~SOCOM: US Navy Seals -ONLINE In-depth Guide~
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Warning & Copyright
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+-+ This document is intended for private and personal use only, and is
largely targeted for the www.gamefaqs.com website and it's readers.
+-+ You can only print this for personal use. This FAQ is not intended to be
used in any magazine (printed or on-line), CD or other media without first
contacting the author.
+-+ Please use common sense when using this FAQ. The author is not
responsible for any injuries or other issues that may be caused by excessive
game play. Know your limits and know the limits of those around you.
+-+ This FAQ is copyright (_c_) property of Jason Bulquerin <SOCOM:
Psych0midget> 2002.
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VERSION HISTORY
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v1.0 - First revision - General information for online play with more to come
shortly.
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Weapon Choice/Functions
a. Seals
b. Terrorists
c. Grenades
d. Claymores
3. Basic Strategy
a. How to win a firefight
b. Communication
c. Shootouts
d. Ambushes
e. Becoming a one man army
f. Stealth
g. Shooting
h. Start of the match
i. Manhunt
j. Enemy fire Indicator
k. What I personally do in solo situations
4. Sniper Tips
5. What to do about idiots/cheaters/overall unruly people
6. A few good side tips
7. Thank you and who we are!
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1. Introduction
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Howdy! This is a first FAQ/Guide compilation from many Gamefaqs Message Board
help guides. What produced this guide into a submitted FAQ is the dedicated
help from Erin Riley <SOCOM: sonar riley> and Brenden Cobb <SOCOM: Jehu> as
well as the amount of support received from the Gamefaqs SOCOM community.
What will be discussed in this guide are tactics and tips to performing well
playing the game online -as well as some tips that work well offline. The
information comes from play-tested experience in this game, as well as other
first person shooters. While everything we discuss may not be new news to
some people, we are sure there will be information here that can benefit the
novice player, and the informed veteran.
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2. Weapon Choice/Functions
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First off, know the map, and know what you need to do to take out the enemy.
If you're a seal, know if you're the attacking team, or if you need to hold
fort in the darkness. Terrorists are a little simpler. Choose your favorite
boom stick and go at it.
People abuse burst fire. Most guns have more than one rate of fire. Single
bullet, 3 bullet bursts, 4 bullet bursts and full auto. You can change your
gun's rate of fire by pushing in the left analog stick.
While burst fire is fun, it's ASKING for return fire. When you're chasing a
guy down from behind (without him knowing) don't burst too soon. Know when to
burst and when to place a well-aimed bullet right where you want it.
Single fire is MUCH more accurate, so use it in proper situations (long
distance, taking out someone in the distance you can barely see, trying to
keep a low profile) and burst fire has its uses when you need to get down and
dirty and firefight with one or two tangos next to you.
People LOVE the m60, but I guarantee you I can run circles around the guy and
take him out much quicker with a well-placed shot or 3 from a silenced m4a1.
Switch firing modes, and switch often.
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2a. Seals
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Silenced is key. Seals have the sr-25 and the m4a1 (my preference is the m4,
better fire rate, you lose some accuracy, I think, but you make up for it in
bursting when up-close) and both come silenced or un-silenced.
When given the option, go for silenced for the simple purpose of surprise.
The seals' major firepower (forget what its called... has a clip of 75
rounds) isn't nearly as accurate or reliable as the m60 from my experience,
but don't take that to the bank. I haven't had too much time to test it out.
For sniping purposes, the seals do have a silenced sniper rifle better than
the sr-25, but I like to go with the Sr instead since it's good for stuff
other than sniping.
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2b. Terrorists
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Ask anyone else and they'll recommend the Ak or the Aks, but I like to go
with the 552. The Aks have a familiar sound that scream "I'm a baddy, shoot
me" so I tend to stay away from it.
If you're in a close range map, or one with lots of buildings (Desert Glory,
Frostfire) I actually enjoy the m60. 100 round clip, crap for accuracy, tons
of noise, and shoots bullets faster than you can drop the gun from all the
recoil. NEVER fire it in full sprint. Try to be steady, (which is hard in
open confrontations) or crouching/prone by a guarded spot to rip up the
baddies. I even snipe with it sometimes. Prone at a nice spot, aim in the
general direction of the movement, and fire away till they drop.
For up close fighting, the terrorist weapons are brutal and quick. Burst fire
is pretty much your friend. I tend to say stick to single bullet taps, but
the way maps place terrorists, you always seem to get into close range real
quickly.
For sniping, NOTHING causes as much noise (and damage) as the m82a1. 1 shot
will do it in most situations. The p90 is a nice little gun when in close
range. You can pretty much outgun anyone you are in close combat with a p90,
but don't expect to hit too well in long range.
Experiment with the guns and see which you like best.
My Recommendations:
Seals - M4A1-sd
Terrorists - 552
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2c. Grenades
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Grenades - Online play's best friend. I LOVE my grenades, as some people that
have played with me know. First off, some people aren't even aware that
grenade throws are PRESSURE SENSITIVE. If you need to throw the pineapple a
long distance, up the steps, through a window and onto a camping baddy, you
need to sternly press on the fire button and use the guide to release it
quickly. The longer you take selecting the grenade, gauging the distance and
releasing at the right aim, the more time you leave someone to shoot you from
behind.
Hot key your grenade. This can be done by going into weapon selection mode
(r2) and going to the grenade, then binding a button (L1 or L2) to the
grenade. I suggest L2, since your primary gun is L1. Most people won't resort
to their pistol (aside from snipers), so binding a grenade can be far more
beneficial.
More than likely, you'll stick to a regular frag grenade, which works well.
Be aware that 1 grenade will NOT fully take a guy out of commission most
times. You can throw in a second, but the blast will move them.
In most clearing situations, throw a grenade, hit L1 to switch to your main
weapon, and run in right after it explodes. The guys in the area will be
knocked down, but not dead. Shoot them as they get up.
Remember to use grenades, and use them often. If enemies constantly come in a
certain area, pepper it with grenades. If a tunnel is heavily conflicted at
the start, full-power a grenade into a wall and bounce it at them. If the
baddies hole up in a room, open a door and peek-throw a grenade inside.
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2d. Claymores
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Often ignored, but serve many uses. In some situations, a hallway/tunnel is
VERY well traveled and fought over. These tunnels/hallways serve some
strategic purpose, so a well-placed claymore can really take some guys out.
First off, make sure you remove a secondary grenade and place in claymores.
Pick a spot to place it, and try not to have it at a spot that's too obvious.
Before placing a second, you need to make sure you're selecting claymores
again as you automatically switch to detonator after placing one.
I like to place claymores on top of dead bodies. People run over the corpses
for ammo and get a nice surprise. Another good use is placing them at a spot
where you can watch the traffic and detonate when there are enemies nearby.
Nice for holding fort, or placing outside of doors you're guarding. Detonate
when you think they're there (hot-key your detonator).
Claymores can be the ultimate defensive weapons. For demolition/extraction
maps, place a claymore to cover all entry positions to what you are guarding,
hide -either prone behind cover, crouch behind a wall, or get a good look
from above- and use the camera to get a view of the area. Even when you are
behind a wall, you can still see around the corner by moving the camera
around until you can get a look at the other side. When the enemy comes near,
detonate and finish off those that survive. For better effects, place
multiple claymores that cover all points of entry as well as the target (of
course, don't put them near hostages). -more on claymores when we confirm
some issues.
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3. Basic Strategy
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This game might be based on stealth and strategy, but I'm sure you'll find
most people will play like it's a death match free-for-all. This is good, as
these people are easy to figure out and outplay. First few rounds are a
giveaway; use your best tactics, and learn how the opponent plays. Most of
the time, you've never played with them before, so you have to use the first
few rounds to figure them out.
Most groups will try something, and keep doing it if it works, and often
times, even if it doesn't.
All maps are non-linear. There are ALWAYS many, many places to go. Know your
opponent's starting moves, and know what they like to do. You can counter
once you can predict how they move.
The most important tactic in games like this is the flank. Your ideal attack
point is the opponent's flank, or rear. You don't want face-to-face
confrontations, but it will happen.
First off, know how to flank, and how to surprise your enemy. Once you figure
out their pattern, you can plan ahead on the next round. Once they pick a
spot to attack, your team will move in to face them. You and a partner can
sneak around behind the enemy while the rest of your team confronts the enemy
to keep them facing forward. Works every time.
Once you find a route to get behind the enemy, you'll be seeing the backs of
3 or 4 Tangos each time, and rack up kills. Try to stay quiet and stay away
from full-fire automatics so you won't give away your position until you've
taken down most of them. Aim directly center, and tap a burst of 3 bullets
and repeat if they're not dead. Don't go nuts and fully-auto fire on them to
let their friends know you've flanked.
On a side note, this will work a few times, but there's nothing worse than
beating your predictable opponents with a strategy, and repeating it to the
point of being predictable yourself. Change it up.
Note that this tactic will be done to you as well. Communication is key. If
you and a buddy go to flank, make sure your teammates know. Watch your own
flank. Smart enemies will send some of their best players around to get your
buddies while they're busy with the rest of the team.
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3a. How to Win a Firefight
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You wont perform well if your controls aren't the best. Most people don't
change the default settings, and as painful as this is to let everyone know,
I think someone has to say it.
The game, for some reason, keeps your scroll speed pretty slow. This means
when you get into conflict, your character turns at a rate of speed that
makes it very hard to get someone that's behind you.
The bulk of my kills are from flanks, but I can also shoot down a guy in
front of me by using simple strafing methods and keeping my crosshairs on the
target while tapping fast single shot bursts.
To change your controls, go into game options and check out the different
control setups and raise the scroll acceleration option. Tell me that doesn't
make a difference!
Now you can strafe run, move and turn at the same time MUCH sharper than your
opponents. You can't believe the number of times I've watched 1 on 1s when
I'm dead, and the 2 guys run circles around each other with full burst fire
(m60s and such) and you can see how slow they turn, not to mention where the
bullets go. Everywhere but in front.
Now that your controls are set, practice moving and shooting. Never, ever
move in straight lines, that's asking for bullets. Move, strafe, hug walls
and constantly check your 6. When you spot someone, start moving towards them
while strafing left and right. Use the right stick (try to keep a steady
hand) to keep the crosshairs on them, and use quick bursts of 3 bullets in
their area.
BEFORE you get close (remember, people LOVE burst fire, and it works best in
close range) start to strafe more and move forward less. Get cover if they're
still shooting.
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3b. Communication
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You get that fancy headset for a reason, so use it. First off, make sure the
mouthpiece isn't too close to your mouth. People will hear your exhales, and
you'll be too loud to be understandable. Speak clearly, and make it quick and
to the point. You get a maximum 10 seconds per speaking time.
Most important things to communicate are team strategies, of course, but
don't forget to say something when you spot an enemy. In most situations, you
alone, or with a teammate or two, will have to hunt down one last sneaky
little baddy. Communicate RIGHT when you spot him to let everyone know where
to go. If you try to take it solo, and end up dead, your teammates will get
there too late to get the guy before he gets away. Make it habit, right when
you see one, to say you spotted him and where you are as quickly as possible.
Break your group up into partners or specific teams so that you can work
together and more effectively. I usually spend a good 5 or so rounds
convincing my team we should strategize before getting gung ho. When
outnumbered, try to stay together and defend a position. Communication is key
in this game.
Let's not forget, communicating and getting to know some people over a series
of matches can build some camaraderie. I've played with some people a few
times now, and when we see each other, we know we work well together. Maybe
because of the sole reason that we're the only ones in that match working as
a team (even a 2 man team).
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3c. Shootouts
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The most important thing when you spot a group of baddies is getting cover.
If you round a corner and see them, immediately hit the floor or duck behind
something. Second thing you should do is communicate for backup. Often times
your teammates can help you out in a situation like this by getting around
the enemies to get you out from their side. Nothing beats surrounding a mob
because you communicated their location quickly and stayed alive.
Most situations like this can be solved by quick decisions. First off, know
your surroundings. If you're in the open (not too common, but each map has
open sections that are death if caught in) area, you have no choice but to
fire it out. Make sure you communicate first as you move, so people can come
in for help, and know where to go in the event of your death.
When facing multiple baddies, move and move often. Concentrate on one enemy,
and fire in quick bursts. Full-auto will get you killed on the reload, even
if you do take one down. Always strafe, and keep your crosshairs on one
enemy.
Often times if enemies were camping they'll be sitting still and will have
the advantage on you (their aim will be better), so you have to move and
become a hard target. Fire off quick bursts, and reload when your enemy
reloads. Try to strafe in one direction, and if caught close enough, circle
your enemy.
If one is stationary and another is moving, take the stationary one out
first. Always run towards cover to put an object in front of you and the
enemy. Higher ground is always better, so aim for a good location. Never turn
and run, you'll get shot easily.
In some cases, I've run into a group of 2 or 3 guys rounding a corner.
Instead of getting flashy, I instantly strafed left for a short distance and
stayed prone while firing. They have to shift aim, and I was able to put
accurate bursts into 2 of them before the third was able to put up a fight.
In a situation when there is cover, get behind it instantly. More than
likely, your opponent is also looking for cover. Remember, if your head is
peeking out, even by a little bit, you can and will get shot. You have to be
fully covered.
Someone on their team will most likely be laying down cover fire, and another
will be running to your location, or preparing a grenade. Your best bet is to
step back and wait for them while under cover, or lay down some cover fire
yourself while help arrives.
Try not to risk standing up to run at them while firing, especially when
alone. If you can get out of their line of sight, prep your area with
claymores. You can throw grenades while crouched, and throw them while
peeking out with left or right on the D pad. Use grenades to flatten them and
always throw more than one, and not at the same exact spot.
After the second explodes, peek out to see if you flattened anyone, and fire
while you can. If you have a partner, try to have one person lay down cover
fire, while the other maneuvers around any way he can to get a shot off from
a different angle.
Don't forget to try and flank. Grenades are your best friends in this
situation, but watch for incoming ones as well.
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3d. Ambushes
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These are tons of fun. Find a well-traveled spot and make it your playground.
Claymores and all kinds of explosives are tons of fun. Hot key your
detonator, and don't wait for them to step on it. Detonate it and fire to
take out survivors. Always have cover / be prone / or be peeking out from
behind a wall to expose as little of yourself as possible. Frequently throw
in grenades to break up any form of organized recoil they can come up with.
Don't forget to claymore a group of corpses for any latecomers!
One-man ambushes are VERY do-able. Higher ground is best. Get above and
behind the tunnel/hallway if possible. Don't fire until you can be sure of a
kill, as you don't want to give your position away.
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3e. Becoming a One Man Army
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Playing as a team and being successful may be more gratifying and effective
than going solo, but you really do have to be able to hold your own before
you can effectively act in a team. All good intentions aside, if you move in
a team and can't hold your own, you can endanger the team more than help.
There are a few little things I've noticed from people playing in a team with
good intentions, but showing a few bad habits while doing it: burst fire with
loud weapons from long distance giving away our position, getting in the way
of cross fires, excessive use of smoke grenades for no reason (actually
hinders our team's performance) and rushing the enemy when sticking together
is vital.
Learning to be a self-contained player will help you immensely when playing
in a team, so I'll focus on that before I get into in-depth team tactics.
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3f. Stealth
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In both team and solo play, stealth can save your life. In the beginning of
the round, it's more of a rush for early kills, but stealth can and will keep
you alive even when raiding the enemy base.
Once the enemy knows where you are, you'll have to rely on pure strafing and
steady shooting alone. With stealth, even the novice player can do well.
As some people have suggested, use your environment. Take short and quick
dashes for cover. Always crouch (I would advise against proning and crawling
in multiplayer, you never know when someone will come up behind you) and
sprint to cover. Stay down and check your surroundings. When clear, sprint
for the next covered area.
Hiding in brush/shadows/behind corners is a must. Use the camera to get a
good look around without having to lose cover. Stay hidden until you decide
to make your move, and always try to get the element of surprise on your
enemies.
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3g. Shooting
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With proper use of stealth and technique, you'll soon find yourself in a
position that your enemy is unaware of. If they're still far away, prep your
gun accordingly. Switch to single fire or 3 shot burst and HOLD FIRE until
you're sure to get a kill shot.
Before you run in for the kill, check your 6, and check your prey's 6 for
other teammates that might be covering him. Run in a zig-zag (up + left, then
up + right, then up + left, subtlety) towards your target and fire away at
mid range.
With frontal confrontations, use tactics previously described. Stay away from
full burst as it'll waste your bullets quickly (most of which will hit
walls/floors) and keep your crosshairs on him while firing quick bursts all
the while.
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3h. Start of the match
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I can argue that the first 10 seconds in a map are THE most crucial. This
will be different from map to map, game to game, but the first 10 seconds can
mean the difference from losing leverage, to applying pressure. Don't get me
wrong, waiting it out to make your move is effective, and I don't mean for
you to rush as quick as possible to the front line to meet the enemy.
However, the first few seconds in the match should be spent without ANY
hesitation. Know your game plan in the scores screen, and move right from
start.
Some maps have very sought after tactical positions. If you feel it will be
in your best interest to hold it, make a dash for a spot to cover the area.
If given too much time, an enemy can and will apply pressure from one side
and a second/third squad will come around to break up your defense/offense.
When a match starts, I run to my front line, and wait. Waiting depends on the
map, and the predictability of the opponent. When I hear my cue (enemy
gunfire from the point in the map I'm guessing it is going to come from) I
make my move and sprint to get behind the enemy. Once they know my game plan,
I sometimes have to come into conflict when getting ready. That's when every
second counts.
Always use up the starting time wisely. Coordinate with teammates, set up
defenses/traps, and bind your keys/get into position and get ready for
action.
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3i. The Manhunt
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Manhunts to win a round can be just as complex as taking out a full squad
with your own squad. Some situations are dire: you alone vs. 3-4 baddies, or
1 or 2 of you against a very good sniper in a wide open map, or even worse 1
on 1 in a tied game, 5:5.
First off, gauge how much you can risk the round. if your team NEEDS the win,
be discreet and don't risk it. If losing means a loss in the series, you
might have to consider running out the clock.
If the situation is the other way, you and some friends against 1 last baddy,
talk with the survivors and find out what their game plan is. Sticking
together will ensure one of you at least has a chance to fire back and kill,
but with all of you covering the same route, you might never spot the last
guy.
If alone in a 1 on 1, try to spot the enemy before he spots you. Some maps
have a couple of locations that gives you a WIDE view of nearly the whole
area. Check that spot first in case he is up there, then give it a go to look
around. Stay out of full zoom mode, you won't see anything coming towards you
or behind you.
Stay prone, and when you get gunfire to your area, hit triangle immediately
and move. You'd be surprised how quickly you can get up from prone and
sprint. Remember, when you hear gunfire, check your crosshairs and a red
arrow will point towards the direction of the firing. You'll know where the
enemy is by following it.
Some basic tips on manhunts:
-Enemies love to come back to spawn points, yours and theirs. If you think
one is there, get a view before running in.
-Always check out the way tunnels, walkways and dead end rooms.
-Place claymores on corpses, and watch for claymores indicating he is camping
a spot.
-Fire into the air with a loud weapon a few times to give away your location.
Immediately move to a spot where you can cover your previous location and
wait to see if he comes towards that area.
-When running around, periodically check your 6. Scratch that and constantly
check your 6!
-Don't run too much. Sprint from cover to cover and keep looking all around
you.
-Get a silenced weapon if possible.
-Set up an ambush. Pick a spot with an entrance you can cover, place a
claymore there, bind the detonator, and start firing into the air to give
away your location. Stay away from probable places a grenade will enter the
room, and wait for the enemy to get near. He'll avoid the claymore if he sees
it, so you can detonate it as he walks by to knock him down. Shoot him as he
gets up.
-if your friends are all doing rounds looking for the guy, don't double up on
their routes. Get a good view, and watch the area for movement.
-Keep an eye on your teammates. Go the opposite way as him so you cross over
each time.
-When you hear "man down," check who died, look for the name, and try to get
to their location ASAP. Don't rush in, the enemy might not be there anymore,
and a smart enemy will relocate and watch the corpse, waiting for his friend
to come by.
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3j. Enemy Fire Indicator
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Around your crosshairs is a circle. On this circle, little red arrows (or up-
side down Vs) will show up whenever you hear enemy gunfire.
The darker, larger and more intense the indicator, the closer the enemy is.
When you run around and see the fire indicator and hear the gunshots, notice
its location on your crosshairs. Up means in front of you. Down means behind
you. If multiple indicators show up of varying sizes, you have multiple shots
coming from multiple directions. This is perfect for finding out where the
conflict is, or where your enemy is shooting at you from. If you see arrows
pointing down, be sure to check your 6!
Friendly fire is not displayed on the crosshairs, so only investigate
gunshots that register on the indicator.
Always keep an eye on the indicator, and act accordingly. It'll help you
pinpoint your enemies' general location.
What I personally do in most solo situations
This is never a set thing, but some constants apply. When the map starts, I
run like mad to my position (usually away from the center conflict) and take
cover and wait. Within 30 seconds, I'll hear gunfire. I use my crosshairs to
determine its location (after many run-throughs on a map, you will know the
hot spots) and once I know where I need to be, I haul ass to that location.
Sometimes I run to high ground and wait for the traffic that's sure to come.
For example, my favorite tactic in Frostfire is to hold the second floor
office area as seal or terrorist. As terrorist, I run near the balcony, and
use the camera to see what's going on below me and to the side -warehouse-
once I see movement, I let them have a second to decide, then jump down and
get them from behind.
As seal, I run up there, secure the room, and proceed to the spawn point
where a bulk of baddies are either staying put, or moving down either
walkway. That's when I get them from behind within the first 20 seconds of
the map, when all their focus is directed in front of them, expecting our
group to come from that area.
Let your teammates be your cover. When the shooting starts, all attention
will be paid in that direction. Stay quiet, stay hidden, and strike when
they're not looking.
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4. Sniper Tips!
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First off, know your weapon choices. As seals, you have the Sr-25 sd, which
can be good for sniping, as well as the light fifty. Both are single shot,
but the Sr-sd is silenced. Being so means that it loses some accuracy and
power. Most shots (unless they are kill shots to the head/heart) will NOT
kill the enemy in 1 hit, unlike the 50 cal.
For the Sr, you'll have to shoot them once to wound, (often making them lose
balance) and a second/third to finish them off. This might sound bad, but the
tradeoff is a faster fire rate. The Sr can be an ok close range weapon. The
faster you tap the more bullets come out. That, and the silenced option,
makes it a "do-it-all" weapon.
For pure snipers, a .50 cal is the cream of the crop. 1 shot, placed anywhere
near a kill zone, is fatal. Perfect for posting up, taking cover, and picking
off the enemy as they unsuspectingly walk to their deaths.
The downsides are, of course, the insane loud bang this boom stick makes, and
the absolute death if caught in close range. The reload rate on rifles such
as these makes it impossible to fire fast enough to be able to miss.
Terrorists on the other hand, have a simpler choice. Simply pick the biggest,
baddest rifle in the group, a Barret m181a. Acts like a nasty 50 cal, and has
a little slower reload, but is almost always a 1 shot kill.
To start the match, the MOST important aspect of becoming a sniper is to
remain hidden. This can mean a few things. You can find cover, be it a
tree/bush/wall, prone, and stay absolutely quiet until you're ready to take a
shot. Hang back; most maps won't have a sniper running to the front lines to
post up. Try not to fire standing, as your aim is worse and you're much
easier to spot.
Your other choice is to find a sniping spot, sit back, and wait for stuff to
shoot at. These spots are usually well known, but not everyone checks every
spot every time. Be sure you're out of the way and high up if possible, and
always, always look around at all angles.
No one can teach you how to become a good sniper; you need to have the
control and sniper know-how to do it well. I can provide some shooting tips,
but it's up to you to keep the crosshairs steady, and decide when to shoot.
You wont have to worry too much about leading off, as the maps are never big
enough to have too large of a delay between your firing and the bullet
hitting the target. It's almost always instant.
Of course, leaving yourself some leeway and leading off on a moving target is
always a good choice. Most shots will leave you either leading off, or
tracking the target. If you have a steady grip on that right stick, track the
target, and wait until they stay still for even a few seconds before firing.
To lead off, you need to place the crosshairs where you think the baddy will
be when you pull the trigger. Pull 1 second before they get there. You'll
have to practice and learn how and when to lead off.
The smart sniper watches his target before he strikes. Most people will move,
then stall and look for cover. Wait until they stand still. Sometimes,
missing your chance at a shot is better than missing the target and giving
away your position. Only practice will teach you how and when to shoot.
Some maps don't lend themselves well for sniping. Other maps are a sniper's
playgrounds. Experiment. Each map has different kinds of sniping spots, and
different ways of remaining hidden.
A spot can be as simple as a stretch of weeds along a bank (blood lake).
You'd be surprised how some people will get 2 inches from you and not spot
you if you stay still. Others can be out of the way hills you can only get to
by doing some fancy jumps and climbing (abandoned).
As a sniper, know how to use your backups. Ideally, you would stay up in a
tower, prone by a bush, or peeking out from some hole in the wall and take
your shots. In reality, you'll get about 3-4 clean shots in a game before
having to resort to backup measures.
Always carry a good sidearm, and practice shooting with it. I try to stay
away from big clip guns that can fire faster but are weaker. My favorite
sidearm is the DE, of course. 1 well-planted shot to the noggin can take down
a charging seal.
Also, make sure you keep your 6 cleared. use claymores, and be ready to
detonate if you're ambushed. Always keep an eye around you, and an eye on
your scope.
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5. What to do about idiots/cheaters/overall unruly people
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The most important thing is to know who you're accusing and make sure it's
true. Someone making a ruckus on the headset can claim to be someone they're
not. Once you know who it is, you can take action.
Once you know who it is, and you're sure of it, communicate with the team and
vote the idiot off. Go to your corpse, or when live, tap the O button. Go to
vote > vote/off > person's name. Get everyone in your team to do so. Goodbye,
idiot.
It's simple enough to leave a room with a cheater or idiot. I don't let them
bug me, I just move on if I can't vote them out.
-=-=-=-=-=--=-=--=-=-
A few good side tips:
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+-+Pick a costume that would hide well with the environment. No yellow rain
coats...
+-+RELOCATE! Never use the same spot too often. After a kill or two, they'll
be gunning for you. Move around, and move often.
+-+Test out new spots every time. Don't stick to the well-known spots, try
new things and see how they work. A pretty obvious spot may do well because
it's SO obvious that no one would want to go there.
+-+Keep your side arm reloaded between conflicts.
+-+If the situation doesn't call for sniping, don't insist. Pick up a rifle
and go at it if that's what the team needs.
+-+Be patient. A good spot isn't always one that covers a wide range. You can
pick a spot that's out of the way and still get some traffic and still be
successful.
+-+Try to keep track of how many enemies there are, and know if you have
sniper competition.
+-+When fighting another sniper, you HAVE to get sneaky. Always look around,
everywhere. Don't snipe to scope out the traffic, snipe at spots that will
let you look at other sniping spots. Know your tactics and know how to
counter them. If you spot him, tell your friends.
+-+Luring works well as a sniper. Pull out the pistol, fire rounds and let
your enemy know where you are. Set up an ambush at that spot right after you
do.
+-+Practice makes perfect. You might die and die often, because the maps lend
themselves to gung ho action. Keep at it, and if you truly enjoy sniping, you
will get better at it.
-=-=-=-=
Credits:
-=-=-=-=
Written by: Jason Bulquerin <SOCOM: Psychomidget>
Edited by: Erin Riley <SOCOM: sonar riley>
Brenden Cobb <SOCOM: Jehu>
