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So, I'm working on making a couple of guardsmen with sniper rifles and I've gotten to the point where it's time to put the scope on the model. The rest of the gun looks really good (and really like a hunting rifle style lasgun), but I've tacked on a couple of my scopes and have been underwhelmed. The biggest problem tends to be that the scopes are comically huge. Sort of like that scene in Austin Powers where he has the tiny camera with the HUGE optics. That or like a rifle mounted with one of these...



Anyways, I'm going to keep working in it, probably, but it has just struck me, what if I just had my snipers be regular old sharpshooters. Instead of having big fancy optics, they're just really good shots that are given a slightly better version of normal equipment. For example, the russian army took people who knew how to shoot a Mosin and made them "snipers" which entailed little more than giving them a rifle that actually shot straight with an optional 3x magnification "scope" to clip on top. Likewise, the American army over the course of most of the wars it fought did basically the same thing. "You look like you could hit something if you actually pointed at it. Here, take this gun that actually hits what you point at. Oh, and make sure you actually aim before you fire. Good luck, soldier!"

I'm sure that wysiwyg doesn't REQUIRE sniper wepaons to have a scope, so long as they otherwise look like sniper weapons, so I'm not worried about rules here. I'm more asking for input of the aesthetics.

For reference, what I've gotten so far looks like this:



I figure that the shaved down default lasgun options might be good enough, right? Or should I just stick it out and find a real scope that I like?

Wow, you've been studying up on your history!

I personally don't think you need to put a scope on those at all, they look great as they are. Plus, you could always assume that they're really good shots!

As long as the weapon is different enough to normal lasguns there is a lot of leeway I think. You don;t need a huge optical scope to get an edge in accuracy, even a small 2x to 4x optical will help with target spotting over the range that infantry rifles are supposed to operate.

Another option would be to give the guys additional optics on their helmets. I used the Pig Iron heavy infantry heads with additional optics for all my snipers and officers to help them with battlefield awareness.

I like the idea of sharpshooters.

Depending on your opponents' historical savvy, they might or might not call attention to your rifles lack of scopes. That said, "they're just really good shots" would be fine with me. =)

On the other hand, if you're not keen on scopes, how about some sort of 'sniper goggles' on the guardsmen?

Another thought, how about some simple "chosen man" style arm-bands or shoulder flashes?

Id have thought that huge scope wasn't just fixed optics, but also night vision, thermal, targeting assistant, range finder, data feeds, etc.

i would just make a small scope out of the same plastic tube you have made the barrel out of ?

Why not just say they have their eyes replaced with optical enhancements?

CURNOW wrote:i would just make a small scope out of the same plastic tube you have made the barrel out of ?

I've actually been doing something similar to that, but with some brass and aluminum tubing I have around. The problem is that the scope still winds up sitting really high on the gun. I think for a scope to look right, I'm going to have to get rid of the thing that's sitting on top of the guns currently...

Flinty wrote:Another thought, how about some simple "chosen man" style arm-bands or shoulder flashes?

I was going to give them berets and uniforms that were colored in the same scheme as my vets and stormies.

Skippy wrote:Id have thought that huge scope wasn't just fixed optics, but also night vision, thermal, targeting assistant, range finder, data feeds, etc.

So, what makes a sniper isn't the toys, it's the training. Snipers don't spend all that much more time on a firing range than a regular infantryman because once you learn how to pull the trigger without jerking, there isn't a whole lot more better you can get at that. What makes a sniper is the training in situational awareness, target identification and acquisition, and the mental conditioning to keep cool under chaos and stone-cold shoot someone (and stealth, of course). Things like night vision help in target acquisition, but they're a tool that supports a skill that is learned.

Ceratinly the guy who made the 1.5 mile shot in Afghanistan needed the help of a spotter with some pretty sophisticated stuff, but in the world of 40k where snipers are only engaging targets that are 50% farther away than a regular infantryman is engaging, it doesn't seem necessary.

...unless, of course, every game I play people ask me "where are their scopes?" which would get irritating...

Ailaros wrote:
So, what makes a sniper isn't the toys, it's the training. Snipers don't spend all that much more time on a firing range than a regular infantryman because once you learn how to pull the trigger without jerking, there isn't a whole lot more better you can get at that. What makes a sniper is the training in situational awareness, target identification and acquisition, and the mental conditioning to keep cool under chaos and stone-cold shoot someone (and stealth, of course). Things like night vision help in target acquisition, but they're a tool that supports a skill that is learned.

Ceratinly the guy who made the 1.5 mile shot in Afghanistan needed the help of a spotter with some pretty sophisticated stuff, but in the world of 40k where snipers are only engaging targets that are 50% farther away than a regular infantryman is engaging, it doesn't seem necessary.

My point was a scope in the 40k universe will be vastly different than one today. Infact the poster that said about a retinal implant is probably closer to the money. 40k isnt a historical game.

Just a few ideas. The space marine scout snipers come with nvg looking goggles and one of the rifles has the scope detached and in another hand. If you dont want to mount optics on the rifles or troops maybe have them hanging from their belts or on a backpack. And that way if the scopes are slightly oversized you could just say its a spotting scope. Rolled up camo cloaks are pretty easy to make from grenstuff and may help make your sharpshooters look the part and stand out from the regular guys.

those rifles look great! I can't see anyone giving you grief for not having scopes on them so long as the unit clearly stands out from the rest of the infantry.

from a pure fluff standpoint, though, all the books that feature IG snipers (gaunt's ghosts, etc.) talk a good bit about their scopes, so not having them is definitely unusual. from a more practical standpoint in today's world, not mounting at least a rudimentary scope on a precision rifle is just putting yourself at a disadvantage for no good reason. sure, the rifle shoots straight, but the more clearly you can see your target, the more accurately you can place your shots.

just my 2 credits

Yes they look great! Keep them as is.

IMO keep them as is, in ww1 and 2 most snipers did not even use scopes, for fear of the glint giving them away.

I'm finding a lasgun with half a guard binocular for a scope and extended barrel makes for a sniper rifle thats easy to do. I think it only really needs one or the other tho - a big long barrel or a scope (on helmet would be cool too). It can just be a lasgun that is better in some snipery fashion - as long as it looks different than the flashlights I'm happy.

Lookin good by the way.

The helmet scope thing may be an option - the rifles are looking great and you have mad converting skills. Who's to say those little nubs on there aren't sophisticated sensors with a wireless feed? I know most of your men don't bother with helmets, but you could give those grizzled old Folerans some headpieces/eyepieces!

I just remembered an awesome model I saw ages ago. Some kind of sci-fi marine type with a laser sniper rifle. The weapon was tiny as laser weapons really shouldn't need longer barrels for more accuracy

there is a cadian helmet with extra optics, like ray in ghostbusters style. I think from the valk kit.

If you look at a lot of real world sniping/target guns the scopes can get pretty big. Of course Simo Hayha, according to most sources the highest scoring sniper of all time, didn't use a scope just his trusty M28 Mosin-Nagant

Something else that can be used fairly readily for a scope is the optic piece used on the mortar from the heavy weapons squads.