Is there some kind of trick to using the crossbow?

[SCIM]

I'm really good at getting headshots with all the pistols but when I use the crossbow for scrakes and fleshpounds everything goes bad. Something is just off about it, I aim for the head, click the mouse and watch the bolt hit them in the face but like 50% of the time it doesn't count as a headshot even though I can clearly see the blood comming out of their face.

It's not like I am just rubbish at aiming, I got my Sharpshooter to lvl 6 from so many off and on perk pistol headshots. Also I always play as a host so lag isn't the issue. Maybe I should just try the sniper rifle for scrakes and fleshpounds instead...

[DarkFalz]

Headshots have always been rather wonky in this game due to the hitboxes not always lining up properly. But I find that headshots register most often if you aim for around the mouth. Even then it doesn't seem to be a 100% guarantee though.

Just be thankful you didn't have to deal with it when you had to shoot over a Scrake's shoulder in order to land a headshot, or when they had pretty badly bugged stun animations.

[Miiiiiiiiiiiiike]

I'm rubbish at aiming yet Sharpshooter was my first perk to level 6.

The scrake hitbox is a bit buggy, and you wouldn't shoot at a scrake with a pistol so that could be the reason.

Try using a LAR against a scrake and see how you fare. If you get good headshots, its the crossbows fault. If it still doesn't work, it's the buggy hitbox.

Or try using a crossbow all the time against everything. A good map is mountain pass where you can shoot over great distances as well. Try it against clots, sirens, husks etc.

I didn't think fp's had buggy hitboxes, and I think a headshot is only counted if you decapitate the zed. Firing three pistol shots into a scrakes head doesn't count as three headshots.

[Ultimate Cookie]

If you're not already, use a textured scope rather than a model. This makes it a hell of a lot easier to aim with scoped weapons, especially while moving.

[Space Coward]

I honestly can't stand the texture. I'm just too greedy after seeing how badass it is to whip out a crossbow and line it up with the real ACOG, none of that CoD overlay ♥♥♥♥.

[SCIM]

After screwing around a bit I've noticed something. You can hit a zed if you aim slightly above their head but it won't be a headshot. I think I've been aiming my crossbow as though there is a bullet drop (bolt drop?) like in battlefield when sniping. Because of this I aim for the forehead and I think if I start trying to aim for the center of the face I should be fine. Just to double check though, there isn't any special phyics going on with the crossbow shots and it's just a hitscan weapon, right?

[Space Coward]

Originally posted by Chosen One 41:

After screwing around a bit I've noticed something. You can hit a zed if you aim slightly above their head but it won't be a headshot. I think I've been aiming my crossbow as though there is a bullet drop (bolt drop?) like in battlefield when sniping. Because of this I aim for the forehead and I think if I start trying to aim for the center of the face I should be fine. Just to double check though, there isn't any special phyics going on with the crossbow shots and it's just a hitscan weapon, right?

Yup. Completely linear path, across the map in a straight line. At least, if there is drop, it's not significant enough unless the map were the size of Skyrim.

[SCIM]

Originally posted by ≡FAP≡ Ultimate Cookie:

If you're not already, use a textured scope rather than a model. This makes it a hell of a lot easier to aim with scoped weapons, especially while moving.

OMG I LOVE IT, NOW I CAN AIM WHILE MOVING! <3 <3 <3

[SaLaĐiN]

Aim for the neck and a little bit higher.

[Space Coward]

Sell it and get the buzzsaw bow.

[abugaj]

Aim for the top of the head just about the forehead for the first shot. The second shot wait till he sways his head to the left and aim for his left shoulder area thats where the head will move. I never miss doing this.

[Space Coward]

Originally posted by wookah:

Originally posted by Kill-Cam Celebrity:

Sell it and get the buzzsaw bow.

Buzzsaw as a sharpshooter?

Nah, just switch to berserker and use the crossbow that doesn't give half a fk about hitboxes.

[jeebs]

Originally posted by abugaj:

Aim for the top of the head just about the forehead for the first shot. The second shot wait till he sways his head to the left and aim for his left shoulder area thats where the head will move. I never miss doing this.

This is basically what I do for headshots on Fleashpounds and Scrakes. Works everytime.

[Space Coward]

I prefer to xX360noscopeblazeitXx for skrakes and fleshpounds. Yes, I've succeeded in doing it before.

[JtDarth]

Lol. Aiming with x-bow, whatta newb.
(In all seriousness, the actual 'headshot' hitboxes are a bit buggy, I've found it better to aim for the jaw or throat, it's more consistent.