Sniper tips?

[Sai Skunk]

You know, I'm just not a very good sniper. I can get into great spots, and have plenty of opportunities to hit, I just miss a lot.

Are there any tips I could get beyond being less (or more?) twitchy and point and click? I'm just wondering if there's some style that maybe helps, or maybe some of the better snipers around here could pass down some tips on how to not badger up shot after shot.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mike?]

I believe Void is hosting private sniper sessions, he's the best sniper, if not one of them, in our community. You could also look up some videos on Youtube or even spec a good sniper while playing. However, sniper is mainly about move shoot, move shoot.

 

[Summer]

Hmm. Tips for a sniper!

1. Climb up on the least expected thing you can see.
2. Try to stay hidden but be able to see people.
3. If you see red marks hitting you on the sides....SPY! or someone else.
4. Don't use your rifle on really close range attacks, pull out your massette! I know I spelt that wrong!
5. Practice following people's heads, eventually you will get better at aiming at them and be a master at it.

Well. That's all I got. :S Jumping in zig zags helps if your running. other snipers will have hard time getting ya.

Have fun

 

[SMiles]

I usually try to keep my dot at head level. that way if someone walks across it all you have to do is pull the trigger.

 

[Atten]

First of all, set your sensitivity right. There is no "right" setting for everyone. Just make sure you have good control over exactly where your crosshairs are, but enough speed so you can track a moving target without running out of mousepad.

Practice. You don't have to practice getting headshots. Just start out getting body-shots on moving targets and work from there.

Don't get hit. Don't go charging up to the front lines. And don't be afraid to run away and find a new spot. Also, staying scoped for 30 seconds straight is a "Backstab at Joe's" sign for spies. Unscope every once in a while and do a quick spy check.

And for counter-sniping, watch your angles, always know where the other snipers could be, and what objects you can use to block their bullets or field of view.

And I'd recommend asking Voided if he could help you. He's a great sniper and a great teacher.

 

[Sai Skunk]

Forgive me if this is common knowledge, but I'm new here.

How would I contact this Void if I were to get lessons/tips or whatever from him? I really would appreciate a hands-on approach to getting better.

And thanks for all the tips so far. I'm going to try and get better at this with the help. :3

 

[A Nurse from Texas]

This is his sniper school thread:

http://www.edgegamers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67563&highlight=sniper

 

[midget31394]

I have a very weird style of play me thinks. I tend to, when I see a player just move my crosshair as fast as I can across the screen and shoot when I think they are near, it tends to work for me. You need to find your style though, everyone is different.

~M

 

[Candlejack]

Pull out your machete and go to town.

 

[VoiDeD]

Like Atten said, If you're having trouble hitting targets you should adjust your sensitivity until you feel you have control over your mouse.

If you're at a good sensitivity, the next step would be to have your targets walk into your crosshair. Alot of the times when I snipe I have my crosshair aimed at where the target is going to walk, so that once they walk into my crosshair, I fire.

I'd say a alot smaller portion of my non-sniper kills (maybe 10%) are actually me aiming on their heads.

So it's really just prediction and a little bit of practice.

 

[Carne]

I have on really low sensitivity, and I usually follow the target for a while(with my crosshair) before I hit them. That depends on which map of course.

 

[=[Ga]= AutoDMC]

There are two classes that desparately need exacting knowledge of how a map is laid out, and they're Sniper and Engineer.

However, their goals are different. In the case of an Engineer, you need to know how best to fill an area with aimbot controlled sentry gun bullets, but need to know all the lines-of-sight to your gun, so there isn't an area where a scout can peak around a corner and take your sentry down.

For Snipers, it's just the opposite. You need to know all the long lines-of-site on a level, so you can reach out across the map to shoot things, and you need to know where people are most likely to be walking. An excellent line-of-sight that points to an area nobody walks through is useless; a less optimal line of sight that the whole other team seems to be in the habit of using is great.

You also need to intimately know your sniper nest. What are ALL the angles of approach to you? Can anyone attack from above? Is there a great line-of-sight for rockets to pick you off? Can spies easily approach? When you are out of scope, you can't aim well at distance and you ain't charging, but when you're in-scope, you cant look around for danger. So, you want to optomize your out-scope time; only look at places important, but also don't waste time looking in areas that people can't get you.

MOVE. You should know four or five sniper nests on a level. You start headshotting people and they get peeved. They make it their life goal to have you screaming on the end of a crit rocket. And killcams give away your location. Remember that. And move after a successful run.

Know where the medkits are. Even more important than with most classes, you really need to be a cool frood who really knows where his medkits are. Any shot that doesn't kill you sets you up for a shot that will. If you know how to get to a medkit easily, first off you've got full health again, second that counts as your "move."

Finally, know how to flee. When you're spotted, and you will be spotted, already have a plan on escape so you don't waste precious time deciding what to do. And if you can pull it off, escaping past your local union Engineer's sentry gun will not only get the heat off you, but make your Engie friend really happy.

One final thing that may help (some may consider it cheating...) is to get a mouse with a DPI switch. My mouse can be set to 400, 800, or 2000 DPI. If you set your mouse sensitivity while set to 400, and then switch to 800, you double your mouse sensitivity (halve it, if the other way round). A neat way to give you a boost of sensitivity when you need it

 

[Captain Ashton]

I'm not a great sniper, but my advice is to just play the class alot. The more you play the better your reactions will become.

 

[Carne]

One final thing that may help (some may consider it cheating...) is to get a mouse with a DPI switch. My mouse can be set to 400, 800, or 2000 DPI. If you set your mouse sensitivity while set to 400, and then switch to 800, you double your mouse sensitivity (halve it, if the other way round). A neat way to give you a boost of sensitivity when you need it

I have this fancy button between M1 and M2, I find it very usefull, 5 different colours, grey is lowest, red is the highest. I have a model X-750F.

 

[KetchupMoose]

Use the club! All day long!

 

[NUFAN]

being a good sniper requires being relaxed, if you freak out if someone does something unexpected you'll lose focus and ultimately die. Head level aim is good, knowing how fast each class moves is important if you wait for someone to peek.. I would say it's mainly timing and opportunity.. there will be times no one will expect you and be standing still..

 

[Retribution]

I don't know much. But I do know that you shouldn't get hit in the head.. idk why, you just don't

 

[Savoc]

Listen to auto-DMC

Also, despite the fact that many turn sniping into a point-and-click game, that's no fun. Sometimes, it's actually a little easier to move your crosshair by moving your body. For example, if you have trouble getting your dot on their head with the mouse, try taking a step in that direction; walk your crosshair onto their head. Don't do it with every shot, but it's useful for people who like to dance to avoid sniper bullets... Like other snipers trying to get your head.

 

[Sai Skunk]

This help so far (at least most of it) has been phenomenally helpful and I'm already improving much faster than before.

I'm still having trouble with twitchiness, and tend to rush in with my sub-machine gun and machete a little too eagerly, but I've been playing more and doing better and I'm really starting to see how fun it can be to be on the other end of that headshot..

A problem I tend to still get into a lot though is getting rushed by assault classes. I just can't kill them before they're close enough to get me once they start rushing. What do successful snipers usually do when bull-rushed?

I usually switch to my sub-machine gun and attack like a scout...strafing and shooting and such. Some snipers tend to just run away, or keep the scope in and try to shoot you until they get you or you get them, some machete rush..
I really wish I were better at getting out of those situations alive.

Still, I appreciate all the advice I've gotten so far, would love to read more of what anyone is willing to say, and hope this might be helpful for anyone else looking for sniper advice.

P.S. I turned my mouse movement speed way higher than I had it, because I felt like I was turning and aiming too slow. Is this maybe the wrong idea if I want to snipe better or is it just a matter of preference?

 

[midget31394]

A problem I tend to still get into a lot though is getting rushed by assault classes. I just can't kill them before they're close enough to get me once they start rushing. What do successful snipers usually do when bull-rushed?

I usually switch to my sub-machine gun and attack like a scout...strafing and shooting and such. Some snipers tend to just run away, or keep the scope in and try to shoot you until they get you or you get them, some machete rush..
I really wish I were better at getting out of those situations alive.

To be honest, this shouldnt happen, you should have your team attacking from behind you running towards them. Make sure you have good communication so you know where you are needed as well (The enemy is planning a rush and have a medic, heashot the medic etc.)

~M