Not Trying to Flame-- Honest Question

(CoctimusPrime) #1

Are snipers really necessary in a game like this?

In certain games, snipers can play a crucial role in the victory of a match (BFBC2 comes to mind.) But I have to be honest, out of the hundreds of matches played in this game so far I have rarely seen a recon player dramtically impact the game. Sure, there are many times where a recon has 50+ kills and a subsequent KDR through the roof-- he may even be at the top of the leaderboard and the heartbeat sensors and smoke can be useful-- but essential to victory? I cannot help the sinking feeling I get when I see two or more players choosing a recon for an EV map. I understand having a recon in your lineup-- it makes sense to choose one for specific situations and on specific maps. What I cannot understand, is people who refuse to switch from recon throughout the entire match and PTFO.

Recon, by nature, lends itself to sitting back, far away from the objective. Dirty Bomb is a lot of things-- but a campground is not one of them. DB lends itself to largely CQB, twitch-style, run and gun action. Recon seems, at lesat to me, to be a huge detraction from this. I would rather have an additional medic, engineer, assault, or fire support player on my time over a sniper-- even a good one. My logic is, even if you are good at playing recon, how much more useful would you be to the team if you played another role?

Anyone agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

(watsyurdeal) #2

I think guns like the Grandeur would serve a good role if balanced. Snipers I kinda have to agree, don’t really serve a healthy role. If it were up to me they’d probably never have made it into the game.

#3

The people that play them on any game are usually as worthless as the class themselves. I don’t know what it is about sniping that draws so many mediocre-at-best players to them. If you’re not that good and it’s a team game, I’d advise against choosing a ‘high skill based’ role like a sniper. Work your way up to it. Play a marksman that’s actually team and objective oriented like a stark or dreiss Arty. Hell, I’d be happier if they tried to snipe with the revifle on Sparks.

(Szakalot) #4

the thing here is that most sniper players are terrible. They are so bad, that they leave a lasting impression.

However, once in a while you get that one guy who has been sniping since he was 2 years old, and he will absolutely rek you and half your team. Suddenly half the map is offlimits as the sniper rains death with headshot after headshot.

(watsyurdeal) #5

@Wintergreen said:
The people that play them on any game are usually as worthless as the class themselves. I don’t know what it is about sniping that draws so many mediocre-at-best players to them. If you’re not that good and it’s a team game, I’d advise against choosing a ‘high skill based’ role like a sniper. Work your way up to it. Play a marksman that’s actually team and objective oriented like a stark or dreiss Arty. Hell, I’d be happier if they tried to snipe with the revifle on Sparks.

It’s because of the one hit kills, truth is it’s not that hard to do when you’re sitting at the back. The truly good snipers are the hella aggressive ones who quick scope like crazy.

(CoctimusPrime) #6

@Szakalot said:
the thing here is that most sniper players are terrible. They are so bad, that they leave a lasting impression.

However, once in a while you get that one guy who has been sniping since he was 2 years old, and he will absolutely rek you and half your team. Suddenly half the map is offlimits as the sniper rains death with headshot after headshot.

But like I said, even the best sniper in the DB universe still could proabably be more productive for the team if he used those skills with another class don’t you think? I fully agree with the example Wintergreen provided-- a skilled sparks player can accomplish almost the same thing but has a HUGE team benefit of proviing all of those revives, so even if they are good at sniping, the question is “does sniping actually add to, or does it detract from the objective-based gameplay of Dirty Bomb as a whole?”

(Terminal_6) #7

They’re fun but don’t fill a crucial role. However, I can’t say handing a heartbeat sensor to a generic SMG/AR merc would have the same effect. Snipers capitalize on spotting in a unique way, though they’re still not an essential component of shooters. They ride the status quo for sure.

(GatoCommodore) #8

but hey at least the report system works

(Szakalot) #9

@CoctimusPrime said:

@Szakalot said:
the thing here is that most sniper players are terrible. They are so bad, that they leave a lasting impression.

However, once in a while you get that one guy who has been sniping since he was 2 years old, and he will absolutely rek you and half your team. Suddenly half the map is offlimits as the sniper rains death with headshot after headshot.

But like I said, even the best sniper in the DB universe still could proabably be more productive for the team if he used those skills with another class don’t you think? I fully agree with the example Wintergreen provided-- a skilled sparks player can accomplish almost the same thing but has a HUGE team benefit of proviing all of those revives, so even if they are good at sniping, the question is “does sniping actually add to, or does it detract from the objective-based gameplay of Dirty Bomb as a whole?”

this is an interesting point but actually a good sniper might not be a good fragger etc. Sniper’s use a different aiming skillset than an automatic weapon. as a sniper you snap to target and fire, whereas tracking requires consistent readjustment. I feel this whenever I try to snipe: i dont often get headshots cause im used to firing as soon as im on target. But also all the years with SMG spam make me fire as soon as im in vicinity of a target.

Similarly, I saw a few really exceptional snipers who never seem to miss, but are much more manageable when they switch to automatic weapons.

Finally, at the highest lvl of play, if a player can do both, they are generally better as a sniper (pre nerf, not sure bout now). One shot kill hitscan longrange weapon just has no power equivalent.