10 Tips For A Paintball Sniper
By Dan Reeves
Action Prusuit Games Magazine
'What is a paintball sniper?'
While I was marking time during a recent big game at our local field, someone asked me this question. I mumbled something about someone who wears alot of leaves and twigs, moves silentlythrough the undergrowth, and marks you 'out' with a well placed shot before fading into the landscape. I may have added words to describe the fact that my present predicament (being 'out' at that point in the big game) was due to the marksmanship of a paintball sniper. Of course, my rapt audience stared at me, confused. With a little more thought and clarity, here's what I should have said.
Let's asume you are at a big game or 24 hour scenario game, since sniping is not even an option in your basic 15 minute sprint-for-the-flag type game. A game that is on-going and continuous in nature is the perfect element for a sniper.
A paintball sniper, therefor, is some one who:
supports his/her team by delivering presice long-range hits on selected targets (players on the opposing team). By doing this, he/she takes out opposing team members, which slows down their forward movement and also keeps them off-balance by adding an element of confusion to their tactics.
collects and reports field information to the commander or team leader. Interdiction and data collection is very important in large games where the actions of a single well-positioned sniper keeps an entire group of 15 opposing team mambers from taking key positions and gaining points. That is what a paintball sniper does.
Usually, a sniper is able to problem solve without having to ask others what to do. He/she knows the answer to those nagging questions: 'Should I take out the big bulky guy with the Automag or the skinny dude with the pumper special?' None of this rushing to and fro to consult the poor team leader who is trying his best to assault a bunker. The paintball sniper works with a minimum of supervision.
By now, you are probably jumping up and down saying, 'Hey, that's me!' Good. Fine. Great. Before you pick up your marker and head out into the woods as a one-man sniper assault force, you might want to conitinue reading.
(still typing!!!)