Aelns Dene
DUST University
Ivy League
24
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Posted - 2015.07.08 13:33:00 -
[1] - Quote
Hi guys and gals!
My first jab at Dust was in the Sniper Role. As pointed out many times before it could conceptually be defined in game as:
- Kill from afar;
- Overwatch duty;
- Recon;
- Disrupt / harass enemy movement and positioning;
- Anti-Materiel (not viable in game yet).
The reason why I started in this role though was simply due to it being generally a lower intensity engagement role. It was possible to think through my decision making without getting blown up every 3 seconds! However, when I started, I had no mic and little knowledge on the importance of teaming up and performing tactically. This meant that from the first 4 possible activities I was limited to evolving only in the first one: killing from afar. And that fact isolated me (like with most newbies) even more from any team interaction.
Ideally, part of the Recon function would be fulfilled passively through the relay of info to fireteam / squad / platoon via TACNET (since we don't really want to emulate real life sniper teams). However, that function is linked to the Scout suit, not the Sniper Rifle. Unfortunately most snipers these days run medium or heavy suits and they don't relay this info. But let me be clear about this: the link should continue to be with the scout suit, not the sniper weapon.
So the problem isn't in the tools, but the players access to comms, knowledge of the game and understanding role viability. Having a Recon starter fit with uplinks was probably the best way to hint newbies to the importance of these in game. Scouts need something like this to allow snipers a more meaningful intelligence gathering experience.
Suggestions:
- The ability for scouts to "paint" / mark targets the same way a squad leader does (though using a more discreet overall colour or visuals) but subject to a 20s timer (like a scan with no cool down).
- Progressive zoom for lower powered sniper rifles allowing for more of a "designated marksman" role for players that run with the squad ("extending the range of the standard infantry squad and to give some increased capability of precision rifle fire as well as improved observation capability"). Zooms should allow ideal visuals for ranges from as close as 60-70m up to the rifles' far limit. Hip fire must continue to have absent cross-hairs.
- Add an anti-materiel bonus damage (in the lines of x3) to some of the sniper rifles when targeting vehicle/equipment "weakspots";
- Relay information about viable roles with lore. Short (audio or text) chronicles linked from within our game (we have some nice screens in our station quarters just waiting for this) about the exploits of some of DUST514 heroes could do the trick. Part of the info could be community generated (most already has been).
TL:DR
- Scout ability to "paint" targets under a 20s timer,
- Progressive zoom for low powered sniper rifles (60m-limit),
- x3 Anti-materiel "weakspot" bonus damage for some sniper rifles,
- Information about roles through lore in quarters screens.
See you around...
Aelns Dene
"When you see something you don´t understand, shoot it. Ask questions later."
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