Dust 514: Marksman, Taking Sniper to the Next level
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Transcriber's note:
I'm Sulec Aravi, better known in Dust as Celus Ivara. I did not produce any of the content here, I'm simply handling the copy/pasting process. This guide was written by our hard working Director of Education, Fox Gaden. This guide was originally posted to the D-Uni internal forums. In an effort to provide education to all it is being copied to the public wiki. ATM, this transcribing effort is a work in process; if you can read this text, presume the following to be incomplete and in need of proper formatting (which I am working on).
This is a guide to sniping written by Fox Gaden, the D-Uni Director of Education.
The information here is up to date as of Uprising 1.1 .
Intro
Marksman is a combination of the Sniper and Frontline roles. A Marksman is as effective at close range urban combat as they are at long range sniping from the hills. This is achieved through training of sidearm skills and mastering the quick aim technique for mid range sniper riffle operation.
Minimum Skills Requirements
Sniper Riffle Operation Level 3 (Mandatory), Level 5 (Highly recommenced.) SMG or Scrambler Pistil Operation 5 (Mandatory), Proficiency 2 (Recommended.) Shield & Armour: A Marksman has the same shield and armor requirements as any other Frontline solder.
Dropsuit
Assault suit is the only appropriate suit for a Marksman. Warring a Scout suit with this skill set makes you more of an Assassin (Sniper/Scout hybrid). The Logi suit does not have a sidearm slot.
Quick Aim Technique
The key to mid rang sniping is the quick aim technique. This means aiming before you bring up your scope so that when your scope comes up your target is nearly lined up already. This is important because your tracking when aiming through the scope is slow! This precision is important when shooting at extreme ranges, but at mid range if you go up against an assault rifle, and your target is not nearly centered when your bring up your site, they will kill you before you line up your shot.
Quick Aim Practice
The best way to practice this technique is actually to use an Assault Riffle. It is less disorienting. Do some matches using the free Frontline fit and try to Aim Down Sites (ADS) as much as possible. Practice lining up your shot using the cross hair for a hip shot, then switch to the iron sites before firing. Get used to dropping out of ADS mode to acquire a new target, or if your target moves too far, then switching back to ADS when you have them lined up. Once you get used to it on the Assault Riffle, switch back to the Sniper Riffle for a few matches. With the Sniper Riffle there is no cross hair to aim with when you don’t have the scope up, so just do your best to put your target in the center of your screen before you bring the scope up.
Stance
Although sometimes on the front lines you will have the luxury of being able to crouch and fire from cover, you will often have to fire while standing, whether it is to fire over high cover or because a Red comes around the corner unexpectedly. With Sniper Rifle Operation at Level 3 you can aim while standing at mid range, but you will have to line up your shot quickly or time your shot with your riffle sway. It is highly recommended that you max out the Sniper Riffle Operation skill. If you can fire from a standing position you can stop, line up your shot, fire, and move on much faster than if you have to crouch to fire. You will also be less susceptible to snipers. By this point you should know for yourself that the easiest target is a crouched sniper.
Sidearm
Your effectiveness with a sidearm is what makes you a Marksman, rather than just a Sniper running with your squad. You need to have enough confidence in your sidearm to go head to head with an assault rifle at close range and expect to win. Don’t use ADS on your sidearm in Close Quarter Combat (CQC). You don’t track fast enough in ADS mode if your target is strafing. Only use ADS in mid range or if you are trying to hit a stationary target such as an enemy Drop Uplink. Try to get used to strafing side to side while firing in very close range, but don’t just spray and pray. Aim while you are moving with the SMG, or between shots with the Scrambler Pistil.
Where you Operate
The short answer is “everywhere”. You have the sniper skills to be up in the hills pinning the enemy down while your squad advances, or taking out snipers who are trying to pin your squad down. You have the short range skills and defenses to take or defend objectives. You can run with your squad surpassing the short and long range capabilities of an assault rifle, while holding your own in the mid range due to mastering the quick aim technique. When running with your squad, sticking to cover a little behind the rest of your squad will put you in position to head shot reds with assault rifles as they step our from cover to fire a burst at your squad.
Quick Change, The Right Weapon for the Job
A light tap on R2 will switch between you Sniper Rifle and your Sidearm. Practice this. When Reds are advancing and you are getting exited, it is hard to keep your tap light, so practice quickly picking your weapon from the equipment wheel as well. If you body shot the Red charging at you with your Sniper Riffle you want to be able to seamlessly switch to your sidearm to finish them off as they reach close range. Remember your Primary weapon depends on range. At long range your Primary weapon is your Sniper Rifle. At short range your Primary weapon is your sidearm. At mid range your primary weapon depends on which weapon you have out, and weather your target is already shooting at you.
Equipment
Equipment depends on the situation, and on what equipment the rest of your squad has. Have fits for each type of equipment you may want to use. If your squad already has an Uplink and Nano Hive you may want to take a Nanite Injector to be a backup medic. If you are running separate from your squad, or your squad does not already have one, take an Uplink. If Uplinks are already placed, take a Nano Hive. A source of Ammo is always helpful.
The Other Path to Marksman
This guide is written for the Sniper’s path to the Marksman role. However the Tactical Assault rifle was clearly designed for the Marksman role as it has a range beyond 100m. In Chromosome build the TAC AR was weak, but it got over buffed in Uprising, making it the For The Moment (FTM) weapon of choice. This has overshadowed the role of the Sniper Rifle Marksman as with the TAC AR anyone can be a Marksman, even in a Logi suit. However, because it is widely regarded as overpowered, the TAC AR will likely be nerfed in the near future. Hopefully is will not be smashed back down to Chromosome levels.
Another weapon that Marksmen may favor in the future will be the Caldari Assault Rifle. While the current Gallente assault rifle is technically a Blaster, which usually have short range, the Caldari AR will be a rail gun, which are known for long range. The current Sniper Rifle is also a Caldari designed rail gun, but the AR version will likely have hip fire capability and rapid fire, although it will probably do less damage than the Gallente AR.
Flaylock Pistol
Yes I know I left it out. I have not used it and I am not sure whether it would be effective as a primary short range weapon. I am open to hearing the testimony of any Marksman that uses it.
