Snipers get a bad rap in gaming?

[TheAceTheOne]

I'm sure we've all played a game where we've sniped. I've heard people talk bad at me when I say I'm a "sniper". Some hear sniper and immediately think all kinds of bad thoughts (Camping, for example). So, I'm asking you. Snipers: Are they really as bad as some think? Or do they just get a bad rap?

Personally, I think that they get a bad rap. A few snipers deserve being called out for doing some of what they're accused of doing, but not all of them.

There's my thought, what's yours?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

inb4: Sniping's a good job, mate.

The problem with sniping is, like Yahtzee said, the game you're playing is a point/click adventure where the only action is "Use Gun On Man".

There's rarely any interaction between sniper and snipee, which is where the "fun" comes from. That's where the bad rap comes.

 

[Alon Shechter]

I once played as a sniper on ArmA 2 : OA and some dude was angry at me for it.
Since that day , I never took the sniper-haters seriously.

 

[TheAceTheOne]

inb4: Sniping's a good job, mate.

The problem with sniping is, like Yahtzee said, the game you're playing is a point/click adventure where the only action is "Use Gun On Man".

There's rarely any interaction between sniper and snipee, which is where the "fun" comes from. That's where the bad rap comes.

First time I've heard that answer. I admit, I agree a little bit on that one. Points on quoting Yahtzee.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

inb4: Sniping's a good job, mate.

I think his mate saw me. *bang bang* yes, yes he did.

OT: They only dislike snipers so much because its usually snipers who put them down. With a normal player, you can easily find them and you can easily track them. With a good sniper, you're not even gonna see them and thats the whole point. To be hidden and to wait for the target to get come into range.

 

[Darth_Dude]

Eh, whatever. I get the kills, they can complain all they want, won't do a thing.

 

[HuCast]

inb4: Sniping's a good job, mate.

The problem with sniping is, like Yahtzee said, the game you're playing is a point/click adventure where the only action is "Use Gun On Man".

There's rarely any interaction between sniper and snipee, which is where the "fun" comes from. That's where the bad rap comes.

First time I've heard that answer. I admit, I agree a little bit on that one. Points on quoting Yahtzee.

lame explanation imho...we are talking about fpshooters, not beat em ups

 

[Woodsey]

I don't see what people's problem is.

Sniping's hardly easy, and they're pretty easy to avoid unless they're really good or you just stand in the same place for no reason.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Sniping is only bad when your being a lone wolf. Example, in Bad Company 2 if someone is sniping but they don't bother to help allies. That is what pisses me off personally. If your going to snipe then at least provide cover fire, or assist the ground troops.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

A whole lot of people get pissed at snipers because a skilled or semi-skilled sniper like myself can take them out before they even see us, or get in range. I've had one guy say something along the lines of, "You're a coward for not fighting face to face!"

Honestly having a sniper or two on your team is almost essential for taking out that machine gun turrent, or that heavy eating his sandvich.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

What pisses me off is when everyone is sniping, and I have to go track them down constantly. It irritates me.

 

[TG MLPDashie]

they do get a bad rep. i once play COD MW2 was walking around a building a looked out a window and saw someone. so i aimed and shot and got 2 kills with the shot. right after shooting them i took off, went behind a box and aimed at the window i was looking through, and what a surprise the 2 dudes where at the window. so i got them and then was reported for hacking and they voted me a bad sport and put my XBL rep down. thats why i hate shit players who hate snipers, and they do get a bad name because of all of the " Pants on head retarded " players who just happen to walk in front of you and wave there hollow skulls at you begging to be shot.

they do get a bad rep and people that complain about them are assholes

 

[Om Nom Nom]

I'm much more of a mid-range person.

But yes. Get behind a sniper without them noticing you and they're good as dead. Not too hard to catch them out with a grenade either, or counter-sniping.

It's the ones using aimbots that give snipers in general a bad name, I think.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

I think snipers get a raw deal, mainly because people confuse sniping with camping. I never used to snipe in games, simply because I couldn't, but now I always have a sniper option in my custom classes (whether in MW2, RS:V2, or what have you). One of the most fun games I've had in MW2 came a few months ago - the level was Wasteland, and for a laugh everyone in the pre-game lobby agreed on two house rules, namely sniper classes only and no colonising the central bunker. That was one of the most nerve-racking deathmatch I've ever played, and it was brilliant.

 

[magma]

OT: They only dislike snipers so much because its usually snipers who put them down. With a normal player, you can easily find them and you can easily track them. With a good sniper, you're not even gonna see them and thats the whole point. To be hidden and to wait for the target to get come into range.

This. Sniping and camping are legit tactics that can be used by anyone. Killing someone when they are camping or sniping in a certain spot is always possible if you are any good as well, even if you just have to counter-camp until they make a move.

 

[darkonnis]

I don't mind what i would call "combat snipers" those who constantly move around using a sniper rifle with great effect. This was the case with Alien vs predator 2 (for the pc). It's nice to see people using it to good effect
What i hate are campers of the likes of your MW2 snipers, it bores me, you take a few steps and you die only to re-spawn and have it happen all over again. It's a problem which would be difficult for any FPS to effectively overcome, except by making a lot of maps which are really tight and claustrophobic where you couldn't use a scope if you wanted to.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Honestly having a sniper or two on your team is almost essential for taking out that machine gun turrent, or that heavy eating his sandvich.

Also, in team fortress maps are designed to let you get around snipers (for the most part) and spies have and easy time of them too. Sniping can be great for the team too. Lately, me and another sniper took the long way around to see a sentry that was out of range. 2 full charged shots in tandem and it's dust. Then the other guy lured the enemy by spraying his machine gun, while I lined up a shot and took him out, leaving our team free to rush.

I think sniping's only a problem in maps that allow, or encourage you to hunker down in one spot and just cause annoyance to the enemy and little else.

 

[Mr Thin]

Is it really so difficult to understand why people don't like snipers?

You're going along, playing the game, and you die. No gunfights, no shootouts, no explosions or action, you just hear a plink, or a puff, and fall down.

Being killed by snipers is frigging boring. Especially when there's lots of em, and it happens over and over and over again.

And you can say "oh, it's easy once you know where they are/can get behind them" but:

a) Not everyone can, either they're not very good at the game or they're just impatient, and
b) Decent snipers don't just sit in one place, they move around, they have several familiar spots with good views, so it's not always a simple matter of going left instead of right.

Note that I don't mind sniping in games, don't mind the occasional bit of sniping myself actually; I'm just saying, it's easy for me to see why people hate em.