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Training Guide: Part XV - Water Combat Team - Sniper II

The previous section went into a brief overview of a Sniper and his/her attributes. This section will go into more detail regarding various tips and tactics to follow when snipering. Snipering, as mentioned before, is a skill to be employed by an experienced water warrior. Attempting to specialize as a sniper without proper combat skills in a water fight is basically pointless since one is bound to be discovered soon after sniping. However, there are ways to get the most out of those few moments between firing the first shot and being discovered.

GETTING INTO POSITION
In order to get clear shots without being discovered, one must first find a spot which provides good cover while giving a clear shot at an area which the enemy is bound to pass. Finding a truly good spot is often a matter of luck, though good knowledge of enemy movement as well as knowing one's weapon's range will help.

One difficult aspect once a spot has been chosen is getting to the spot and setting up while remaining quiet and unseen. Snipering allows one to get the first shot if done correctly, but a lot of time, stealth and patience is needed to do it properly.

There are many things to consider when choosing a snipering position:

  • height off the ground - the higher one is from ground level, the farther one's weapon will reach. Added range means added time after firing to hide or escape
  • amount of cover - natural camouflage usually works better (and is cheaper) than synthetic ones. Staying out of sight while waiting for the enemy to enter the target zone is imperative if one is trying to sniper them
  • ease of escape - though one should get the first shot, since a stream of water is fired, the enemy can quickly determine where the shot came from and return fire. Ease of escape become crucial here since one would usually not wish to stick around as a lone gunman
  • ease of entry - of course, before one can sniper, one must get into position. If getting into position is a difficult or noisy task, there may be little point in trying to sniper from that spot
  • field of view - the more area which can be seen from one's position, the more targets can be fired upon. Larger fields of view allow the sniper to see enemy location more easily than positions with a small field of view

COMMENTS ON COMMON SNIPING POSITIONS

TREE-TOP: Up above the ground in a tree's branches often offers a good place to sniper from. Of course, the first part is getting up into the tree (one definitely should be a good climber). Trees offer a raised position allowing one to hit targets further away. Leaves also provide good cover in case of counter attack. Of course, the main drawback is that exiting a tree can be a difficult process depending on the height one is above the ground. Definitely have a back-up teammate nearby in case the going gets wet.

BUSHES/SHRUBS: Most low-ground vegetation can provide decent cover for many snipers. However, since the position is at ground level, range is limited to the natural range of the weapon. Thankfully, being on the ground also allows for quick escapes if discovered or immediately after the snipering attack is completed.

SHORT WALLS/FENCES: In certain types of terrain, short walls or brickwork may be used as a good hiding spot for a sniper. The main drawback is that one must look above or around the wall in order to see or soak anyone on the other side. This can lead to one being spotted before getting a chance to attack.

DITCHES: Being below where the enemy may be is not adviseable since they will have the upper hand (no pun intended). Being lower than ground level severely limits visibility as well as decreasing range.

BUILDING CORNERS: Large walls or corners allows a sniper to remain unseen on the other side while the enemy approaches. In order to see or attack the approaching enemy, one must still potentially become exposed from one's hiding position, but the area exposed can be minimized through careful use of the wall. Being at ground level, the range of attack is solely dependant on the weapon being used. Of course, these spots are often also simple to escape from if discovered or after completing the attack.

Training Guide: Part XIV | Training Guide: Part XVI

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