snipers

[[2.USSS.F] 1Lt. Cairnsy]

I have seen folks discuss using skirmishers as snipers. I make an assumption that it is just skirmishers with good rifles, like the Whitworth. Anyone have more to share?

[Ninjasquirrel]

Yes, they are skirmishers armed with 450+ long ranged rifles instead of short range, fast-firing carbines. There is a great guide in the guides section on skirmishers you can read, after that post any specific questions you have, people on this forum are very helpful.

[Operation Iraqi Freikorps]

Basically, you make a skirmisher brigade and give them expensive rifles, and them micro them to exploit the range advantage. Best if used against exposed flanks or rear, but keep a couple units nearby to support them. They are useful for dealing a little extra damage, killing a Corp Commander, and if they get behind the lines, eliminating artillery. Killing artillery is easy, as they have long range, good stealth, and good vision. Kills per volley are sometimes lacking though.

[CivWar64]

Yes, you definitely want to protect them. I usually send a detached skirmisher group with them to lead the way so they don't get surprised by the fog of war and run into a big unit. Here's a screenshot--the snipers are at the far left, protected by a Cav unit. You can see that even though they're only about 250 men at this point, they routed that CSA unit by firing into their flank. My biggest problem is that in a lot of battles, they end up being blocked by my other units since I don't want to send them way off on their own to get run down by enemy Cav, etc.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1349984452

[Magnus]

Snipers are best used as killsquads or for routing advancing ai-brigades. Their volley is only lackluster if you shoot at maxrange. Use holdfire to maximize their dmg and fallback/ stop (never holdposition). I never babysit them, because if you have to protect them you alrdy did sth wrong. Allways keep them out of sight, be it woods, houses or just range. Try to think of good spots for your snipers in advance. Often therw are wooded hills not directly in the path of ais infantry. Snipe artillery before you attack infantry in the open. Check if you want artillery to rout and move out of range, if not, change targets after a few volleys. If the ai is not in deep cover there is nothing deadlier than a 250-men brigade with ts, so buy evry last one of those.

[CivWar64]

Originally posted by Magnus:

Snipers are best used as killsquads or for routing advancing ai-brigades. Their volley is only lackluster if you shoot at maxrange. Use holdfire to maximize their dmg and fallback/ stop (never holdposition). I never babysit them, because if you have to protect them you alrdy did sth wrong. Allways keep them out of sight, be it woods, houses or just range. Try to think of good spots for your snipers in advance. Often therw are wooded hills not directly in the path of ais infantry. Snipe artillery before you attack infantry in the open. Check if you want artillery to rout and move out of range, if not, change targets after a few volleys. If the ai is not in deep cover there is nothing deadlier than a 250-men brigade with ts, so buy evry last one of those.

Great advice!

[ikebrown]

Originally posted by Magnus:

Snipers are best used as killsquads or for routing advancing ai-brigades. Their volley is only lackluster if you shoot at maxrange. Use holdfire to maximize their dmg and fallback/ stop (never holdposition). I never babysit them, because if you have to protect them you alrdy did sth wrong. Allways keep them out of sight, be it woods, houses or just range. Try to think of good spots for your snipers in advance. Often therw are wooded hills not directly in the path of ais infantry. Snipe artillery before you attack infantry in the open. Check if you want artillery to rout and move out of range, if not, change targets after a few volleys. If the ai is not in deep cover there is nothing deadlier than a 250-men brigade with ts, so buy evry last one of those.

works every time for me. i have units that had over 4000+ kills in battle, more then once.

[Magnus]

Originally posted by ikebrown:

Originally posted by Magnus:

Snipers are best used as killsquads or for routing advancing ai-brigades. Their volley is only lackluster if you shoot at maxrange. Use holdfire to maximize their dmg and fallback/ stop (never holdposition). I never babysit them, because if you have to protect them you alrdy did sth wrong. Allways keep them out of sight, be it woods, houses or just range. Try to think of good spots for your snipers in advance. Often therw are wooded hills not directly in the path of ais infantry. Snipe artillery before you attack infantry in the open. Check if you want artillery to rout and move out of range, if not, change targets after a few volleys. If the ai is not in deep cover there is nothing deadlier than a 250-men brigade with ts, so buy evry last one of those.

works every time for me. i have units that had over 4000+ kills in battle, more then once.

yep and your casualties should be 0-10