I read all the time about people sniping some unlucky soul @ 800, 900 or 1000m...

I have to be honest, all of my fights end up around 200m. I regularly hit the other guy while he's incoming with PPCs, Gauss, some autocannons. Beyond 600, I still have some trouble, but I've only been playing for four days now =P. Inside of that, no issues laying smack, even on a sprinting Cougar.

But my problem is, even with a faster 'Mech, I ALWAYS end up @ knife distance ~100m-250m (more accurately, SRM, LBX10/20, MRM range).

How do you guys keep someone at a distance? With some 'Mechs (like the Vulture/Thor) that can swivel 360 degrees, you can sprint away, so it's easier....but what about others?

One note, I've been playing instant action, and not multiplayer. If long distance hitting doesn't really come into play as much in instant action so much as online, someone tell me that now .

If you're playing Instant Action then, yeah - all of your fights will end up close range, because 'bots are zombies and, as we all know, all zombies want to do is eat your brain. 'Bots will just keep coming towards you, basically.

Online? No. Depends on what weapons the bad guys are carrying and what map you're on. If they have big, nasty ballistic things you will often find them invading your personal space. If they have sniping weapons or a bunch of missiles they will usually be a speck on the horizon. The one in the direction that all of those missiles keep coming from.

So why are you wasting time slaying 'bots, dude? Wade on into the fray and get your fanny kicked online for awhile like the rest of us did. (and like Gwydion still does)

Here's what i do as a sniper... i just feel more comfortable sniping than brawling. My reflexes just can't keep up with the fast paced INF action.

Here's what i know about sniping.

Keeping distance is just one of the many things a sniper do.

Using terrain is key. I think Wildcard already posted a good guide about how to position oneself or how to get off a better shot.

Getting better shot selections too... shooting lots of opportunity / safe shots (ie. shooting mechs that's unable to shoot back - busy mechs / short range mechs etc.) while making sure one is in a good position wherein teammates could easily give support fire.

Shot selection is easier if one gets a good situational awareness. Follow where the 'tracers' are coming from or going to. Pinging every now and then to detect closing opponents and sometimes staying active to let an enemy see me to lure 'em out (especially vs other BAP snipers). Pinging is better done while in cover though.

Movement (ie. flanking) works wonders too. It makes one unpredictable... and one gets a better position to shoot too.

Varies alot vs opponent... its good vs players that likes to camp. If an opponent camps in a good position though... just find another area of the map where one could be of better help to the team (ie. part of map that team outnumbers the enemy) and not risking alot in taking out a well dugged opponent.

If forced to a closer fight... patience (extreme shot selection)... as brawlers will pick a sniper apart because usually brawlers have a faster recycle weapons... thus the sniper needs to make his / her shot count. Better if slowly moving in cover/away from other enemies while drawing the brawler near one's support teammates.

***

About brawling... other TB members could share... as i don't have much experience with them

But i'll share my meager knowledge about the subject.

All i know is to get closer by using cover alot, going passive alot (but still pinging) and 'rock' 'em constantly w/ good use of alpha and grouped fired ballistics.

Keeping the pressure vs hot mechs... never giving 'em time to bleed off excess heat. Learn to hit the 'achilles heel' of every mech... i think there's a guide too on this one (ie. hitting the RT of a Thor etc.).

***

Almost forgot both styles have preferred mechs (ie. Generally NC/MC are better snipers and Thors are generally better brawlers).

And since you're new to the game... i suggest picking one role and one mech at first, specialize and be good at this chosen mech. It'll be hard at first, but the learning curve will be much easier to bear.

Most important thing though is to stick to the team or make sure to be in range of teammates for them to give support fire. Makes playing easier... a group will almost always beat an individual player.

Malicious, unprovoked attack.











I knew I liked it here for a reason.

This means

WayOfTheGun...take a look at the other topics in the training centre, some very useful stuff in there. good marksmen (able to hit a mech no matter what direction they are going) are not really born, but it takes practice, you have to be concious of how much you have to lead each weapon beyond 500 or so.

sometimes people go with the 'all ranges covered mechs' but these have several flaws.
1. too much in close stuff as opposed to 1 long range weapon, stay at far range away from these mechs and use the longer range stuff you have to your advantage.
2. long range stuff (i.e. gauss, erppc, arrows) with slow recycle. knock these guys so they can't get a good shot in, most won't take shots if they can't get you lined up. also use cover when engaging these guys, as they will beat the **** out of you if you stay in open areas.

just remember that you want to be able to bring the superior firepower to bear on your opponent, so stay out of the range of their weapons while you hit them with yours (use erppc's to take out gauss, erll, hvac10, atm-m, and heavy gauss boats).

running away while swiveling an arm to cover fire behind you can help keep someone at range, esp if they are in a slower mech than you.

don't ever let anyone say anything to you (by this i mean ignore them) if they use the words: camping, boating, legging, de-arming, poptarting, chain firer, lagger (listen to this one then check your ping, as when you pilot lights most assaults can't hit you and call you a lagger as an excuse), and pig driver. if you play on the BI servers, all these things are legal (cept lagging, but sometimes you can't help that)

listen to the advice from all TB members on the BI servers, they are playing and will gladly help you new guys out. when you first start online, you won't be the best guy out there, but if you keep playing and pick up on new tactics, you can get better and be better than most players out there. i started online play in May, and i was pretty bad (tactically wise, didn't know where to go or which mech to engage), but i've gotten much better with help and advice.

Hmmm...well, I'm not exactly sure what I do when I snipe....I've always been more comfortable with sniping than any other type of combat, not only in Mechwarrior, but other games too....I'll have to think about this, so don't be surprised if I miss something....

1) Know your weapon ranges. Nothing worse than launching a gauss at an unsuspecting enemy mech, while they're out at 850. Not only did you just waste ammo, but you probably just put out a neon sign that says "Hey! Look! There's a Sniper over here, come kill me".

2) Know your mech. Know where your weapons are located. For example, in a Clan Gauss, ERPPC Chimera, both your guns are in your arms. This'll help when you're jumpsniping (or poptarting for that matter). When you jump, you don't want to shoot untill your arms get above the ridge, or obstacle you're jumping over/above

3) Know your enemy's mech. For example, you'd want to hit the Nova Cat in the arms, and strip off their weapons. This is because the majority of the weapons on a Nova Cat go in its arms. And it's fun Nothing more satisfying than seeing a Nova Cat running around screaming, "Kill me! I have no weapons". And if you're feeling particularly mean, leg him, then tell your teammates to leave him alone .

4) Know your role. If you're sniping, you don't want to rush in gungho. You're gonna want to stick back, and well....snipe. Rushing in will just get you dead, and that's something you want to avoid (unless you're me, then it just happens no matter what anyway No offense to anyone if they are, I'll use it occasionally too).

7) Always use ECM/BAP. If it's available take it. These two electronics are invaluable. The ECM will keep you hidden, while the BAP will pick up any mech within 1200 meters (ECMed mech at 750). If you have Light gauss, you can make great use of the BAP. The Light Gauss can shoot out to 1200 (you may not be able to target them, but you can still hit them, just aim far enough ahead of a mobile mech to lead them. And you can tell ig you hit them, by going to the Damage overlay, and watching the picture. If the mech rocks back and forth, you hit him. If it didn't, then well....you missed, or the slugs hit an object before the enemy).

8) Passive radar. If you haven't got ECM, and you're out on your own, you're gonna want to be passive. It'll keep you protected just the same as ECM, except you wont be able to see anything that's not within 250 meters. If you're passive, you want to keep a good eye on your surroundings, and Nav points. You don't want to get ambushed by a mech coming in, without being able to see it. Passive radar is also good when you want to stay hidden, while you're moving to set up a surprise ambush of your own. It'll keep you hidden from a BAP equipped mech up to 450, rather than the 750 they would normally see you at.

9) Pay attention to your enemys weapons. If you see a mech tht has only short range weapons, make it a priority target (assuming you're not dealing with a mech that's closing in on you). You'll be able to shoot them, without being shot back. It's a "Safe Target" in this case. Though, that's not the only reason you would want to see what the weapons they;re carrying are. You'd also want to stay away from a mech with heavy hitting short range weapons.

10) Only fire when you're comfortable with firing. If you think the shot will expose your position, don't take the shot. Your job isn't to kill, but rather to wound, and leave for your teammates to take care of.

There is a bunch more things I'm sure, but most of it is just learning. Take your time, use cover, fire when it's safe, and I'm sure you'll do fine....seems to work for everyone but me....I'm just a natural target....maybe it has something to do with talking so much

I'm slowly working my way online... I'm working overtime right now, and then cooking, and all that annoying stuff...

also training for a bike race. Time is short.

I'll get there soon... <_<

Hey "WAYOFTHEGUN"

Online play is vastly different than bot bashing.....

IF and when you do come online look for the BANZAI servers I have always had good games there.
And they are balanced games where you don't have 12 poptards firing at you at one time, there you will get a mix of fighting styles that are a lot funner than 95% of the servers out there.

I do suggest that you find a few people that you like playing with and try to meet up with them from time to time to play together.

heh you ever tried massed uac10 sniping/ brawling?
theres a real learning curve there

Hehehe k, i've tried AC10's but haven't got any success w/ UAC10's. They're too heavy, but i'll give it a try

Cuac10's are quite nice semi-brawl weapons.

*looks at earlier post*

I can't believe I typed like that.

<_<

you actually made sense!!! bad GNOSIS!!!

Yeah, but look at all the missed (obvious) punctuation and misspelled words. <_<