[Asai]

I read the links that were posted by the other user and while informative they cover mostly the basics. I snipe occasionally and while it is my favorite class to play i wind up playing pyro alot more because i still see pyros not attacking ubers. But that topic is for a different thread.

I am 42 years old and i have had to reconcile that my quick reflex days are pretty much over, but that does not make me less effective i just have to approach it different. I can't out shoot most of you kids so now i have to out think you that i still can do. I am ex- military and understand squad based tactics and combined arms theory. I have always believed that tactics and teamwork will always be competetive if not superior vs skill only and that is my approach to sniping. The biggest hurdle to sniping is getting cover from your team mates, as most people despise snipers because nothing is more frustrated that getting sniped repeatedly they have a tendancy to let snipers fend for themselves. This creates the vicious cycle of stepping out getting sniped, pissing and moaning about your snipers, stepping out getting sniped, rinse and repeat. Here are a few tips to minimize the turns. If you see a sniper with thier dot on the right side of a door way stay to the left side most importantly " STAY OUT OF THE SHOT" by blocking the sniper with all your bouncing around what you have effectivly done is reduce the situation from you and the sniper vs the target to just you and the target. Basically what i am saying is if you are not going to let me help you i am not going to let you hurt me, i will back up and wait for you to kill or get killed, count anywhere from 20 to 40 secs and then step out or change positions altogether. If you see a rush comming towards you and a sniper is shooting at the rush, stay by the sniper cover the sniper short, the longer the sniper can stay and shoot the more damage the targets take and this means less damage you will have to do when they get close. I am not saying that everything revolves around the sniper what i am saying is that a sniper backed up by thier team is going to be more effective and that translates into the team being more effective as the distances close.
I snipe using the following philosophy, it is not how many kills you get, it is who you kill. Right to the point look at the score box and see who are the top players and if given the choice between the number 1 player and the number 10 player go for the number 1. Even if you can't kill that target a shot that takes 90% of thier health away while not as effective as a kill may just be what is necessary for your teammates to score an assist or force them to retreat. Patience is key to sniping waiting for the right moment to take a shot is paramount. I never take a shot that is not 100% charged unless i am having to retreat anyway and it is the last shot before i scoot. Position is also important, there are spots on certain maps that i shoot through a gap smaller than the sniper dot itself, but it overlooks one of the most popular sniper roosts, and is a perfect counter-sniper shot. Ask yourself where would i be if i was on the other team, and look there but don't fall into the trap of having the opposing sniper asking the same question and you being there. Give them a different look every time if possible.
I will admit that i am not the best sniper on this server there are more folks who have longer playtimes, all i try and do is throw as many rounds down range as possible, doing as much damage as possible, for as long as possible. The ability to effectivly deliver a kill shot clear across the map is devistating both from a personel stand point as well as psychological. This may not be what you were looking for OP but it is my take on the class and there will be those that disagree but we all play each class abit different.