GUIDE TO SURVIVE in TRIBES Keep Moving Nothing gets you shot quicker than staying in the same place for too long. Keep moving. It doesn't have to be dramatic, ten or fifteen feet will do. This is even more important after you have just killed someone. Someone might ignore a laser blast in the heat of battle but they sure as heck will remember one if it killed them. Get low scores Sniping doesn't "pay well" when it comes to points. You don't rack up many kills (unless you're playing with total knobs) so don't get frustrated if you're score is one fifth of your team-mates. Think team Despite the fact that you're out on your own you should always remember that the sniper is primarily a team player. You aren't doing this for points so look for targets that will help your teammates. Blow up ammo stations, shoot flag carriers. A very good tactic is to hide until your team attacks the enemy base and then pop up to take pot shots at distracted defenders. If they're attacking you... Any enemy player that is shooting at you, or running after you is another enemy that isn't attacking your flag or defending their own. If you can't kill them, annoy them and make them come after you. Know your enemy Your real enemy is not the other players but the sensor ping display. Move it to a prominent place on the screen and watch it. Any time you are near the enemy base and the sensor ping display is active you can be easily seen. Hide! Use the terrain Look for hills and crevices near the enemy base. The best place to snip from is behind a hill. Hide on the side facing away from the base and then "pop up" to the top of the hill (not too far) to take a shot. Sometimes a small crevice or irregularity in the terrain can hide you just as well if you crouch. Just make sure you move up far enough that your laser is above the ridge line. Mines can be your friends!! If you're hiding behind a ridge why not plant some mines on the opposite side as a welcoming gift for any enemy players who come out to chase you? Run Away! Most players can grease you with anything short of a can of tomato paste so standing around trading shots with someone is a quick way to get a return ride back to your base. When confronted with a superior foe (in this case anything bigger than a chipmunk) run away. Run for a hill, wait a few seconds and then cap the bastard as your way of saying "thanks for sharing" Fire, wait, recharge Wait until your laser is fully recharged before firing again. Until it recharges the damage from the laser is pathetic. Plan for your second shot Unless an enemy is already wounded there is no way you can kill them with a single shot. Once you have a target and are about to fire start thinking of what you need to do to get the second shot away. Remember your strengths Snipers can go toe to toe with even a heavy. Remember, strafe! Also, since you have that awesome backpack, you can use it to jump over your enemies, and rain fire down from above (think disk launcher here :-) I tend to play offensive, and I go in, get flags, and get out, all in light armor. Remember your strengths and weaknesses. Strength you can MOVE. Weakness... how was it put... you can be taken out with a can of tomato sauce :-) A mines alternative A variation on mine use: Don't set them when you begin sniping (any sniper worth his salt will move after every shot and thus leave any set mines as worthless) Hold on to your mines until you know you are being flushed out. Most of the time, the enraged enemy will come straight for you. You can easily set mines in their path on your retreat. Nothing's sweeter than ducking behind a hill and hearing Boom! nice side note is that you get credit for the kill. Bring your own cover Once you have scoped out a good sniping vantage point, think about first placing a sensor shield near that point. Murphy's Laws apply here If there is a possibility of something happening then it WILL happen. If you have a bugger in your sites and you noticed that he suddenly turned in your direction, ASSUME the jig is up! If you see him suddenly make a slight movement - as though he's adjusting his aim - RUN! You can bet he's lining up his disc or a laser rifle of his own. Remember: If you can see them, they can see you If they are looking in your direction, your position is compromised If they suddenly make a small movement - a shift to the left - they are about to fire!