If they're "500m+ away" (more like 300m+, since rendering gets choppy after 400m) and killing 4+ enemies instead of "in the fight" and killing maybe 1-2 then dying, then no, they're better off -for the whole team- at a distance.

Snipers dont hack objectives, snipers dont win the game. (That's not to say that a sniper can't be utilised to do a proper job and actually be helpful)

Yo dont see the vehicle uses here moaning that there tanks and cars cant access the city parts do you?
No different maps are meant to have different l;landscapes and play styles.

Some are true vehicle maps, others are great for snipers. Its about time we had maps that favoured just pure infantry. Its what people have wanted for a while and like 90+ % of people are loving the new maps.

Cut because of out characters.

People have to start understanding that THERE IS NO SUCH THING as a mid-range sniper. If you have someone with a sniper rifle running with a squad, making the occasional mid-to-long range kill, that it NOT a sniper. That's a "designated marksman". A DM would be better fit with a tac AR or a scrambler, but hey, use what you want. Just don't call someone a sniper just because they carry a sniper rifle. Sniper is a job, a role, not a weapon.

EDIT: And stop trying to push snipers into being DMs!

I'm making good points. Someone has to say something on behalf of snipers, because most snipers are too proud to admit when they're having a hard time.
They go positive in a pub match, and think they're doing well, but can't recognize their own uselessness when they're spending most of the match trying to get a good angle, and watching important firefights happen in places where they can do nothing.

- Eliminate sway penalty for movement while crouched.
This has little bearing on Overwatch Snipers, but this will enable Fire Support Snipers to be more useful than fodder, since it will allow them to move back and forth from behind cover, without totally losing their aim constantly.

- Eliminate sway penalty when NOT moving while standing.
Again, Fire Support Snipers benefit from this. This will allow snipers to stop in the middle of a fight, and take a quick shot at someone with zero sway, but if they try to strafe, they will instantly lose their aim.

I wont deny it requires skill and a skill I don't have, but bodies on the ground and in the fight are always better than bodies 500m+ away.

Another solution would be to simply make a new sniper rifle subclass for the fire support role. Keep existing sniper rifles (and their mechanics) as they are. Add a new sniper rifle that has much shorter optimal (say, 250m), no sway, less damage per shot (less even than tac. sniper), tac sniper RoF, and possibly a larger clip (6-8 rounds). IMHO that would be perfect for snipers who wish to follow their squad and provide fire support.

Snipers dont hack objectives, snipers dont win the game. (That's not to say that a sniper can't be utilised to do a proper job and actually be helpful)

Another solution would be to simply make a new sniper rifle subclass for the fire support role. Keep existing sniper rifles (and their mechanics) as they are. Add a new sniper rifle that has much shorter optimal (say, 250m), no sway, less damage per shot (less even than tac. sniper), tac sniper RoF, and possibly a larger clip (6-8 rounds). IMHO that would be perfect for snipers who wish to follow their squad and provide fire support.

I agree snipers have been stuffed with the new maps, and you have to understand that for me to admit this is hard, I have very little sympathy for you annoying people :P.

When the new medium to long ranged rifles come out (rail rifles!! :D) it'll give snipers the opportunity, and alternative, for a more close-ish combat support role, especially in the new city maps, since rail rifles are supposed to be a high damage, long ranged, slow firing/semi-automatic rifle.

IDK, im just looking at this from a different perspective :3.

already specced into ar's for when the rail rifle comes out ^^

This would not be a sniper rifle, nor is a sniper one who follows a squad. What you are talking about is a designated marksman, and it's a completely different role/class, separate from sniper. See my above post.

Apparently, your idea may be implemented with the Rail Rifle.
I was hoping that at least the tactical sniper rifle could be repurposed in such a manner as well.

Snipers are useless.

Snipers are only useless when they don't protect the objective or entrances to facilities. I had a match yesterday where this sniper and I were able to defend an objective by ourselves. He did his job stopping anybody from hacking while i cleaned up the sides with my trusty laser. The thing is that most people use the sniper class incorrectly and just abuse it.

On the topic of sniper locations. We have a set of parameters we follow. Since in all reality with a DS a sniper can reach nearly any high position. We took steps to ensure that what sniper points do exist are able to be engaged by other players in some way.

To be more specific, over a certain height in meters snipers are completely blocked. In one range X meters up to X meters the sniper must be limited in their movement and must always be exposed to ground units. In the last parameter, that sits at the lowest of meters snipers are given more freedom to move, and able to move in and out of exposure freely.

Objective hack locations are to be protected from "long range" attacks and any snipers if at all possible.

You are correct. These rules were put in place as we started the development of the Research Facility. What you are seeing is the transition to these new hard requirements. Eventually all sockets will have this put into place.

For the sniping rules. Remember. This applies to sockets only.

For those believing we need a better system where players are the solution to snipers, we also believe this. Game design will be working something for this out eventually. I have discussed this before on IRC at least and possibly here on the forums. The design team would like to come up with something effective that makes the players a part of that experience. For example, and I stress this is an "example" idea only. A player can laser sight a sniper location allowing other players to more easily hit a sniping location with mortars.

With that being said, take into consideration again, the rule only applies to sockets. With height variations in terrain, and sockets sitting on various heights, other variously sized objects on the terrain not inside actual sockets, and the variations of terrain in of its self, the snipers have plenty of locations to snipe from still.

. . .We use sight lines, the rule set I discussed earlier, and general layouts to encourage effective game play from each role. Strategy and tactics entails using logic, and planning, coordination with others, effective dropsuit fittings, and weapons load-outs. What we are encouraging is "thinking". . . . .