Sniping

[Arc_Shielder]

Would you change your opinion if you where playing with a trusted friend? I agree with you if you play with a random guy that you really need to hold his hand I was assuming playing with an experienced sniper.

Duly noted, sorry for the enthusiasm.

If you want to meet up and form a Recon squad for the lulz, let me know. We'll do it your way.

Also, why does the sniper need a spotter? IRL there are solid reasons for it (watching fall of shot, adjustments, ability to rotate over long periods of time) but in PR a spotter gives the sniper nothing but maybe a rope and a get out of jail free card if the sniper is in completely the wrong place.

Having a spotter as a sniper is nothing but role playing. Serves no purpose at all in PR.

After this 2nd post I'm kind of lost at what you're aiming at. That snipers should work alone or that spotters - working solely for the sniper - are useless?

Sorry my comprehension seems to be on the low side today.

[Spec]

Having a spotter as a sniper is nothing but role playing. Serves no purpose at all in PR.

So what? What happens if a team is a bit less effective for the sake of enjoyment? Does a kitten get killed somewhere?

Sniping alone is boring. Having a spotter is more fun and also realistic, and this is both a game and a realistic one at that, so there's plenty of reasons for a spotter. Not everything has to resolve around winning the round. Victory is nothing but 5 seconds of a guitar version of a national anthem, while the game is the two hours before that. The focus should surely not be on these five seconds.

[Mouthpiece]

I have never sniped btw. Because theres always some guy taking the sniper kit and going up in the mountains and just killing. A team that actually provides intel and kills some guys is good to have I guess.

Me too.

But once, few weeks ago, It was the first time I TOTALLY needed the sniper kit in order to laze the tanks for CAS in the middle of nowhere in Kashan (I had a crate nearby). Actually It was such a good position to laze and later maybe engage some inf on North Bunkers, that It made me sad when I found out that all kits are taken.

[Acecombatzer0]

To be completely honest, I think sniping should be removed from the game. I just can't stand these lone wolf L337 Snip0rs that go 18:0 K/D and don't do recon at all. They don't laze targets for CAS, they always demand ridiculous LZs for trans helos, and they can take out an entire squad from 400m away.

I personally think the kit should be renamed "recon" or "scout." I might promote teamwork a little more.

[Mouthpiece]

I personally think the kit should be renamed "recon" or "scout." I might promote teamwork a little more.

+ 1

The name "sniper" itself is a noob magnet. It should be changed.

[Gracler]

Also, why does the sniper need a spotter? IRL there are solid reasons for it (watching fall of shot, adjustments, ability to rotate over long periods of time) but in PR a spotter gives the sniper nothing but maybe a rope and a get out of jail free card if the sniper is in completely the wrong place.

Having a spotter as a sniper is nothing but role playing. Serves no purpose at all in PR.

In BF2 if you can see the enemy he can see you so having twice the amount of eyes watching a wide area will defiantly enhance your chance of survival. Also in many cases the sniper will keep his sniper fixed on a high priority target like a HAT or AA kit lien on the ground, preventing it from being picked up. Now without the spotter your going to miss everything else happening on the battlefield.

On the other hand I would not have a spotter constantly watching my back, since that means that your sniping position isn't well thought of. You should find a spot where you have something behind you to eliminate your profile on the horizon so you don't light up like a Christmas tree. (staying just behind the ridge is also a bad idea because of the BF2 engine draw-distance view. even when hidden the enemy will see a floating man when looking at your ridge)

Find a spot with low ambient noise then you can easily hear enemy's sneaking up on you.

[Wifout Teef]

Also, why does the sniper need a spotter? IRL there are solid reasons for it (watching fall of shot, adjustments, ability to rotate over long periods of time) but in PR a spotter gives the sniper nothing but maybe a rope and a get out of jail free card if the sniper is in completely the wrong place.

Having a spotter as a sniper is nothing but role playing. Serves no purpose at all in PR.

The spotter does what you think he would do: spot

Whenever I'm spotter, I scan different directions than where the sniper is looking, tell him where the targets are, etc. I'm another set of eyes.

And if enemies get too close, I can defend our position better than my partner and help get us out of there.

Just an FYI, spotters in real life have assault rifles often in case enemies get too close.

[Truism]

Got pretty much every response I expected. This post is a litmus test for the PR community. Go back through other threads like this and you'll see a pattern.

Proof that people don't play this game because it's actually realistic, they play it because it makes them feel realistic. It's a massive role playing game that survives on suspension of disbelief more than quality of build.

[Mikemonster]

Get rid of Snipzor kit, introduce FAC/Forward Observer/All-Arms-Liason Kit.

Problemo solved. How many snipers fight as regular forces? I thought PR was trying to escape all the SF stuff.

[Mouthpiece]

Maybe someone brave enough should make a suggestion in the appropriate section? About changing the name of the kit or doing something bad to it.

[Truism]

It's been done plenty of times before, but that wouldn't solve the problem, because the problem lies with sniping being unrealistic, and therefore not having a high enough knowledge barrier to entry.

A proper ballistic system would be a first step, but in the mean time, I don't believe there is even a place for this kit in the game.

[Mouthpiece]

I think that by changing the name of sniper kit it would make a bit of a difference. IMO, there would be less newbies taking this kit because they can (or just like to) snipe in COD and other shit games.

The problem I'm looking at is people taking kits because they just like the name of it or feel better when they have it, or something like that.

There has been a suggestion like this before? So why didn't DEVs change the name?

[Psyrus]

I think that by changing the name of sniper kit it would make a bit of a difference. IMO, there would be less newbies taking this kit because they can (or just like to) snipe in COD and other shit games.

The problem I'm looking at is people taking kits because they just like the name of it or feel better when they have it, or something like that.

There has been a suggestion like this before? So why didn't DEVs change the name?

Imo you could change the name to useless twat kit and as soon as people find out it has a rifle with a high power scope you return to the status quo. There are two types of player that use the sniper kit in my opinion... The minority (10+ %) who focus on recon and lazing, and the leet snipezorx which constitute the vast majority of users I've seen over the 5 years and various servers. In short, I don't believe that simply changing the name addresses the underlying point of players' resentment towards the kit being used as it is.

[Ratface]

Unless we get some kind of VIP mode where taking out an enemy leader at long range is necessary, the sniper is fairly useless. I only have fun with it to take off enemies on Tow's or AA's or enemy hat kits, but for any other form of combat I'd much rather have a nice m21 or g3 marksman, people dont realize how strong those things are

[Qadis]

Only when I am too tired to get some proper action. It is quite relaxing lying in a good spot and reporting targets for friendlies. Calling in CAS and mortars every now and then as well as shooting targets I know that I will hit (90% of the time at least). For me it is a way to play PR when I am tired

QFT. It's best to do it while blazed.

Also, why does the sniper need a spotter? IRL there are solid reasons for it (watching fall of shot, adjustments, ability to rotate over long periods of time) but in PR a spotter gives the sniper nothing but maybe a rope and a get out of jail free card if the sniper is in completely the wrong place.

Still, don't you think having another pair of eyes can be useful ? Especially if the sniper starts picking off a squad he just spotted, and the spotter can keep looking in different directions to maintain awareness.
Another thing is being able to laze or mark targets for the team without having to pull out your weapon. The spotter is the squad leader and has a squad leader kit while the sniper keeps his weapon ready at all times to ensure the fastest response when he spots an enemy (not needing to wait to pull out his weapon and gain accuracy).

[Xander[nl]]

Having a spotter as a sniper is nothing but role playing. Serves no purpose at all in PR.

Playing in a 2-man sniper team often, I can tell you that a spotter makes the sniper at least twice as efficient. Bino has a way better field of view (so it's easier to spot things) and you can keep a larger area under your control because you got two sets of eyes.
Not to mention that the spotter can relay targets for the team. I usually go officer and my mate graps the sniper, and while he engages hot targets I try to spot threats, either with the radio or by typing. We've saved a lot of tickets by eliminating or spotting enemy HAT etc. And the spotter (being officer) is always in a great position to laze for CAS support.
And ofcourse, a spotter greatly decreases the chance of a valuable kit being wasted by being able to defend the sniper in CQC combat or being able to pick up the kit and run away with it.

As for the OP: in some maps, a good sniper team can win the round. Think of Muttrah where a USMC sniperteam can elimate all AA and HAT and laze/relay APC targets. We also once had a great round where we spotted stuff, relayed it to the commander which then had squads attacking targets. We had a lot of enemy squads and FOBs killed that round. A good sniper/spotter team in the right map (especially Muttrah and some INS maps) keeps track of all enemy movement, which is a huge advantage to have as a team.

[EnermaX]

Too many people forget to help the team - it's all about kills kills kills. There should be a reward for e.g. etc a fob and less point for long range kills like it's now.

[killonsight95]

you get mroe points when you build a FOB than when you kill someone lol.

[Spec]

Much more points already. The top squads are always those transporting people around and/or doing logistics stuff. Get shot five times, kill one dude, build two firebases and be truck driver for the entire round and you'll have twice the score of someone who shoots five people, dies once, destroys two firebases and a truck =p