How does Squad Sight work?

[Tumbler]

I'm confused, either this ability is bugged or I don't know how to use it.

2nd level perk for sniper, you can choose squad sight which allows your squad mates to spot for you and lets you target them when they are outside your view range. I assume this means any target my squad sees I can shoot at?

If that is how it's supposed to work then I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. Just took a sniper on a mission with this perk and he could only shoot people he could see directly. Ended up losing everyone because one of my guys would have to get in position for a turn before firing over and over...then he'd miss, a lot.

[HaikenEdge]

Squadsight works better if you can find high ground and fire from there.
I personally like Snap Shot, because I seem to get urban/interior maps a lot.

[XLjedi]

Sniper lays back and has an extended field of view. Other units can spot an alien way upfront and as long as your sniper has an open firing lane (LOS), he can stay back (well out of the aliens return firing range) and make that extended shot. Aliens that are spotted via Squad Sight will appear with a little yellow target reticle on their red alien-head icon.

[DIRK THE DRIPLESS]

You still need a line of sight on the target.

[Dr. Wangopolis]

Escrito originalmente por ZOLTAR SPEAKS:

You still need a line of sight on the target.

Yes. Squad Sight only lets you shoot targets out of range, you still have to have a direct line of fire on them. You cannot use it to shoot around corners/through walls etc.

As Haiken mentioned getting them on elevated terrain makes a big difference at it helps to offset cover bonus and gets allows you to shoot over things that might normally block your fire.

[The Kazunari]

It does take some getting used to, but Squad Sight is probably one of the best perks if you're doing a lot of UFO raids and some Terror Sites.
You just need to eye-ball somewhere that has a good overview of the area, as said above, high ground is best.

[Xiane]

They're particularly deadly on the open wooded maps and archangel suit. First turn fly high, stay there. Let rest of group advance. Pick off anyone they find.

[Tumbler]

I figured it out, line of sight. Not sure how you'd play a sniper without this skill, when he's aiming on his own the hit rate is abysmal. Tricky firing into buildings, very easy to not have line of sight which was the issue on the mission I mentioned.

Just wish I could stand on the tail of the drop ship...

Edit: There is also a yellow crosshair that shows up for targets you can see because of this skill. the little red alien heads that show in the corner, if you see one with a yellow crosshair on the head that means you're using the skill.

[Taikei no Yuurei]

The way you do a sniper without the skill is that he becomes a bit more of an assault type, since he can move and shoot at the same time. This makes it easier to get into a better position to negate cover and the like. Basically you trade raw firepower for mobility.

[Tumbler]

I suppose his abilities could be effective with a rifle as well

[TwilightDusk]

Escrito originalmente por Tumbler:

I suppose his abilities could be effective with a rifle as well

Except you're not allowed to put a normal rifle on a sniper, just his sniper rifle and a pistol. of course, some of the more close-range sniper skills make using a pistol actually worthwhile, so he becomes a decent close range fighter who can pull out a sniper rifle if the need arises.

[XDragon350]

Escrito originalmente por Tumbler:

Just wish I could stand on the tail of the drop ship...

Sigh... Another thing I miss from the original.

[yenn]

Escrito originalmente por Spinjack:

Sniper lays back and has an extended field of view. Other units can spot an alien way upfront and as long as your sniper has an open firing lane (LOS), he can stay back (well out of the aliens return firing range) and make that extended shot.

I get the sniper/spotter idea. But how come my sniper can shoot across half of the map, but can't see nearby enemies? I mean, if there is LOS to target, he should be able see it without any spotter. And if there isn't LOS in first place, how is it possible that it magically appears when other soldiers spots alien? That just doesn't make sense.

Maybe they are farsighted, blind or just sleeping, I can't tell. But as far as I know, they don't have anti-material rifles (at least with ballistic weapons), so others can't tell them: "Shoot through that tree/rock/wall, there's alien hiding there!"

Is there some explanation behind Squad Sight or it's just the usual "That's XCOM, baby"? :)

[red255]

Because you don't have line of sight.

[sonix2003]

Escrito originalmente por yenn:

I get the sniper/spotter idea. But how come my sniper can shoot across half of the map, but can't see nearby enemies? I mean, if there is LOS to target, he should be able see it without any spotter. And if there isn't LOS in first place, how is it possible that it magically appears when other soldiers spots alien? That just doesn't make sense.

Remember that turn based combat does not reflect "real world mechanics". If you need to scan a wide field of view with your sniper scope for targets, that takes a lot of time. Snipers frequently have a spotter, that will give them hints about the location of targets. With this information, they are able to focus their scope onto the target in a reasonable time and take a shot.

"Squad sight" enables the communication between the sniper and other squad members, who can now work as spotters.

[yenn]

Escrito originalmente por sonix2003:

Escrito originalmente por yenn:

I get the sniper/spotter idea. But how come my sniper can shoot across half of the map, but can't see nearby enemies? I mean, if there is LOS to target, he should be able see it without any spotter. And if there isn't LOS in first place, how is it possible that it magically appears when other soldiers spots alien? That just doesn't make sense.

Remember that turn based combat does not reflect "real world mechanics". If you need to scan a wide field of view with your sniper scope for targets, that takes a lot of time. Snipers frequently have a spotter, that will give them hints about the location of targets. With this information, they are able to focus their scope onto the target in a reasonable time and take a shot.

"Squad sight" enables the communication between the sniper and other squad members, who can now work as spotters.

Thanks for great explanation, sir! That definitely makes sense.

I guess I got confused by the turn-based combat trying to emulate real time fight at the same time. From the turn based gameplay it looks like soldiers have all the time in the world to spot enemies, while in real time they don't.