Classes I have never really been good at: The Sniper
Hello, all. I thought I’d continue the Sniper update mania with an article about why I never really liked the pre-update Sniper playstyle. (Not really so much an “Unlike”(I KNOW THAT ISN’T A WORD SHUT UP) as much as “Oh my god I suck so much at this class”)
*Ahem* Firstly, and let me make myself clear here, I don’t think Snipers should be nerfed. I am, however, annoyed by them. Robin’s blog post pertaining to Snipers beautifully explains why.
I never really liked playing Sniper . In the spans of time in which I do play Sniper, I find it sorta enjoyable. I like the idea of being able to click Mouse1 once and make people all the way across the map ragdollize, regardless of their health (Of course, I’m not the type of guy to camp by spawn) But the main problem with the class haunts me to this day…
The Sniper is probably the most danger prone class in the entire game.
I know, I know. “BUT THE *Class* IS IN WAAAAAY MORE DANGER THAN SOME COWARD WHO STAYS AT SPAWN AND KILLS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE MAP!!!!1!!1!one!” But you’re forgetting. Chances are, there are usually two classes who will always go for the Sniper first. And I know that the Sniper is a “high priority target” along with the Medic and other classes, but I’ve been killed more times by Snipers, as a Sniper than when I’ve been a Medic or any other class.
This is usually me
Yes, the Spy and the Sniper. Not only the two classes that can attack the Sniper from anywhere he can shoot at the enemy team from (The Spy being able to cloak, disguise, use enemy teleports, ect. ect., and the Sniper being able to… Well… Shoot at you), but also the two classes with instant kill attacks. And they’re always gunning for you. (Like my Ma always said, the best target is a stationary target.)
Putting on those sunglasses (Why is he wearing sunglasses anyway?) and that hat essentially puts a big neon sign over your head saying, “ATTENTION EVERYONE: FREE KILL FOR SPIES/SNIPERS RIGHT HERE.” I’ve had Snipers blatantly ignore the overhealed Heavy dominating half their team just to get a good fully charged body shot off at me, who was innocently smelling the flowers some distance away. And yeah, the Sniper is the best counter for enemy Snipers, but if one Sniper is off chasing down a Spy with his Kukri, then I think the other Sniper might have the patience to wait five seconds before shooting someone who doesn’t even know they’re there, and then shoot the first Sniper.
The Razorback is perplexing. If you have it on, you won’t be backstabbed, but you’ll be slower, and therefore will be Sniper fodder. If you have it off, you’ll be faster, but will be backstabbed. And if you do indeed have it on, then Spies will see it, step out of melee range, then shoot you. Because you give up the SMG, you’ll hafta either chase them to melee them (Risky) or noscope them (Riskier). YOU CAN’T WIN AS SNIPER AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.
My aim is something that I should work on as well, but I think that has to do more with the scope. I mean, my accuracy with the flare gun and the Huntsman is spot-on. Scopes make me feel uncomfortable, and make me prone to missing even when I’m five feet away from them.
Aw, cripes, I missed. Well, I don't think he saw me.
Of course, now that I’ve gotten my Huntsman and my Jar based karate, I’m playing Sniper a lot more. The Huntsman’s one second charge and slight delay from firing appeals to my twitchy playstyle more than the rifle, and I think it’s just plain fun to drench people in urine.(Anyone who says it isn’t is a filthy liar)
Well, that’s really my problems with the Pre-update Sniper weapons. See ya ’round.
Stumble it!
GeneralGoose responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 10:52 am #
Nice. I too find the Huntsman a decent weapon.
imPacTedLegend responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 11:16 am #
It seems I have a kindred spirit, as far as sniping is concerned.
I find it really bizarre that I get more headshots with the Huntsman than the regular rifle but I’m not one to question that sort of thing. I feel like I can actually play Sniper without knowing that I’m going to contribute nothing but free kills for the enemy.
I may not be a “good”, Sniper, and sometimes feel guilty for playing the class, but at least I can now be helpful with Jarate in between misses and very sporadic kills.
Also: unlike is a word.
n00bie51 responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 12:28 pm #
Dude, there’s appeal to be found in all the classes; I can enjoy setting people ablaze as much as I can putting one right between the eyes through a scope. Those who spend only one time playing as a few classes or stubbornly refuse to play other ones are simply missing out.
Ohrice responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 12:41 pm #
I hear you, brotha!
Those people on YouTube make it look so easy…
gelugon2105 responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 12:54 pm #
I believe that there is some odd coding to “allow” the Huntsman to get more headshots. In-game, the arrows do have a projectile motion, meaning it is much harder to get headshots with them. Yet, I see them quite often, even at surprisingly long range.
I have yet to obtain and even use the Huntsman, for your information.
Personally, I think the Huntsman does alleviate some of the grievances that non-Sniper players and Sniper players have with this class. I am seeing more close-to-medium range Sniper combatants now, and it’s rather exhilarating to dodge those very painful arrows. As for some very good Snipers I know, they use it because they don’t have any major problem hitting heads at a distance but have always hated the tunnel vision of the Rifle.
(”Just need to aim a bit higher, that’s all. No need to have his big-ass head fill up all the visible space on my screen,” according to a Sniper friend who uses a name too l33t for me to recall.)
But really, players shouldn’t gripe about Spies and Snipers killing Snipers. As much as there is hatred about Weighted-Companion-Snipers, only a stupid Sniper would ignore an enemy Sniper, particularly if they are both very good and armed with the Sniper Rifle. As for Spies, well, being suddenly stabbed when you are stuck in tunnel vision is a given drawback of a Rifle-armed Sniper. BUT there is no excuse for having bumped into a very close Spy and not turning around FIRST and snapping out of scoped vision.
(By the way, I still see the Rifle in use, especially at the start of a round. “I carry more bullets than I can arrows,” according to the aforementioned Sniper friend.)
AlphaTM responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 1:14 pm #
n00bie, I never said I refused to play the Sniper; I said I suck (At using the Sniper Rifle). I try to dabble in all the classes, but not being very good dampens my resolve. I mean, my most played classes at the moment are Pyro, Spy, and Snipah (It was least played before the update). That doesn’t mean I don’t play the other classes at all. I have my good days with the Soldier, Heavy, Medic, ect., and then I have my bad days. (I don’t play Demo much, though.)
Gelugon, I may be inept, but by no means am I stupid. Tunnel-vision greatly reduces your field of view, making it hard to see a crouched Sniper in a dark corner when your crosshair is focused on a medic on the other side of the arena. And, yeah, of course I’ll unscope if I bump into a Spy, but bumping into people is hard to do when you’re moving at a snail’s pace. And they’re behind you. With a knife.
Baggie responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 2:21 pm #
Nice discussion Alpha, personally I can’t use the huntsman, I feel lost playing sniper without a scope. I find the Sniper-Sniper battles to be rather pointless though, I mean I’ll kill a sniper if I’ve got a shot but some people seem to play sniper to only kill other snipers, which I find all manner of odd.
DictionaryMan responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 2:51 pm #
UNLIKE IS A WORD. Now systamitisizing, that’s not a word. Neither is informationalizationing, but thats hardly relevent now is it?
Good article, though.
AlphaTM responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 3:12 pm #
Yeah, yeah, I know “Unlike” is a word, but it’s supposed to be use like “Unlike such-and-such, blah blah blah.” I used unlike as in “I unlike that outfit you’re wearing.”
Comissar Cain responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 3:30 pm #
I have similar problems to you, but mine seems to be whenever I go Snipers, Spies seem to magnetically attracted to me. And of course, they’re always there in the SPLIT second I’m not watching my back like a paranoid schizophrenic.
Also what everyone else said. ‘Weighted Companion Snipers’ aside, the Sniper is in extreme danger from other snipers do to an extremely slow movement speed. The reason you see ‘most players’ going Sniper is that they’re not successful enough in suppressing the opposing teams Sniper and get stuck playing Sniper Duel. Really, consider yourself an ‘average’ skilled or below-average skilled Sniper, who every time you’ve ignored the Sniper you get cacked in the head–who’s the first one you gun for the next time you’re out? I’ll be you after most down him something else kills him as well. (Biggest piece of advice never talked about as a Sniper–Snipe from your TEAM’S POSITION, so they can bloody cover you. I cringe every time I see Loner Sniper Joe out god knows where laying out perfect shots with a giant ‘STAB ME/SCOUT ME/PYRO ME’ sign on his back).
I’ve played on a server or two with some very nasty Snipers and have seen them get as clutch as any other class can be in teh game.
NotPigeon responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 3:36 pm #
Other Snipers are the worst thing about Sniping.
I just want to take my bow and my jar of piss and become credit to team. Do we really need to do the Sniper Wars thing?
Gee-Man responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 4:29 pm #
Snipers wars are pretty much the reason why I stopped going Sniper after a week of playing Sniper. I want to help the team, I really do, but what’s the point when:
A) The only person you’re shooting are either other Snipers or very unobservant Heavies.
or
B) You’re a below-average Sniper in a world dominated by above-average Snipers. Unlike other classes where skill can be somewhat relative, there’s no denying when there are better Snipers than you. What’s the point in being a class when your team already has someone who can do it better? At least a bad Pyro or bad Soldier can be cannon fodder, a bad Sniper is just unwanted baggage.
gelugon2105 responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 5:53 pm #
Oh sorry, AlphaTM. I forgot to mention that most Snipers I know put their backs on a wall before they scope. Most Spies I know have to be very smooth in order to slay such Snipers without bumping into them.
True, Gee-Man, a poor Sniper is a major drawback to the thing. The fact is, however, the good Snipers also started out as rookie Snipers (even if they have tons of Counter-Strike experience).
Most good Snipers don’t look down the scope for too long and hardly if not never wait for someone to come around – they know the tunnel vision and slowdown drawbacks all too well. Of course, most of my Sniper friends have pretty much switched over to the Huntsman and Jarate now. “More fun! And no tunnel vision!” they say. Only the rookies or CS die-hards still use the Rifle.
My days of filling them with needles as they scope, or just plain stabbing them with the Ubersaw are very much numbered now.
Mickyan responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 7:12 pm #
why talking about a problem which is no more?
zero responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 7:48 pm #
I relate, sometimes its the fact that if your team already has 2 snipers they don’t need a sucky extra one (that could be being medic), so its hard to practice. still I will leave that to the snipers, except for using my jarate for fun now and then.
Vin responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 8:03 pm #
‘Dislike’ is a perfectly cromulent word. Weird how I’m the first to point that out.
Von Epp responded on 01 Jun 2009 at 11:26 pm #
Another “me too” comment. I too try to round out my class time, but only really feel comfortable switching to sniper when my team is dominating, so I can practice without letting my team down (due to my skill level).
GeneralGoose responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 1:29 am #
You coulda used “dislike” in place of unlike.
dekichan responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 1:50 am #
Cromulent, just like Embiggen!
For those who want scoped practice, I recommend the sniper maps. I definitely agree you need a certain level of skill, ie. better than the other sniper, in order to help the team.
Grimjack responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 9:02 am #
I am disappointed that one cannot carry the hunstman and the rifle at the same time. I would have seen the huntsman as a SMG replacement. That way you can play sniper from afar and then instantly help out in the action when needed.
As it is, I simply change my loadout based on what is going on but I have to die for it to take effect…
The razorback is pretty much useless unless you are using the rifle AND playing a map infested with spies with no decent pyro to help out.
Jarate is actually a better counterspy tool then the razorback. We all know the feeling when you just “know” when a spy is nearby so you can spill some juice to find out if your suspicions are correct.
Killa-Ewok responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 10:20 am #
I would accept the Hunstman as a secondary if you couldn’t headshot with it, the damage is nerfed and there is no chargeup. Then it would be perfect.
HelisPoe responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 1:13 pm #
Unfortunately…
Ambassador >>>>>>> Scoped in Sniper
Same reason applies. The Sniper moves so slowly it’s ridiculously easy to get a head shot on a scoped Sniper with the Ambassador.
They really should make the Razorback less noticeable; my current solution to Razorback users:
Revolver shots or a simple head shot with the Ambassador.
I’m no Sniper, but there’s a problem when the Razorback is hardly useful against Spies. Which is why it’s there in the first place.
NotPigeon responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 1:51 pm #
Oh, I forgot to mention:
The Sniper’s sunglasses are shooter’s glasses. They’re like the ones aviators wear. They help improve visibility by filtering out sun glare. Or something like that.
gelugon2105 responded on 02 Jun 2009 at 2:46 pm #
NotPigeon, you may want to report that to TF2 Wikia. They will help you verify that suggestion.
n00bie51 responded on 03 Jun 2009 at 2:02 am #
AlphaTM, I wasn’t referring to you when I mentioned about players who refused to play certain classes, but you did say you didn’t like to play Sniper that much in your article here. Not being good at a class should inspire you to be better at it, not dampen your resolve. You’ll find solid satisfaction in playing what used to be one of your weaker classes proficiently.
Pad See Ew responded on 03 Jun 2009 at 7:25 am #
I can’t for the life of me unlock the Huntsman.
Schmoopy The Spy responded on 03 Jun 2009 at 9:15 am #
@Pad See Ew
Now you can just farm the achievements. Actually, you can get them through regular play. They’re fairly easy to obtain. The Huntsman is a lot of fun for both great snipers, and the twitchy snipers. Try it out, especially if sniper is your LPC because you’ll have lots of fun :3
Cupcake, Darn It! responded on 03 Jun 2009 at 2:57 pm #
If you use the cross hairs in the multiplayer tab in the options, it makes sniping much easier. I’m afraid im stating something obvious. ><”
So uh… FOR THE NOOBS OUT THERE ^^^
n00bie51 responded on 04 Jun 2009 at 8:42 am #
Cupcake, last time I played TF2, I had crosshairs disabled but one still appeared on the center of the screen when I played as Sniper.
AlphaTM responded on 04 Jun 2009 at 1:43 pm #
Yeah, they added a crosshair for the Sniper Rifle.
But, uh, yeah, I feel good about myself when I’m doing impossibly good as Demo or Soldier, but that happens rarely. (Though I am playing Soldier more and getting better)
ubercharged.net - Classes I have never really been good at: The Spy responded on 01 Jul 2009 at 8:00 pm #
[...] Sniper who just decides to fire a no-scope shot from the other side of the map for giggles. We also all have our weaknesses, and even I can accept that I have my own, despite being the dashing and skillful player that can [...]
Silencer responded on 02 Jul 2009 at 11:15 am #
Totally agree: The sniper can’t win. If he protects himself with razorback, you won’t have a gun to fight a spy at long range. If you don’t have a razorback, he will backstab you.
Poor snipers. Good thing I’m a spy.