Snipers

[Exterminatus]

There's been a lot of fuming (especially from Anubis) about the number of snipers and I'm not particularly happy at how everyone generalizes when it comes to that, so I'm gonna share some thoughts.

There's 2 types of snipers - snipers and wankers. Very easy to tell the difference.
On defense:
- Snipers provide the team for long range support, taking out high value targets (medics and their overhealed companions) or any spies that appear out of nowhere to stab your teammates.
- Wankers camp one little crack in the wall and wait for something that they can bodyshot it to death.

On offense:
- Snipers pick a class which would be better suited unless there are overwhelming enemy snipers/heavies that are blocking your progress. They can even take out engineers and their sentries.
- Wankers camp one little crack in the wall and wait for something that they can bodyshot to death.

In a tight spot:
- When snipers get caught mid-range they need to make a call - retreat or engage.
- When wankers get caught mid-range they toss a jar of piss and hopelessly try to melee people.

Equipment:
- Snipers use their rifle and an smg for some close range firepower, or a Jarate for utility purposes.
- Wankers use the Razorback and then don't notice when a spy breaks it or when he plugs them in the back of the head with the Ambassador.

Playstyle:
- Snipers aim for the head.
- Wankers spam arrows at a corridor/door/window in the hopes of someone accidentally putting their head in front of an arrow. What's worse is that they get lucky too often.

Overall:
- Snipers are a support class, not a backbone class, you can't win anything with too many snipers, but a few good ones can really make a difference.
- Wankers are the new fellas to the class whoose mentality is "oh yay, a bow and arrow, now I don't HAVE to aim".

I'm not saying the Huntsman is a bad weapon. I'm saying it's a terrible weapon that promotes bodyshotting and spamming like an idiot, as well as being an insult to snipers. Whoever thought of designing a bow should have his balls shoved up his rectum. Whoever supported that dimwit should be neutered to purify humanity's gene pool.
And if anyone's gonna say "point and click adventure" I suggest you try playing seriously with a sniper before you make comments about it. Just because we don't seem to die as much doesn't mean it's easier to be of more use than a W+1 kamikazee pyro.

[LazyEagle]

Jebus Exterminatus, I was with you 100% until you started Pyro bashing!

While I have as much of a problem about there being wayyyyy too many snipers on attacking teams, my personal view is that the bow and arrow and jarate can be incredibly effective, if used correctly.
By correctly, I mean using the sniper as a support class, and running forward with the team, using the jar to put out burning team members. It can be incredibly effective on "push the cart" maps especially, but I will agree that when they just hang back and wait, it's sucky for everyone.
If you don't believe me about the value of a decent offensive sniper, using the bow, please spec Quintuseques or Dharma Agent sometime, as they're the ones I notice as being infuriating to play against.

Unfortunately, most of your comments can be applied to almost any class, as there are good ways to play and bad ways to play almost all of the characters. A recent annoyance I've noticed is on maps like Chaos, where you might have 3 heavies with medics outside your front door, and you see 4 scouts constantly rushing out and getting mowed down......over and over again!!!! Like seriously, I know the scout is overpowered, but why not change to a class that might be able to do something about the problem than constantly die and respawn, just to run out and die again.

And back to your W+MOUSE1 comment abut the pyros, I could easily write a big long post about the difference between a good pyro and a bad one, but it mostly comes down to being clever with where you are running and having the balls to take on groups of player that will probably kill you.
It can be simplified as follows:
1. If you use the normal flamethrower, you should definitely be using the blowback to defend your team and put out fires.
2. If you use the backburner, you should be trying your best to get behind the enemy line and kill the medics and any sentries that are just around corners, or that you can conceivably run at. I certainly think that dropping down behind a bunch of unsuspecting players and killing 4 or 5 in one backburning run is one of the most satisfying thins you can do in the game, but that's just me.

[DragoonKnight]

the jarate can work well in tandem with the pyros flamethrower as it gives them mini criticals for which to kill the enemy faster.

[black_feather]

Unfortunately, most of your comments can be applied to almost any class, as there are good ways to play and bad ways to play almost all of the characters. A recent annoyance I've noticed is on maps like Chaos, where you might have 3 heavies with medics outside your front door, and you see 4 scouts constantly rushing out and getting mowed down......over and over again!!!! Like seriously, I know the scout is overpowered, but why not change to a class that might be able to do something about the problem than constantly die and respawn, just to run out and die again.

I've noticed that too, I think since the scout update came out it's fucked the game a bit, people seem content to fuck around and not do anything to help the team now, scouts just run around bonking, snipers aren't helping they're just sniping snipers and spies are just hanging around trying to get cheap kills. Leaving a team of 16 with only half that number trying to achieve something.

[BBloke]

Hey.. I resemble the second variant and I'm totally annoying and I don't care!! hehehe.

Nice rant btw. I guess thats why we had the uber Spy update at the same time?! just to fell these wanker snipers.

[Exterminatus]

While I have as much of a problem about there being wayyyyy too many snipers on attacking teams, my personal view is that the bow and arrow and jarate can be incredibly effective, if used correctly.

I have no problem with the, um, "correct" use of the Huntsman, but in my opinion it can't stand up to the rifle. The arrow can be dodged, blowbacked or fail to get a headshot due to being close up and hits messing up your aim. Sure the bow charges fast and you can bodyshot to death, but you couldn't headshot unless you got lucky (not counting people who stand still for some reason) and doesn't reload nearly as fast as the rifle. Chain uncharged rifle headshots can be surprisingly effective.

And back to your W+MOUSE1 comment abut the pyros, I could easily write a big long post about the difference between a good pyro and a bad one

I intended that to describe bad pyros, not pyros in general. Granted there's a number of good pyros on Fester's that blowback and get behind the front lines, but there's also a lot of them that W+1 down a hall with the whole damn enemy team shooting at them

[.:BHD:. C0co]

Yeah, Exterminatus you're totally right about that.. but sometimes there are like 5 snipers on one team, not on every map, but if we take the sniper maps like for instance mach4, you just can't run out or you get bodyshotted... But I agree with you about the difference between snipers (like you) and wankers (like me )

Oh yeah and about that bow, I like to play with it, and it isn't always luck... You sure have those 'players' who just random shoot at doors and windows and hope someone decides to show his head, but you always have other bow-users...
If I play with the HM, I play with it like an offensive class, just a bit slower because I stop at every corner and walk slowly towards it with my bow ready, BUT I DON'T JUST SHOOT RANDOM... Just to make that clear... And I think some people will agree with this.

[Innonexess]

During my 5 hours played as sniper, i've mainly been a wanker.

Apart from this one time in hoodo when i got 7(!) headshots!

But yeh, im a wanker, and bad at it ^_^

[Devvil]

According to Exterminatus I´m half sniper half wanker, making me a... Wanking Sniper !?

[.:BHD:. C0co]

Nah, just a wanker xD