Poonmunch
Sanguis Defense Syndicate
752
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Posted - 2014.01.02 05:15:00 -
[2] - Quote
Free Beers wrote:Poonmunch wrote:CYRAX SERVIUS wrote:There are no proto tanks at this time but I think advanced tanks are coming back.
Depending on the map a GOOD sniper, and I mean a really GOOD sniper can give you letter denial on a key letter between opposing spawn points. So true. Think of us as Null Cannon extenders. We can ensure prolonged damage to the red MCC when we get the right angle on a hack point. Munch Let me play devils advocate here. If you look at the new maps and new sockets they are all anti sniper. The objectives are closed in, there maps are no longer bowl maps, and even out door objectives have limited line of sight (a small angle in which a player can be shot). Once the old maps cycle out (and they will) how useful do you feel snipers will be in current state. For the record the Manus peak, 5 point launcher tower, 4 point bowl with garages are the old maps. Thoughts?
Firstly, let me apologize for the wall of text that follows. Your question is well-considered and requires a detailed response.
You are correct about the new maps and sockets. I've sniped on them all. As you point out the old maps were comparatively sniper friendly with wider open spaces and lines of sight to hack points.
The new maps do have more enclosed hack points, a state of affairs that irked me a great deal. I even got into a discussion with CCP LogicLoop about it (see post #68):
Chat with CCP LogicLoop
I didn't give up hope. I played the new maps hard and tried to break them down. I learned a few things. The new maps caused me to alter some of things I did as a sniper.
Now I run around far more than I did before. I get into sockets when I can and I throw out lots of uplinks, hives and REs. I hack a bunch and I now range over more of each map (usually both ends and both sides in the same game). I'm more likely to hit a Supply Depot and load up a new dropsuit so I can get more equipment to lay down in different places as the tide of battle changes.
I'm engaging at very close ranges in some places on the new maps, a *******-tightening experience for a sniper. This has caused me to get better at using my sidearm and has caused me to pay much closer attention to my radar and the situation around me.
On several of the hack points on new maps I can still get angles and kill effectively at the hack point itself.
What I can do is control the flow of the enemy around hack points with a combination of hacking CRUs, hacking turrets, placing REs, placing PEs, shooting red equipment and balls-to-the-wall sniping. The key is to find choke points that reds move through to get to objectives and kill them as they move through them.
All maps have a certain ebb and flow to them and I can see the patterns developing from my vantage points. All maps have key objectives that are always important. I know on a certain map, the team that controls "C" for most of the game usually wins. And I know the best places to cover it. And I know where the infantry runs to get there. And I know where the red snipers will be. And I know where and when to put uplinks down, so my team can put pressure on when the reds are away.
I've functioned as the team leader because I can see what is going on all over the map. On one map, for example, the best sequence of controlling hack points is to go "D", "A", "B". The team that does this first usually goes on to win.
I've skilled more deeply into dropships and LAVs to quickly get me to more places where I can be effective.
I honestly feel that the new maps have improved me as a sniper (on all maps) and as a member of my team. It's also way more exciting to be running around in places where an angry red proto fatty with an HMG could pop around a corner.
Having said all of this, it would be nice to have more areas of active play on the new huge maps and any new maps. It would give the sniper more relevance. The map guys could do this by moving some of the objectives around the map, rather than clustering several in one place. Or maybe they could add some objectives to under-played parts of the map.
Do I fear that we will become useless?
All the time.
Have we reached that point?
I don't think so.
Munch
Dedicated Sniper.
Minmatar Patriot (6).
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