Call of Duty – World at War
Some might say I play a lot of Call of Duty. Maybe so – so a while back I wrote a guide on how to become a sniper in the game. It’s not a guide to become a perfect whoop-ass sniper. It’s a guide to new snipers or players who just need a few hints as a sniper.
It’s a beginners guide to sniping in other words.
—– WANT TO BECOME A SNIPER? – Step 1 – Get started —–
Since I got the game on day one of the release, I’ve come across many different types of snipers.
Some move a lot and some sit tight with more patience than even a statue!
- I try to do both, but not even the perfect balance between the two will get you the kills you seek.
Before I give my point of view on this matter I’ll let it be know I’ve never wrote a guide before of ANY kind on ANY topic. Also I don’t say I’m the guru of snipers – my experience may be useless to some, but gold to others. I’ve played as a sniper on any other map than Courtyard and Dome – and I mean EVERY MAP, EVERY SING TIME.
Here goes.:
1) Setup
Even before you’re close to find a match there’s a thing you should at least give some thought. Your control setup. If you set your sensitivity to HIGH you’ll feel the crosshair “snap” to targets if you have the TARGET ASSIST turned on. This can be good to both new snipers but also a helper for the proven sniper who likes to fire a bit faster.
2) Spots
Know the maps you’ll play. When I started playing I’d NEVER been on the maps before (how could I) so after a few rounds of multiple deaths by the minute, I took about 10 minutes on each map (alone in private) to search for what I’d call good sniper spots. Then I went back to Team Death Match and figured out they were not all that great.
After playing the maps a few times you know how to get to your spots before the enemy see you and then it’s up to your spot, your weapon and the kill cam (if you don’t play hardcore).
3) Style
Snipers can play in one of two ways (as I see it) – move around or sit tight.
When you figure out what suits you best then you also know if any of your spots are a dead give away, or the source to 10+ kills a game. It is possible to change your style in the middle of a match but I always stick to my choice due to different perk setups (yes I can change class, but then I’d have to die).
4) Perks and weapons
Depending what type of map and game I feel for I have different setups. If I know I’ll be moving a lot then I don’t need Bouncing Bettys, but might need extra ammo (Perk 1).
Camouflage is a given in perk 2 – no way I’d be without that as the enemy would pick up on my spot – moving or not! Perk 3 goes to Iron Lungs (when the level is reached after many hours of play). Until Iron Lungs I used Deep Impact for those places where thin walls would cover the enemy.
5) The weapon
Some will argue with this I know… but you start out with the Springfield – and it can take you all the way until the powerful PTSR-41 can take over (level 57). With the Springfield rifle you have an accurate weapon with power enough if you play the game like a real sniper would (rules will follow in this guide) – no need to take every new rifle into use just to kill more people to get the scope – in the same time you could kill even more enemies with your old rifle that has a scope.
- some will say that a no-scope rifle can be just as deadly, and maybe so, but this is my guide 
6) Easy targets
There’s a number of easy targets and that’s other snipers and enemies who love to be in the turret of a tank. When you figure out the typical / good sniper spots you’ll also know where to beware and look for targets. Also if you spot an enemy in a higher spot you can be sure it’s an easy kill if you have you back covered (or towards a corner / wall. A good sniper is also the nightmare of any other sniper – but that works both ways so look out. Your teams tanks will often be center of attention to the enemy – that’s another good way of getting easy kills. There’s more easy targets and you’ll find out as you experience them.
7) Sniper Law
Some rules are worth gold if used right. They can be the difference between 5-7 and 18-2 after a match. If you follow them 100% I’ll almost promise instant results (once you know the maps well enough).
§1 Never use a spot you don’t know how to get away from (just in case)
§2 Never fire if I’m not 95% certain I’ll get one-shot-one-kill
§3 Never fire if the enemy is close enough to make it dangerous if I miss
§4 Never fire on multiple targets facing you (no matter the distance almost)
§5 Never fire on anything but head or upper torso
§6 Never place yourself too close to the main battle – distance is the key
8) Change to the better
Sometimes it seems like s*** to be a sniper. Rethink your spots, your shots and choice of targets. Maybe you got to eager to make the perfect kill, maybe you stayed at the wrong spot for too long or something else. From time to time go into private games to search the maps if you have a given spot where you’re taken out too often – bring a friend to the game and have him see if you’re the easy target or if you can improve your spot by moving very little to any side.
As I said in the beginning of the guide I’m no guru – though I sniped my way to level 65. I simply love to kill from a distance as a on-shot-plague.
In time I might add a follow up, where I’ll go into detail with each map and my thoughts of them (not my own tactics though)
This is the end of my guide to become a better sniper. Feel free to add more rules or feedback here.
Positive response could trigger the next guide 
—– WANT TO BECOME A SNIPER? – Step 2 – The maps —–
- let it be said I don’t play in a clan myself so I play like a lone wolf supporting a team.
Also there may be spots left out due to the risk I feel is connected to the spot. This is a personal feeling and maybe just a product of my sniper-style. See it as a pointer more than a direct how-to.
Maybe all of this is known, maybe it’s been written before… I didn’t bother to search blame it all on me.
- sorry for the lack of maps – the forum don’t support picture uploads but you can find maps here:
http://digg.com/gaming_news/Call_of_Duty_World_at_War_Maps_Pics
Airfield
There’s a number of places where you can pick 1-2 kills but then you have to move because of poor cover. Sometimes you can get lucky though – and that’s just an added bonus.
a) The house with the overview of the big centerplace is the obvious spot for a sniper. All players know that and that’s why you have to stay alert here and use bettys at both openings.
b) The tunnelexit (towards the bigger building) is also a great spot, but hard to cover your back here if you’re a lone wolf against an enemy with just the slightest hint of know-how.
- when you exit the tunnel in this end there’s also a small room right to the left of the exit, that will give you a good spot towards the ever-so-sniper-filled room in the first building.
Other than these there’s always the spots among the planes – but here even bettys come short as you only have 2 of them.
Asylum
- don’t snipe here – you can, but you’ll end up toast more than a happy sniper.
Castle
This is a map that has many good spots. But also a map where the main battle can change place in very few seconds so you can be required to move if your team is in control.
a) The obvious – the tower but keep in mind that when the war is at it’s highest it’s harder to find a hotter seat in the entire game! Bullets will fly your way and it’s hard to keep the room for long.
b) Another room close to the dojo. Here you can place bettys at both exits and keep the enemy away for long enough to get a few kills – but be aware that you’re in a spot with huge openings in the walls (hint grenades and other snipers).
c) At the starting point of the american team (or the northern part of the map if you will) there’s a possibility to take out snipers at location A if you move to the stairs in the right (facing the tower that is).
Altso you can get on top of the wall that’s got the sniper holes in it. Stick close to the tree that will make you harder to see.
d) Just below location C there’s a few trees placed in an elevated place – also a desent place to pick a kill or 5 before moving on. But stay alert here – enemy can get very close without you notice!
e) In the deep southend of the map theres a tunnel (just to the right when you follow the stairs behind location A). In this tunnel you can place bettys at both ends. In the eastend of the tunnel you can pick kills places in location B and right outside the westend you can go onto the barrels and get a few lucky kills at location A.
f) The square building in the middle of the main battle location (below location A) is great cover if you keep behind it. From there you can take out location A, B and if a bad sniper is at C he’s also in danger. Bettys can help you but there’s a lot of traffic making this place very unpeacefull!
Cliffside
A very open map in many ways – also too open at times! And no, I will not mention the bunker accross from the templeroom as a sniperspot.
a) Starting point America (east on the map). You have a good shot if you go to the ledge above the waterfall. You can move from rock to rock to get the better view – and palce bettys in both ends of the ledge. Also in front of the bunker you’re in desent cover from shots made over distance.
b) Starting point Japan (west on the map). Right behind the small bridge there’s a path leading you 20 feet up. You have a very good view here and can pick kills over most of the map. But to get the best of this spot you have to respect the common sniper rules. On **** up and you can kiss that spot goodbye for the rest of the game.
Note: you can take out the bunker enemies from here.
c) The path behind the templeroom (south on the map) can be as good as location F on Castle. But again there’s a lot of traffic here so you have to be very alert. But you can actually pick kills at both location A and B from here. It’s recommended to have a backup to watch your back here – if you use mic then have him move contra-you end.
Courtyard
If your team can hold the enemy at a distance then go for it – other than that I find it’s more a risk than a good thought to snipe on this map.
Dome
Kinda like Courtyard – no good snipermap, but as a lone-fast-moving-wolf you can actually make life a pain… but it seems to fall back on you every 20 seconds.
Downfall
Fantastic map for snipers who need practice! It’s a big map where you need to kill the same player more than once before he’ll come after you.
a) Northend or the ruin building at the end if you will. Move into the open house, sit and wait. Don’t move too much as you’re easier to see than you might think – even at a distance! So kepp your head down and move slowly rather than running all over the place.
b) Southend the other building that’s not as bombed as location A. From here you don’t have the same great view as from location A. But you can still pick some kills with rater ease to it. It’s easier to get to you though and placed wrong location A can take you out with one shot if placed right!
c) This one is hard to describe without a map, but there’s something that reminds me of a front porch that’s very dark. It’s located in the west right after the first group of walls (if you come from location A). from there you can have a nice look down the 1st “road” across the map and also keep an eye on location A and in the direction of location B.
d) The first building east of location B allows you to go into 1st floor height and snipe with a view over the road in front of location B. Not the greatest spot but with the proper amount of patience you can get a few here too. Be careful tanks know that this is a well used spot.
NOTE: A and B is too much out of the way for most players. So even more than 2-3 kills of the same person will not send them after you. But face the “right” enemy and they will hunt you down!
Hangar
Mostly a run and gun map – but with a little sniper potential if you move after a few kills. Inside the hangar itself there’s a few spots behind barrels and so. Not perfect cover but an option if there’s people on the bridge between the corner rooms.
a) There’s a house in the south west corner. From here you can see the hole in the hangar (outside the corner room) and also the two doors leading into the hangar. But they can see you too, so don’t fire if you can’t nail them.
b) The hole in the end of the hangar where you can run op and jump into the room is not as much a spot as a target. Many places can give you the chance to keep an eye on enemies sticking their head up… aim and shoot them!
Makin
Like sniping behind enemy lines… in the dark!
a) the tower is one of the famous hotspots. Not only to snipers but to all players on this map. If you get there first and have a backup who can take care of enemy intruders this is an ok spot – but one wrong move and you’ll kiss the floor.
b) To the far east there’s a house that has the outlook to the tower. It’s divided into four rooms so to say. If you secure the doors and stand in the rooms in the back where you’re harder to spot you can overlook the water and the tower window. Not a perfect spot due to traffic but still a good spot to nail the tower enemy.
c) South west corner there’s a boat on the beach. Go flat on the ground behind it – you can take out enemies in the tower, in the house next to the tower and those running in the water. By far the best spot on the map no matter what people might say. From day one till now I think I have a max of 20 deaths there (people from behind) and at least 200 kills. Maybe the most overlooked spot in the entire game if you ask me.
Outskirts
Sniper homeland. A city of ruins where every window is a potential spot for a kill or two. Still I have picked a few places that I find more useful.
a) Far west on top of it all there’s a farmhouse. From the window in this house you can see down one of the main roads and into a know place of battle. They run fast down there but after a few rounds on the map you’ll take more and more out.
Also from the green field right outside (south) you can scope the tower of the church … imagine that
- bonus is the distance to enemy and the lack of traffic in the area.
b) The church – I guess this is the most overrated spot in the entire game. As a sniper you have to put up with players from the ground and tanks too – and with artillery you’re close to dead 99% of the time.
c) To the south from the tower of the church there’s a little path blocked so that tanks can’t drive there. A small wall is your cover and the tower is your main target. You can also snipe a few houses from the spot – it seems they can’t see you there but don’t trust that. Be deadly – no room for error in the middle of a hot zone like this.
Roundhouse
Moving sniper heaven! But sit still for too long and you head will be as empty as a beer in Boston! Locations are all over the place depending what kind of enemy you fight (tank or not tank). It’s hard to say “this is where I sit” as I always move a lot on the map.
I could mention the high bridge in the center of the map – but every sniper knows that’s only good for so long. Same goes for the building south of it where you can go upstairs and be in the windows.
Figure out your enemy and then you’ll find the spots if you play the map enough.
- when there was a glitch there was a target when they tried to use the glitch. Not it’s more a moving game.
Seelow
Just like Outskirts every window is a spot. The bridge in the middle of the map also. But as it divides the map in two you have to make your pick. I mostly go with windows close to the bridge so I can change place in i matter of seconds if the battle shift to the other side.
Till this very date I haven’t found too many enemy snipers who don’t use the same tactics. Some do stick to one window and rely on the battle to go their way but tanks often put an end to their waiting sooner or later.
Upheavel
Small map many windows – yes it’s the 3rd time I say this but it’s true. You can be a sitting sniper on this map but then you end up in a house with close to no action.
The obvious spots (or the good ones) will be searched very often by the enemy or you’ll end up close to teammates who give your position away.
A general hint is to stay at the same place for a short time and just play it like a moving sniper 80% of the time.
—
I might have forgotten some spots along the way – rather hard to write the golden guide. But if you have spots you want to share with the others then write them here.
Hope you can use some of this … both sniper and target.
