Poll: do headshots in FPSs matter?

[sethisjimmy]

When people cry about body shots, that's my cue to switch to the pissrifle and aim exclusively for them.

Seriously though, aiming for the head is usually pretty inefficient. Why the kinds of people who care so heavily about headshots exist in a game like TF2 is beyond me, but that's life I guess. I mean if that's your strategy that's cool, nothing against headshots themselves but I'm not going to apologize for killing someone "wrong".

 

[Ninjat_126]

I always aim for the head... except when I'm sniping.

That's multiplayer, of course. Singleplayer, I go for whatever'll do the most damage. Multiplayer, I make damn sure I can hit them. I've got enough problems with lag already, no need to cripple myself more.

 

[Thrashgrinder]

I only play Huntsman sniper in TF2 and about %70 of my shots are bodyshots. I kill lots of people with bodyshots usually spies, scouts and other snipers but yeah. It works without the headshots.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

In the sense that head-shots do more damage, they are more important. In the context of, 'I have a sniper rifle' then no, it doesn't matter. Dead is dead after all and while a headshot will make the transition quicker it isn't the only acceptable method. I really wish I was good at sniping...

 

[miketehmage]

I don't care. As long as the guy dies. I mostly play hardcore mode on shooters so a nice shot to the chest usually does the job just fine. And as the chest is a larger target, it'd be silly of me to aim for the head.

And to those who would say "well that just means you can't aim" You're right. I can't. I'm a PC gamer playing FPS games on an xbox and the controls suck massively in comparison.

So screw headshots.

 

[Zantos]

Some games give extra rewards for headshots such as extra damage or more points. Though not strictly relevant as it isn't first-person, in Space Marine a headshot can be the difference between loyal service to the Emperor and taking a chain axe up the back passage. Thank fuck someone decided that only the slowest marines get an iron halo/chaos icon. If you do it at long range too, it'll more than double the points you get, and some guns get upgrades on headshots.

But at the end of the day I wouldn't apologise for it. That's just weird.

 

[Evil Smurf]

But at the end of the day I would apologise for it. That's just weird.

Wait, you would apologise?

 

[Zantos]

But at the end of the day I would apologise for it. That's just weird.

Wait, you would apologise?

I meant wouldn't, just testing to see if people were paying attention. Well noticed!

I only just woke up. Best go edit that.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

In real life you don't aim for the head...

And because of that, I have never cared about going for the head

So games are real-life training for you? Sorry to say this, you're kinda doing them wrong. In real life you don't aim by moving a piece of plastic around either.

Dafuq!? When did I say I used games as training? I said my training has taught me not to worry about 'Teh HeaDShoTZ' so I don't.
Also... Have you heard of lightguns? I still love getting the old Time Crisis out of the cupboard from time to time... and that aiming doesn't use my thumbs...

 

[Squilookle]

Not sure if you're just talking about TF2 or all shooters.

Realistically, yes. You've got a much better chance of killing (or at least incapacitating) someone with a shot to the head.

Gameplay wise, yes. The torso is the centre of the target and the largest single area. Adjusting aim to hit the much smaller head bobbing around on top takes more skill, and therefore should grant a better reward. Risk vs Reward. Except it also works that way in real life.

in fact, I can't see how having headshots differ from hits to the body or anywhere else could ever be a bad thing in an FPS. Crotch-specific damage, while a bit less realistic, is always good fun too.

 

[Andy Shandy]

It's nice to get them, especially if you get something extra for it (in multiplayer this could be more XP, or weapon skins with so many headshots) but it's not something I will particularly strive to get.

 

[L0dest0ne]

In most (PC) FPS games all shots that don't hit the head are worthless. Not the case in TF2. So it doesn't really matter where you are aiming.

 

[VoidWanderer]

Wait a second, he apologized for not killing you the way he wanted to kill you...

Agent 47 this kid, is not.

 

[Dethenger]

In a game like Halo where you get a maximum 24 shots with a Sniper Rifle, instakill headshots count. The difference between a headshot and a bodyshot is the difference between 1/24 of your ammo and 1/12. Even with the midrange weapon that usually dominates Halo (Pistol, BR, DMR), it usually takes 3 body shots to 1 headshot (provided you've popped their shields). So yeah, in that case, it matters. This is also the case when sniping in Bad Company 2, especially if you're using a bolt-action rifle. You've essentially got one opportunity to get the kill, because unless you're playing against an idiot, or have caught the person out in the open, by the time you're ready to fire another time they've taken cover.
Since I mostly play those 2, it's ingrained in me. In games like Call of Duty, I'm less critical about getting a headshot, but that's not to say I don't try. Bodyshot kills feel a little cheaper because I ultimately didn't hit what I was aiming for. I don't care about getting more kills, I care about being proficient with my weapon.

That's me personally, I don't give a twopenny fuck about other people bodyshotting. It's perfectly legitimate, if at times ineffectual.

 

[neverarine]

eww snipers... snipers can go suck it lol

but headshots all the way

 

[MysticToast]

I just like seeing people cry when I bodyshot them in TF2. They make such a huge deal about it and I don't understand it.

 

[Flames66]

When I snipe I take whatever hits I can get. If I can see someones head and think I can hit it I will go for it, if not I will happily shoot them anywhere else.

 

[Fijiman]

Whenever I'm using snipers I'm glads if I manage to kill the guy before they get away or kill me, so I'll take headshots when I get them but I'm not always going for them. Besides, unlike some people I don't have the magical bullshit ability to automatically aim at peoples heads when shooting at them when I'm in panic mode. I also don't have the magical bullshit ability to suddenly have no recoil nor bullet spread on guns that should have a lot of both.