Why abxy Rather Dislikes Snipers
supremesonic over abxy has written a nicely articulate rant in the style that I’m so fond of. Better still, its on a topic close to the top of my annoyance list : snipers.
Still, perhaps the only true reason I hate snipers is because I can’t really snipe myself. Yes, I’m one of those people that I’ve just been laughing at, who desperately try and pump you with sniper shells and only succeed when you have the decency to face the other way and stand still. I’m the sort of person who only gets kills simply because of the power of the sniper rifle, with one shot in your chest managing to end your life quite suddenly. Still, at least I retain some sort of sanity in the way that I know I’m not very good, because I’m not going to cheer and hold a party for my sniper friends celebrating how awesome I am, just when I kill someone running straight at me with a headshot. I always lose sniper duels as well, and along with the curse I have of being the chosen sniper target in a group of twenty other team members (I’m serious, do I have a sign above my head? “Shoot this least threatening target and ignore those shooting at you!” or something?) it probably does mean I have a slight bias towards hatred. Ok, heavy bias. Maybe disturbingly so.
Stumble it!
UncleSpoon responded on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:20 pm #
I love playing sniper. I’m not that great, but I’m getting better. I try not to be too predictable, but I know there are far better snipers out there. The reasons I play sniper are twofold.
1) It’s a complete change from the other classes.
2) Watching an enemy body slump to the floor mid-run is an awesome, awesome sight.
I love all the classes, but sniper is the one that offers the most frustration and elation.
Redattack34 responded on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:55 pm #
The reason he hates snipers is pretty much the reason I hate snipers: Most of them suck, and if you aren’t a good sniper, you and your team will be better off if you do something else.
And this is coming from a guy who’s most played class is, surprise, sniper. Not that I’m spectacularly good at it, but I do my best to avoid sucking.
Notger responded on 12 Mar 2008 at 7:07 pm #
I hate snipers.
Especially the good ones that pick my favourite Demo (=me) out of the pack to clear the CP.
Cowards. Standing in shadows and peeping through magnifying glasses. Like accountants in front of a brothel.
atomicthumbs responded on 13 Mar 2008 at 3:37 am #
This is true, though playing sniper on low-gravity servers is fun - get a headshot and watch your enemy’s corpse fly over buildings and back into their base.
UncleSpoon responded on 13 Mar 2008 at 5:23 am #
Notger: “peeping through magnifying glasses. Like accountants in front of a brothel.”
I find the being around the back of the brothel usually offers a better view.
Not sure where I rank as a sniper. All I know is in sniper vs sniper, I usually win. I usually go sniper if nobody else has on a server, and switch to another class if more than 1 other person goes sniper after that.
My class usage is fairly closely balanced. All within an hour or two of each other (barring Scout and Spy).
supremesonic responded on 13 Mar 2008 at 7:41 pm #
Sweet, I got a mention on Ubercharged.net! That’s one of my life goals achieved, right there… Seriously, it’s pretty cool. Thanks.
Anyway, yeah, I do hate snipers a frankly dangerous amount. I tried playing as one again after writing this article, but all it did was show to me that I’m rubbish at it and prove my points.
Also, atomicthumbs, I agree that sniping in low gravity would be pretty damn awesome. Fly free, unaware one!
Cascade responded on 14 Mar 2008 at 10:10 pm #
Am I the only one who thinks snipers fill an important role in the game?
TF2 works best when positions aren’t static; when the front is moving. Snipers keep everyone moving. And they can dislodge well-dug-in positions; on the last cap of Dustbowl, a good offensive sniper is a holy terror.
Yes, there are lots of bad snipers. But, well, they tend to even out across the teams. And, why would you object to lots of free kills?
Snipers make my pyro, demo, soldier, spy and scout very happy.
Wormbrain responded on 15 Mar 2008 at 1:01 am #
I hate snipers, yet I really can’t justify my hatred with any solid reasons. Maybe because I feel snipers are kill-oriented rather than objective-oriented. Actually, it’s probably I’m a terrible sniper and I’m jealous of the good ones. Yeah, that’s it.
Luke responded on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:07 am #
I used to hate Snipers with a searing passion, but then I spent a week playing only as classes I neglected (sniper and scout mainly), and my feelings softened. Now I enjoy a good snipe if the team needs it. Though I still hate
a) Zero point terrible snipers. Just go soldier and at least soak up some bullets
b) Dedicated snipers - no matter how many on the team, or what we urgently need, they’ll go sniper even if it’s a team of four on cp_well
c) 2Fort synchronised sniping teams. You guys all suck.