Snipers

[Adronio]

Have anyone else noticed that snipers won't fire when you tell them to hold ground? and that unless you move or directly order them to attack someone they wont fire? 'cause its really annoying having to micromanage them that much.

[Naughty Mouse]

You talking about skirmish divisions I assume, not snipers.

[Adronio]

skirmishers with sniper rifles too be exact.

[heinz]

dont press hold when they are reloading. press hold fire just before they get into position then press hold. then they'll hold

[danloveschrista]

I think you're experiencing something I have as well: the opposing forces know how to stay just out of range of your "holding" skirmishers, so they do nothing. At least, that's what I've seen. When skirmishers are holding position, they either are just out of firing range, or get charged unexpectedly by overwhelming forces, which for some reason can always outrun fleeing skirmisher units. What happened to higher mobility and flexibility there? Dunno.

[Adronio]

Originally posted by heinz:

dont press hold when they are reloading. press hold fire just before they get into position then press hold. then they'll hold

No, its not that, snipers are usually not targeted anyways, so they don't run away.

The problem I have is that if enemies walk into a snipers line of fire by themselves, the snipers won't shoot unless you directly click on the enemy. The same if you tell them to hold. The only way I have gotten them to shoot is either by moving them while they have enemies in their line of fire, or directly telling them to attack the enemies. However they just stop by themselves after a couple of volleys. Why? The amount of micromanagment is insane to get it to work. I could have gotten like 2000 kills with my sniper brigade, but I was constantly focused on other parts of the battle so I forgot to go back and tell them to shoot again. Only got 500 kills.

I don't think I've had this issue before the new update, so DARTH, PLS FIX YOUR ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ GAME.

[Fate]

It's probably to do with skirmisher AI itself. They are supposed to be used as scouts and ambush/flanking troops. So i suppose they might have built in hold fire feature. Which doesen't make sense if it is so, since there already is "hold fire" button.

[Adronio]

Originally posted by Fate:

It's probably to do with skirmisher AI itself. They are supposed to be used as scouts and ambush/flanking troops. So i suppose they might have built in hold fire feature. Which doesen't make sense if it is so, since there already is "hold fire" button.

Well, I don't think it's an intended feature, and skirmishers without snipers, btw if its important I use the most expensive the union gets, the ones with scopes, work fine and shoot fine if you manage to make them hold. It's only the snipers I really have a problem with.

[GeneralPITA]

Snipers are a little OP when they hold ground and pick their own targets from cover into open ground. 4000 kills and zero losses would be very possible. I think it's fine that they need to be told what to do. Snipers are meant to take out high value targets, not decimate an infantry brigade without reprisal and no management from you.

[CrashToDesktop]

Originally posted by GeneralPITA:

Snipers are a little OP when they hold ground and pick their own targets from cover into open ground. 4000 kills and zero losses would be very possible. I think it's fine that they need to be told what to do. Snipers are meant to take out high value targets, not decimate an infantry brigade without reprisal and no management from you.

Every other weapon that Skirmishers are able to use, they use perfectly fine. They'll automatically shoot with Sharps 1855s and 1859s. There's absolutely no reason why they shouldn't shoot with Whitworths or Sharps rifles - targets are in sight and within range, open fire. :P

[Adronio]

Originally posted by The Soldier:

Originally posted by GeneralPITA:

Snipers are a little OP when they hold ground and pick their own targets from cover into open ground. 4000 kills and zero losses would be very possible. I think it's fine that they need to be told what to do. Snipers are meant to take out high value targets, not decimate an infantry brigade without reprisal and no management from you.

Every other weapon that Skirmishers are able to use, they use perfectly fine. They'll automatically shoot with Sharps 1855s and 1859s. There's absolutely no reason why they shouldn't shoot with Whitworths or Sharps rifles - targets are in sight and within range, open fire. :P

Yeah, I didn't pay close to 200 bucks for each rifle for them to sit on their ass while the rest of the front line is getting pounded.

[Wright29]

I find that my snipers are blocked quite a bit. They require a decent bit of micro, but are awesome in smaller skirmishes. The most useful case I can think of was CSA at Malvern Hill. Put snipers in the woods on the left (where the intro tells you not to go) and let them continually shoot at the fortifications across the creek or other units that can only shake their fists at you from afar.

[gothicform]

I've had the exact same problem, they don't seem to fire, meanwhile the rubbish skirmishers with different weapons they are engaing fire on them and kill them.

[ThanksGivingTitty]

I have had the exact same problem. They are in range... safely, and hiding... and no shootting. If I click on the enemy unit, they unleash a volley... sometime they continue shooting, and sometimes I have to micro them.

[[H1N1] DALLAS aka THE BAD]

Same problem, i always have to tell them to shoot.... I just want them to fire at will when they see something!