Re: An idea for spotters for snipers

This all sounds good to me. In addition, as I understand it, on a team
like this, *both* troopers are qualified snipers, and they take turns
acting as spotter for each other. This is much less stressful than one
always being spotter and the other always being sniper. I don't know if
this needs to be modeled in the rules; it's just an FYI.

On Mon, 13 Jul 1998 18:01:58 -0500 Thomas Barclay
<Thomas.Barclay@sofkin.ca> writes:
>Hi list-mates,
>
>Here is an SG2 idea based off of several discussions with people 
>knowledgeable (AFAIK) and with some reading and a few historical 
>pictures. 
>
>Spotters for Snipers:
>
>Raison D'etre: A sniper cannot be watching a target 200m+ away 
>through a high powered scope, trying to line up what could be a split 
>second firing opportunity, and monitoring his own area - or at least 
>he takes risks of a lousy shot or having someone sneak up on him if 
>he does so. Plus if he needs to fire repeatedly, it doesn't hurt to 
>have someone else spotting. Hence the use (historical and probably 
>future too) of spotters to accompany the sniper. 
>
>The sniper counter no longer just represents the sniper, it 
>represents a sniper and his spotter (as a hidden unit counter could 
>represent a whole squad of line troops). Whereas the sniper may be 
>equipped with his long arm alone for distance work, and maybe a 
>sidearm or machine-carbine for close in final defence, the spotter 
>may well carry either a close in assault weapon such as an 
>autoshotgun or the standard rifle/GL combinations most nations favor. 
>He will be armoured and equiped otherwise similar to the sniper 
>including a powerful set of binocs or a spotting scope - which can 
>probably see in more than just the visible spectrum. If the sniper is 
>wearing a ghillie or yowie suit, so will the spotter. 
>
>Advantages to having a Spotter: 
>
>A sniper who does not have a spotter should be easier to surprise 
>with attacks from out of his area of view. This can be represented in 
>a scenario, by a referee, or perhaps using some sort of stealthy 
>movement rules - he is so focused downrange, that he leaves himself 
>vulnerable. A sniper with a spotter does not face this danger.
>
>Additionally, a spotter can spot for a sniper and this can include 
>making a seperate observe action to pick out a target or just calling 
>where the shots fired by the sniper hit, making multi-shot 
>engagements more devastating. Give snipers using spotters one 
>positive shift to their firepower when they are firing. 
>
>If the sniper is attacked, the spotter could choose to fight off the 
>assailants while the sniper continues to try to get his shot. If the 
>sniper did this without a spotter, he'd be an easy target (+1 shift 
>to attacking units fire attacks vs. the sniper who is trying to 
>ignore them and has no protection).
>
>Further, the spotter can carry out a wounded sniper. Something that 
>real folks might think about (and if operating in hostile territory, 
>can watch while the sniper sleeps). 
>
>What do you think?
>
>Tom. 
>/************************************************
>Thomas Barclay
>Software Specialist
>Police Communications Systems
>Software Kinetics Ltd.
>66 Iber Road, Stittsville
>Ontario, Canada, K2S 1E7
>Reception: (613) 831-0888
>PBX: (613) 831-2018
>My Extension: 4009
>Fax: (613) 831-8255
>Software Kinetics' Web Page: 
>     http://www.sofkin.ca
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>     http://fox.nstn.ca/~kaladorn/softhp.htm
>**************************************************/
>

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