments.