Snipers: Amazing or Awful?

[ParadoxalObserver]

I'll be honest, there are a lot of times I wish we had a Sniper specialist because we were pinned down by boilers or spitters.

True, but their issue is how situational they are. There are /some/ times where you really wish you had them. Problem is that they're so limited that it's always a better bet to take any other spec weapon (except the B-18).

[Kailey Prevatt]

B18 honestly isn't too bad, when you're using it right.

[ParadoxalObserver]

B18 honestly isn't too bad, when you're using it right.

That's true with any weapon - even the sniper. When someone says 'X is bad' what they mean is 'X is less useful in most scenarios than most other options'.

SADAR is godly because it stuns T3s for a long while and can very well one-shot T2 and T1s. The Smartgun has Night-Vision; lots of ammo; and no friendly fire along with pretty heavy damage if it has a power barrel and although I might be wrong I don't think it can even miss (at least I've never seen it miss). The Grenade Launcher can do pretty decent area denial and can really be a problem for the Xenos when fighting in their hives.

Then we have the remaining two... the sniper can sometimes present a support option? Assuming the marines are advancing towards an area that's sufficiently well lit and you can get shots with them not in the way... and you can find a safe spot to fire from. The B18 makes you a slightly tougher marine, but as soon as the Xenos notice you're a B18 all they're going to do is make quick passes at you with huggers until that helmet ends up breaking.

So sure, any weapon can be decent if used right, the issue is they have a lot less situations in which they're actually effective. And even though the Grenade Launcher and SADAR are also fairly situational heavily limiting Xeno mobility and being Hell when fighting in their hives or having the ability to easily take down T3s are far more common and important scenarios than needing a long-range tickler or a tougher marine.

[Varnasis]

Scoped M4 is better.

That said, xenos don't fully realize how shit the sniper rifle is and still get intimidated by it. Use it as a terror weapon.

This.

I would rather use the Specialist token on a SADAR or a Grenade launcher than waste it on a sniper. The only good thing about the Sniper/Recon kids is that you can get the covering and essentially hunt Xeno's if you are smart with it. Set up in a narrow hall with a broken out window and just wait outside, when one comes pop out with a shotgun and blow them away up close.

[Crab_Spider]

I've actually gotten quite a lot of kills with a sniper (Marksman), it came in handy during assaults, and if I'm on FOB duty, xenos slashing lights were too easy to deal with. Crushers weren't as intimidating, and saving hugged Marines was truly do-able, hell, I managed to snipe Jay (our mod) into oblivion in 3 shots.