Post by Whistler on Aug 13, 2011 0:26:24 GMT -5
Ok due to obvious conflicts between Vortex and some non-ACES members let me attempt to clarify one thing.
The meaning of a Sniper vs. a Paintball Sniper
Some snipers takes amazingly long distance shots... so much so that they must calculate the wind direction, wind speed, and compensate for curvature of the earth.
Other snipers spend their full career taking shots within 100yrds of their intended target from a perched position or hidden out of sight using a silencer (suppressor).
Some snipers shoot from a "perched" location, some hide in the shadows or bushes out of sight, some take the shot at night.
Now with that said... What is a "Sniper"? What does that word even mean?
From Websters link: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniper
snipe verb
sniped snip·ing
Definition of SNIPE
intransitive verb
1: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage
2: to aim a carping or snide attack
— snip·er noun
Odd, no where does that say from a 1/2 mile away or give any distance
Now from Dictionary.com Link: dictionary.reference.com/browse/sniper
Snipe noun, plural snipes, ( especially collectively ) snipe for 1, 2; verb sniped, snip·ing.
noun
1. any of several long-billed game birds of the genera Gallinago ( Capella ) and Limnocryptes, inhabiting marshy areas, as G. gallinago (common snipe), of Eurasia and North America, having barred and striped white, brown, and black plumage.
2. any of several other long-billed birds, as some sandpipers.
3. a shot, usually from a hidden position.
verb (used without object)
4. to shoot or hunt snipe.
5. to shoot at individuals as opportunity offers from a concealed or distant position: The enemy was sniping from the roofs.
6. to attack a person or a person's work with petulant or snide criticism, especially anonymously or from a safe distance.
Again no distance mentioned... but pay attention to that last one... seems like some non-ACES folk are now fitting that definition perfectly. Congrats... you are now a SNIPEr.
Now to the root of this issue.
A sniper as defined in both legit sources (usable in both college and professional papers) does not require one to master his shots from some great distance. So that argument is null and void.
We as "Paintball Snipers" have coined the name due to the style of play we choose. We can not shoot a 1/2 mile, we know it, no need to go any further with that.
We choose to shoot from a place of concealment... (oh look that was one of the definitions)
We also practice and practice to the point where we master how our "gun" (oh crap can't call it a gun it's not a REAL gun), excuse me, our marker fires the rounds we place in it. We learn how our marker shoots and which direction the paintballs tend to go. We do all that we can to improve our accuracy. We still have a margin of error, but that is where practice comes in.
FS rounds are among the most accurate on today's market..... so we use them... why wouldn't we.. it's the same reason that Speedball players use electric triggers, force feeders, and any other tool they can to shoot as fast as possible. Same exact mindset... doing the best you can with what's available.
Yes, there are a lot of people that try to snipe in a ghillie suit during a 15-20min game... they fast crawl, run, or walk funny (tree to tree). We all know you can see that guy... he's not sneaky. The best thing he can do in that fast paced game is stay further back and take shots at anyone exposing part of themselves from cover. Others may not see this as helpful, and unless you are using a different color paint than everyone else on the field, there is no way to prove the amount of people you tagged out. You may be the top shooter on the team, you may have gotten the majority of the opposing team out. You may have not hit a single person. Who knows? What is important is that you had fun and played the way you enjoy. Pick-up games are not serious. And if a UWL team or Scenario team has a sniper on their team there is a reason for that. We prefer to play long "Big Game" or "Scenario" style events... not rec ball. We take on another role in leagues such as UWL... read up on their role description in the UWL.
As a "sniper", that players job may be only to hide and watch their teams flag. If so, and that flag doesn't get taken... he/she did his/her job. No doubt about it. The sniper may have an aggressive style role where they flank to the opposing teams weak side and take out a target or objective. They may be sent in just as a mind game to mess with the other team... (I.E. they are getting shot up from the left and are facing that way... then out of no where a few players get hit in the back and cannot immediately see the guy that got them... but they are out none the less)
So in conclusion: What is a Sniper and Paintball sniper?
Sniper:
1. precise marksman with the weapon of his/her choice
2. masters concealment in order to hide his vantage point
3. highly trained professional whose sole duty is to find or track and remove their target.
Paintball Sniper:
1. strives to be as precise as possible with the marker/gear of his/her choice. The marker and paint being the weak link in most cases.
2. practices, and practices to master concealment within the confines of the playing field.
3. Highly practiced, willing to learn from those that have learned already. Sole duty is to pick, track, or find and eliminate the target issued to them (or they pick if going solo). A paintball sniper... a real paintball sniper will not go for glory kills where they have to take out an entire team because they took one opportune shot. A real Paintball sniper will wait until they get a target in sight with the least risk of being found after they take the shot.
So all in all the biggest difference is that a real Sniper is a trained to be a professional marksman and sometimes assassin, and they can shoot a hell of a lot further than we can. Paintball Snipers use some techniques taught to real snipers in order to covertly take out their own target in a game. A real gun is capable of shooting much faster and further than a paintball marker... We don't claim to be able to shoot any further than anyone else with similar set up and equipment. (IE FS rounds)
So excuse us if we enjoy the role of sniper and choose to implement those techniques of a real sniper in our game play. We must find a way to adapt all those skills into a much, much smaller area of operation. I find that pretty impressive for those that can find a way to pull it off.
By the way, when I play, I do not brag and I do not make false claims. I calmly walk onto the field and prepare myself to make the most efficiency of everything I'm given to get my objective completed. I do not wear a ghillie to a 20 min game. I don't wear one most of the time anyways.
I cannot shoot a 1/4 mile. I cannot take 4 days to move into position. I cannot shoot a penny off a fence post. I AM NOT A SNIPER.....
I am a paintball sniper. So are a lot of good people that do not claim to be some elite myth that can take out a target with a paintball 1/4 mile away. We are not trained professionals at paintball... we are self taught, practiced players that enjoy a simple play style. If you can't pick up on what we are putting down, then let us be. Think us "special" if you want... Think we are wanna be's... But we know what we are, and don't seek your approval rating to enjoy the game and role we love.
Thank you and may your self pride/assurance not hit you on the way out of this forum...
To all my fellow PB Snipers.... carry on... keep on keeping on... and happy sniping to you all.
Hopefully now you understand that we are no different than that "Medic" out there with fake bandages and med kits. We enjoy a role and play it to the best of our ability. We are not an elite chosen military trained force that sneaks in and gets that pop shot on you from an ungodly distance. We are paintball players... No more... No less... we just specialize in one role... that forces us to be versitile in our abilities with one goal in mind... ONE SHOT, ONE KILL. We strive our best to get that perfect one shot one kill... we fail sometimes... but that makes us strive harder. Paintball lessons are lined in paint filled bruises and "paintball expert" ridicule.
The meaning of a Sniper vs. a Paintball Sniper
Some snipers takes amazingly long distance shots... so much so that they must calculate the wind direction, wind speed, and compensate for curvature of the earth.
Other snipers spend their full career taking shots within 100yrds of their intended target from a perched position or hidden out of sight using a silencer (suppressor).
Some snipers shoot from a "perched" location, some hide in the shadows or bushes out of sight, some take the shot at night.
Now with that said... What is a "Sniper"? What does that word even mean?
From Websters link: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniper
snipe verb
sniped snip·ing
Definition of SNIPE
intransitive verb
1: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage
2: to aim a carping or snide attack
— snip·er noun
Odd, no where does that say from a 1/2 mile away or give any distance
Now from Dictionary.com Link: dictionary.reference.com/browse/sniper
Snipe noun, plural snipes, ( especially collectively ) snipe for 1, 2; verb sniped, snip·ing.
noun
1. any of several long-billed game birds of the genera Gallinago ( Capella ) and Limnocryptes, inhabiting marshy areas, as G. gallinago (common snipe), of Eurasia and North America, having barred and striped white, brown, and black plumage.
2. any of several other long-billed birds, as some sandpipers.
3. a shot, usually from a hidden position.
verb (used without object)
4. to shoot or hunt snipe.
5. to shoot at individuals as opportunity offers from a concealed or distant position: The enemy was sniping from the roofs.
6. to attack a person or a person's work with petulant or snide criticism, especially anonymously or from a safe distance.
Again no distance mentioned... but pay attention to that last one... seems like some non-ACES folk are now fitting that definition perfectly. Congrats... you are now a SNIPEr.
Now to the root of this issue.
A sniper as defined in both legit sources (usable in both college and professional papers) does not require one to master his shots from some great distance. So that argument is null and void.
We as "Paintball Snipers" have coined the name due to the style of play we choose. We can not shoot a 1/2 mile, we know it, no need to go any further with that.
We choose to shoot from a place of concealment... (oh look that was one of the definitions)
We also practice and practice to the point where we master how our "gun" (oh crap can't call it a gun it's not a REAL gun), excuse me, our marker fires the rounds we place in it. We learn how our marker shoots and which direction the paintballs tend to go. We do all that we can to improve our accuracy. We still have a margin of error, but that is where practice comes in.
FS rounds are among the most accurate on today's market..... so we use them... why wouldn't we.. it's the same reason that Speedball players use electric triggers, force feeders, and any other tool they can to shoot as fast as possible. Same exact mindset... doing the best you can with what's available.
Yes, there are a lot of people that try to snipe in a ghillie suit during a 15-20min game... they fast crawl, run, or walk funny (tree to tree). We all know you can see that guy... he's not sneaky. The best thing he can do in that fast paced game is stay further back and take shots at anyone exposing part of themselves from cover. Others may not see this as helpful, and unless you are using a different color paint than everyone else on the field, there is no way to prove the amount of people you tagged out. You may be the top shooter on the team, you may have gotten the majority of the opposing team out. You may have not hit a single person. Who knows? What is important is that you had fun and played the way you enjoy. Pick-up games are not serious. And if a UWL team or Scenario team has a sniper on their team there is a reason for that. We prefer to play long "Big Game" or "Scenario" style events... not rec ball. We take on another role in leagues such as UWL... read up on their role description in the UWL.
As a "sniper", that players job may be only to hide and watch their teams flag. If so, and that flag doesn't get taken... he/she did his/her job. No doubt about it. The sniper may have an aggressive style role where they flank to the opposing teams weak side and take out a target or objective. They may be sent in just as a mind game to mess with the other team... (I.E. they are getting shot up from the left and are facing that way... then out of no where a few players get hit in the back and cannot immediately see the guy that got them... but they are out none the less)
So in conclusion: What is a Sniper and Paintball sniper?
Sniper:
1. precise marksman with the weapon of his/her choice
2. masters concealment in order to hide his vantage point
3. highly trained professional whose sole duty is to find or track and remove their target.
Paintball Sniper:
1. strives to be as precise as possible with the marker/gear of his/her choice. The marker and paint being the weak link in most cases.
2. practices, and practices to master concealment within the confines of the playing field.
3. Highly practiced, willing to learn from those that have learned already. Sole duty is to pick, track, or find and eliminate the target issued to them (or they pick if going solo). A paintball sniper... a real paintball sniper will not go for glory kills where they have to take out an entire team because they took one opportune shot. A real Paintball sniper will wait until they get a target in sight with the least risk of being found after they take the shot.
So all in all the biggest difference is that a real Sniper is a trained to be a professional marksman and sometimes assassin, and they can shoot a hell of a lot further than we can. Paintball Snipers use some techniques taught to real snipers in order to covertly take out their own target in a game. A real gun is capable of shooting much faster and further than a paintball marker... We don't claim to be able to shoot any further than anyone else with similar set up and equipment. (IE FS rounds)
So excuse us if we enjoy the role of sniper and choose to implement those techniques of a real sniper in our game play. We must find a way to adapt all those skills into a much, much smaller area of operation. I find that pretty impressive for those that can find a way to pull it off.
By the way, when I play, I do not brag and I do not make false claims. I calmly walk onto the field and prepare myself to make the most efficiency of everything I'm given to get my objective completed. I do not wear a ghillie to a 20 min game. I don't wear one most of the time anyways.
I cannot shoot a 1/4 mile. I cannot take 4 days to move into position. I cannot shoot a penny off a fence post. I AM NOT A SNIPER.....
I am a paintball sniper. So are a lot of good people that do not claim to be some elite myth that can take out a target with a paintball 1/4 mile away. We are not trained professionals at paintball... we are self taught, practiced players that enjoy a simple play style. If you can't pick up on what we are putting down, then let us be. Think us "special" if you want... Think we are wanna be's... But we know what we are, and don't seek your approval rating to enjoy the game and role we love.
Thank you and may your self pride/assurance not hit you on the way out of this forum...
To all my fellow PB Snipers.... carry on... keep on keeping on... and happy sniping to you all.
Hopefully now you understand that we are no different than that "Medic" out there with fake bandages and med kits. We enjoy a role and play it to the best of our ability. We are not an elite chosen military trained force that sneaks in and gets that pop shot on you from an ungodly distance. We are paintball players... No more... No less... we just specialize in one role... that forces us to be versitile in our abilities with one goal in mind... ONE SHOT, ONE KILL. We strive our best to get that perfect one shot one kill... we fail sometimes... but that makes us strive harder. Paintball lessons are lined in paint filled bruises and "paintball expert" ridicule.
