List of Unfair and Game-Breaking FPS Tactics

[Catchy Slogan]

Having played FPS's on both console and PC, i'll have to say matchmaking. Nothing like shooting some dude, stabbing him, then dying, only to find out on the replay that none of that happened due to your connection being slower than the host's.

Made me lol :'D I agree with this so much.

And trying to knife anyone in Black Ops when your knife goes through them and they turn around and shoot you.

Camping is legit, and sniper rifles are there to be used. They have a lower level of rounds per clip, and usually the ones that take one shot to kill you are bolt action. Also No-scoping takes a bit of skill.

 

[Shoqiyqa]

I think I talk for a lot of FPS gamers out here, if the FPS you are playing has killstreak airstrikes [CoD or Homefront] it IS noobish and generally trashy to use something like a carpet bomb, Cluster Bomb, or artillery to kill ONE PERSON.

Pisses me off to no end.

It's oh, so very useful for camping snipers, though, and if you do it just right you can broadcast "Hey, sniper, catch!" quarter of a second before the first bomb drops right on his helmet.

As for snipers, this guy:


... should have missed.

Rifle muzzle velocities tend to be in the 800-1000m/s range, and velocity drops off with range, which is why the 7.62x39mm can be more powerful than the 5.56x45mm at the muzzle but have less energy at 300m: it's a shorter, fatter bullet slowing down more quickly.

If we ignore the slow-down completely because I can't be bothered looking up the numbers, and go with a simple number like 1000 metres per second even though that's rather faster than pretty much anything (L86 gets close with 970 but the .50 is apparently nearer 850 unless you use saboted sub-calibre rounds) we get very simple time-to-range figures:

10m: 0.01s
100m: 0.1s
200m: 0.2s
300m: 0.3s
400m: 0.4s

et cetera.

If the target's strolling, he's doing 1.5m/s. Walking fast, 2m/s. Running in a crouch with heavy kit on, 3m/s. Competing in the Olympics and approaching the finish line of the 100m sprint, 10m/s. Let's take a running man, weighed down by kit but boosted by adrenaline, as doing 5m/s. This combines with the numbers above to give us how far in front of him you have to aim:

10m: 5cm
100m: 50cm
200m: 1m
300m: 1.5m
400m: 2m
500m: 2.5m

et cetera.

Distance fallen is (0.5)(a)(t^2) and we'll just call gravity 10 metres per square second ... "square second"? ... for simplicity so the distance your bullet has fallen below the level of a horizontal barrel at range is:

10m: 0.5mm
100m: 5cm
200m: 20cm
300m: 45cm
400m: 80cm <=== quarter of a mile away, it's fallen three feet two inches.
500m: 1.25m
600m: 1.80m <=== at the official effective range of the SA80 as a section weapon, it's fallen six feet.
700m: 2.45m
800m: 3.2m <=== half a mile away, ten foot six down.
900m: 4.05m
1km: 5m
1.5km: 11.25m
2km: 20m
2.5km: 31.25m <=== Longest recorded sniper kill isn't quite this far.

Of course, you're not aiming through the gun barrel. You aim through sights mounted above it, or beside it in some cases. With range adjusters and so on quite where you're looking can change, but let's simplify it and assume you're looking through a point 5cm above the muzzle at the centre of your 200m group, i.e. your sights are zeroed at 200m.

How far below the line of your barrel you're looking:

10m: -3cm <=== you're looking above your barrel.
100m: 7.5cm
200m: 20cm
300m: 32.5cm
400m: 45cm
500m: 57.5cm
600m: 70cm
700m: 82.5cm
800m: 95cm
900m: 107.5cm
1km: 120cm
1.5km: 182.5cm
2km: 245cm
2.5km: 307.5cm

How far below your line of sight the bullet goes:

10m: 3.05cm
100m: -2.5cm
200m: 0cm
300m: 12.5cm
400m: 35cm
500m: 67.5cm
600m: 110cm
700m: 157.5cm
800m: 225cm
900m: 297.5cm
1km: 380cm
1.5km: 942.5cm
2km: 1755cm
2.5km: 2817.5cm

All in all, I think that gives us a picture something like this:

[http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/228/ballistics4.jpg/]

The blue grid and red crosshairs show where your barrel has to be pointing at each distance, and the green lines show where you have to be aiming.

It looks suspiciously neat how the green lines skim under the red crosshairs like that, but that's how I worked it out just now. Maybe I used the wrong numbers or something.

Still, the principle's sound. Assuming zero air resistance, shooting at that running soldier at those ranges, you need to aim that sort of distance ahead of and above (or below) your desired impact point. The 3cm adjustment at 10m is really only for shooting off locks, putting a bullet in through an air vent or view slit, taking someone's trigger finger off at the knuckle and that sort of showy stuff, not for normal combat shooting. The 400m adjustments are relevant, though, and not taken into account in that video. Aim right at the running man from that distance and he really does get dust kicking up behind his feet as he goes.

--

Before someone complains about me posting university physics courses, note:

I ignored air resistance.
I ignored wind effects.
I ignored angle of depression or elevation.
I ignored the coriolis effect.

Really, that's the simple version.

Edit because I got the sight-line wrong, so all the green points were off. Also extended range to 2500m for the boggle value.

 

[Eggsnham]

I agree with most of that stuff, if not all. But keep in mind that FPS' are more competitive than other games and getting killed or beaten is more likely to make one find an excuse to dislike their method of play.

 

[Netrigan]

The only form of camping I think is unfair is spawn camping. That's just cheap kills. Reguar camping isn't an effective enough strategy in deathmatch to be unfair. Any form of camping is fair in team modes like Capture The Flag since kils aren't the objective.

As for noob weapons, it's in the game. Some games let the host deselect weapons (Unreal Tournament was a prime example). If the game let's you exclude the BFG9000 then play in games that do that. Play on a public server with no such restrictions and *you're* the whiny ***** for demanding other people handicap themselves for your enjoyment.

 

[TheBoulder]

I love the amount of people in this thread who say camping is a legit tactic. I just know they're campers themselves who probably can't do any good if they play the game like everyone else.

 

[Netrigan]

I love the amount of people in this thread who say camping is a legit tactic. I just know they're campers themselves who probably can't do any good if they play the game like everyone else.

So, how should players use the sniper rifle? Ive never been much of a fan of it, but that's pretty much how it's supposed to be used. Hide somewhere and kill unsuspecting victims. Sniper Alleys are a fact of life in war zones.

In deathmatch, it's not a terribly effective strategy unless the player is really good. Campers generally don't win matches because players learn to avoid them. Only spawn campers are being jackasses.

 

[Killclaw Kilrathi]

Most games now seem to be pretty harsh on campers anyway. They last in their little spot for maybe a minute tops before someone catches on and starts shooting through the wall or lobs a grenade up there. Personally I liked the UT2004 method of making the sniper weapon a lightning gun, so every time you used it you had a giant lightning bolt showing everyone where you are for a second or so.

I also like how the OP is complaining about sniper rifle campers while at the same time whinging about people who use them without the scope. So what exactly are we meant to do with them that would pass your standards of fair play? Run up and use them as melee weapons?

 

[Wargamer]

Sniping = using an elevate/discrete location to cover a wide area with a long range weapon.

I tend to use a simple definition to differentiate sniping and camping:

A Camper looks from somewhere he can kill from. A Sniper looks for somewhere he can flee to.

 

[Netrigan]

Sniper rifles are pretty much griefing weapons to begin with. They exist to disrupt your enemy with minimum risk. One sniper can paralyze a unit.

 

[Floppertje]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.

as for noob weapons... how is that an unfair tactic? I really don't understand why the noob combo is called that anyway. it's rather common knowledge that in the halo universe, plasma weapons are good against shields, while balistics are good against flesh. using that knowledge to your advantage by wielding a plasma pistol and a magnum isn't being a noob, it's just using the weapons strengths in the optimal way. if you then go crying how that's noobish while you keep hammering at someone's shield with your assault rifle... who's the real noob? don't cry if someone uses the right tool for the job. every weapon has it's strengths and weaknesses. yes, when used correctly the pp/magnum combo kills you in 2 seconds. but that pistol takes a long time to reload and the magnum is a ***** if you don't have very good aim. it's not all-powerful.

 

[Von Dean]

Camping is not noobish, or unfair in anyway, it is using a proper tactic of war and if you can't find a way to fight back against it then it's your own issue, everything else I agree with (depending on what you mean by noobish weapons)

Camping is just about the weakest way to play an FPS in my opinion,its the least involving form of fighting and it is not a warfare tactic as it doesnt consist of half a team/battalion of men all sitting behind the frontlines with sniper rifles hoping someone will pass their field of vision,and in most instances a sniper will move location after each shot not just stay there. For an example of 'camping' (I use the term very loosely) check out Simo Hayha,one of the most prolific snipers of WWII or for an example of true camping check out John "Manilla John" Basilone. As far as I can tell campers are just pussies...

 

[Netrigan]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.
.

I'm currently playing Crysis 2 and it's a pretty effective strategy in the single player game. Eventually you have to move on because you run out of victims, but I've found many a perch that's let me kill dozens with minimal movement.

It's a sniper rifle, there's not a whole lot of situations where it's useful. Quick-scoping is video game tactics, so I guess that's cool

 

[Floppertje]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.
.

I'm currently playing Crysis 2 and it's a pretty effective strategy in the single player game. Eventually you have to move on because you run out of victims, but I've found many a perch that's let me kill dozens with minimal movement.

It's a sniper rifle, there's not a whole lot of situations where it's useful. Quick-scoping is video game tactics, so I guess that's cool

in singleplayer, you can do whatever the hell you want. In multiplayer, I have no problem with someone using a sniping spot, just don't stay there all the damn time. like those jolly chaps who hide on the crane on highrise in MW2. that's just annoying.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

.

in singleplayer, you can do whatever the hell you want. In multiplayer, I have no problem with someone using a sniping spot, just don't stay there all the damn time. like those jolly chaps who hide on the crane on highrise in MW2. that's just annoying.

You should be glad they keep going to the same place. Thats my favorite thing to do, Is to keep killing a camper, over and over again.Because they're dumb enough to always go there.


OT:Other then the glitching and hacking, the rest is fair game. You need to know how to counter it.

 

[artanis_neravar]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.

as for noob weapons... how is that an unfair tactic? I really don't understand why the noob combo is called that anyway. it's rather common knowledge that in the halo universe, plasma weapons are good against shields, while balistics are good against flesh. using that knowledge to your advantage by wielding a plasma pistol and a magnum isn't being a noob, it's just using the weapons strengths in the optimal way. if you then go crying how that's noobish while you keep hammering at someone's shield with your assault rifle... who's the real noob? don't cry if someone uses the right tool for the job. every weapon has it's strengths and weaknesses. yes, when used correctly the pp/magnum combo kills you in 2 seconds. but that pistol takes a long time to reload and the magnum is a ***** if you don't have very good aim. it's not all-powerful.

If you don't want campers don't play the game

 

[Ranorak]

Coming from a Battlefield Bad Company 2 player, I never heard of Quickscoping, what is it?

As for the OP.
2 of your points are cheating. The rest is just annoying but a valid tactic.

 

[Netrigan]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.
.

I'm currently playing Crysis 2 and it's a pretty effective strategy in the single player game. Eventually you have to move on because you run out of victims, but I've found many a perch that's let me kill dozens with minimal movement.

It's a sniper rifle, there's not a whole lot of situations where it's useful. Quick-scoping is video game tactics, so I guess that's cool

in singleplayer, you can do whatever the hell you want. In multiplayer, I have no problem with someone using a sniping spot, just don't stay there all the damn time. like those jolly chaps who hide on the crane on highrise in MW2. that's just annoying.

My point is it's a video game tactic, not just a military one. That's what it's in the game for. The camping debate goes on inside of games and many of them work hard to make the game enjoyable for snipers and anti-campers. No one is exploiting the rules, the weapon was included with the knowledge that people were going to climb that crane and play sniper.

I don't play MP much and when I do I go for the true noob weapons (wide-spread weapons like shotguns or spash-damage ones like rocket lauchers) and there's always a camper about. You learn where their range of fire is and minimize movements inside that zone.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Camping is not noobish, or unfair in anyway, it is using a proper tactic of war and if you can't find a way to fight back against it then it's your own issue, everything else I agree with (depending on what you mean by noobish weapons)

By noobish halo weapons he is refering to the Sniper/Shotty combo.

That, or Plasma Pistol/SMG or Battle Rifle.

 

[Floppertje]

can everyone please just shut up already about how camping is a realistic strategy in war? this isn't a real war, it's a videogame. if you want realistic combat, go join the damn army.

as for noob weapons... how is that an unfair tactic? I really don't understand why the noob combo is called that anyway. it's rather common knowledge that in the halo universe, plasma weapons are good against shields, while balistics are good against flesh. using that knowledge to your advantage by wielding a plasma pistol and a magnum isn't being a noob, it's just using the weapons strengths in the optimal way. if you then go crying how that's noobish while you keep hammering at someone's shield with your assault rifle... who's the real noob? don't cry if someone uses the right tool for the job. every weapon has it's strengths and weaknesses. yes, when used correctly the pp/magnum combo kills you in 2 seconds. but that pistol takes a long time to reload and the magnum is a ***** if you don't have very good aim. it's not all-powerful.

If you don't want campers don't play the game

for someone with a camper's aim you just spectacularly missed the point. I said people need to stop bitching about how camping is a realistic strategy that's used in war. yeah, maybe it is, but videogames aren't real wars. real soldiers don't respawn. I didn't say anything about camping itself. actually, I'm capable enough to deal with most of them, so they're just a minor annoyance.