wrong. Snipers do not suck. The real problem is:

• Suits are moving faster
• have higher ehp
• map design blocks most of the clear shots snipers had before.

This is what is making snipers less effective than what they were before.

The real problem in balancing snipers is that those 3 points I mentioned where factors CCP implemented a few updates ago to balance snipers out because before snipers could get on roofs, other high structures and the MCC and defend objects from across the map with no repercussion.

Literally, there was no way to counter snipers without another sniper. On top of that objectives were too easy to defend as snipers could easily shoot right into them and get easy head shots on non-moving targets. either way sniping was way too easy. since all you had to do was stare at an objective long enough. The object flashes when someone is taking it anyway. In ambush, sniping was a little more complex but still very easy for the aforementioned reasons.

CCP's solution to snipers has always been map design and EHP increases, more so the former than the later. So the weapon itself has never received a direct nerf. I.e. skirmish 1.0 the entire mountain was moved.

With this in mind. How snipers can truely be balanced without becoming Over powered an issue that must consider many variables.

The only two kinds of snipers that are useless are the redline kind and those that don't work as a team. It helps a lot to have a mobile sniper in your squad watching the outside perimeter of the objective your team is capturing or to take out the logi healing the heavy attacking your squad. There is a role for snipers in this game sadly many people act ignorant about the class because soo many other people abuse the class.

The close support sniper is so much more enjoyable than redlining. In the 130-200m you can hit more consistently, move to where the action is and you find so many more targets to soften up and/or finish off. I love it when someone thinks they're close enough to ADS me and I put three shots in their face. In addition, at the ranges cited, there is no issue of rendering or insufficient zoom. Hit detection issues still arise, but those occur no matter the range. Moreover, baiting people into <10m range so you can bring out the SMG becomes an art form. It is also fairly easy to countersnipe all the heavily contrasted long range snipers sitting on the tops of hills when you're working from ground level. In summary, the close support sniper is tons of fun...but if you're good at it, you're better off using a RR and working at your optimal range. It's a bit like being good at counting cards while playing black jack. If you have the apptitude, you might as well just play poker. I apologize if my hastily drawn conclusions have upset anyone...

-Aramis

You are joking, you have to be.