Talk:Squad Composition and Tactics

Concerning the Blaster Launcher as a sniper weapon, I beg to differ. Vehemently. Sure, it has the best listed firing accuracy in the game at 120%, but when you look at the game files and the executable it's clear that the weapon is the least accurate based on an aimed shot type (IIRC 50% between waypoints). Placing many waypoints close together takes some of the accuracy problems out of the equation as does proper waypoint selection, but when you boil it down, it's a waste of talent for a sniper with already good firing accuracy stat to use it since a rookie soldier who has the crappiest FA possible can use it just as effectively. And for soldiers with bad FA, blasters allow them to improve rapidly by potentially hitting lots of targets. So the Blaster Launcher is a great tool for training up snipers from the ground up, but not so much for actual snipers. --Zombie 19:42, 7 March 2009 (CST)

If we take a very ballistic approach to sniping, it certainly is. By itself it is not accurate (so has nothing do with the listed accuracies), but the waypoint system works around that to ensure you can try to at least guide the projectile around obstacles and hit the target.

From a pure skill point of view: definitely not. That's why I mentioned it requires no skill on the part of the user (meaning the user of the gun). It doesn't matter who uses it - if you can guide the wobbly missile to its destination and take down the target, then you'll have sniped it. Lacks finesse, but there you go.

-NKF 21:42, 7 March 2009 (CST)

It's still baffling why the Blaster Launcher is touted on the article page as the "ultimate sniper's weapon" when all the other weapons are lots more accurate on aimed. Even the Laser Pistol's aimed shot (which is the worst in the game) is 18% more accurate. I guess my point is that the word sniper is synonymous with accuracy. The Blaster removes any soldier skills needed to fire it (an idiots weapon) and instead relies exclusively on the battlefield scouting and surveying performed by other soldiers in the squad. So it's not individual sniping, but a group effort. Suppose that's still sniping per-se, but the accuracy is still preventing me from agreeing with the articles assessment. --Zombie 00:21, 8 March 2009 (CST)

Standard sniping is already a group effort, as the snipers rely on the visual confirmation relayed to them by the scouts. From a technical point of view, you are right. It's not the most accurate - especially not in a straight line.

Though, few weapons get to shoot a projectile that can correct its own course as it travels by re-firing itself. Think of it like the odds of hitting something at least once with snapshots against aimed shots when you're at 50 firing accuracy (ala sniping with the plasma rifle). The accuracy values favour the aimed shots, but the snaps have a better of chance to hit at least once since they get more tries. In the blaster's case it's by way of the projectile re-firing itself from waypoint to waypoint. Then there's the fact it is area-effect in nature, so even a near-hit might might still hit the target. Definitely the Sniper's ultimate cheap shot weapon.

Hmm, ultimate mortar? -NKF 01:48, 8 March 2009 (CST)

Aye, mortar is a much better term to describe it. (Or a tactical nuke). Neither actually require marksmanship to fire. ;) --Zombie 03:09, 8 March 2009 (CDT)

Starting Sniper Weapon

I reckon the Heavy Cannon with AP is the best starting sniper weapon, better than the Rifle.

• Rifle is 2/9ths more accurate (+22%) in Aimed, with the same volume of fire (1 in 80% TUs)
• Rifle has 4/3rds volume of fire (+33%) in Snap, with the same accuracy (60%).
• If you assume some TUs for maneuver (realistic), Rifle has 3/2 the volume of fire (+50%) in Snap.
• But HC-AP has 56/30 = 187% damage. This also means the kill probability per hit is 1.87 times better on an unarmoured target. On armoured targets, this ratio increases in favour of the HC-AP.

If finesse is unimportant, HE rounds can be used. The combination of near-miss damage, under-armour damage and the option to inflict up to 4 times damage on terror units, makes HC-HE arguably even more effective than HC-AP. I'm not sure I would call that sniping though!

Spike 22:56, 7 March 2009 (CST)

In a power race, the rocket launcher would probably be better suited to that task. Heavier stopping power, superior aimed shot. Chance at wiping out several enemies at once (or allies). It's let down by its ammo limitations - limited, cumbersome and demanding on your item limit.

It's a bit sad how the favour is shifting away from the rifle lately. -NKF 23:14, 7 March 2009 (CST)