Sniper team (Tiberium Wars)

Sniper teams are elite GDI anti-infantry units in Tiberium Wars and Kane's Wrath.

Background
A rare few GDI soldiers pass the advanced marksmanship training necessary to become elite sharpshooters. These soldiers can kill most infantry from long range with a single well-placed shot from their modified railguns, and are also trained in reconnaissance tactics such as stealth and artillery target spotting.

The team wears battledress uniforms and camouflage hats. They don't wear armor, as it would limit their mobility and increase their chances of being seen. When stationary, they go prone.

Game unit
Sniper teams have a few downsides. They are vulnerable to any anti-infantry weapons once they have been detected, and Venoms are an especially dangerous threat. This is because the flying Nod Venom has stealth detection systems and can quickly dispose of the snipers once they've been revealed. They are also expensive to train at 1000 credits per team and can be overwhelmed by masses of low tier infantry-especially militant squads (given the comparatively slow rate of fire). They are also completely vulnerable to aircraft, especially Venoms and, to a lesser extent, Stormriders. It is highly recommended that the Snipers be escorted by Anti-Air units such as Pitbulls, Slingshots, APCs, or Missile Squads (preferably loaded in APCs, as Venoms can easily kill them also), although this may compromise the Sniper Team's cover.

Sniper teams, as mention above, can act as spotters for Juggernaut Mk. III walkers, allowing them to bombard targets inside the team's sight radius. Note, however, that the team will briefly become visible (unstealthed) when giving the Juggernaut targeting data - this can have disastrous consequences. Sniper teams can also spot targets while garrisoned in any vehicle capable of garrisoning infantry so long as they are not moving, including vehicles not given to either GDI or ZOCOM such as the Heavy harvester, the Behemoth, and the Nod Reckoner; V-35 Ox transports can also be used to spot as well. However, only sniper teams trained from the barracks can do that - Sharpshooter teams cannot.

They are at their best in a section of three to eliminate higher tier enemy units who lack the range to return fire (Black hand operatives, Shock troopers, etc) or against single high-value enemy units (Engineers, Saboteurs, Assimilators, rampant Commandoes, etc). Otherwise, they are safer garrisoned in buildings, APCs, or simply protected behind other units.

Like all infantry, the Sniper team can be shuttled in V-35 Ox transports, and a special, veteran sharpshooter team of 3 teams can be deployed on the battlefield.

Unless commanded otherwise, snipers will not engage enemy forces unless they are detected (which then will attempt to eliminate the threat that discovered them, usually failing) this makes them good at watching over key areas and monitoring enemy movement, and detecting any stealthed units. However, if garrisoned in a structure, they will shoot infantry on sight and lose their stealth detection ability. If sniper teams are garrisoned with anti-air/anti-tank squads then this can be an advantage for stopping enemies that capable of clearing out structures from getting too close.

Sniper Teams are a useful passive counter for Vertigo Bombers, as they can be placed further away from AA defense, and expose the Vertigo Bombers prematurely, making it easier for the defenses and units to kill them before or after deploying their payload.

Changelog

 * Tiberium Wars patch 1.05:
 * speed increased by 20%
 * hit points reduced by 50%
 * rate of fire reduced by 50%
 * re-stealth time increased by 25%.
 * Kane's Wrath patch 1.02: no longer unstealths when using Bombard

When created

 * Sniper team, where do you need us?

When selected

 * Sniper team ready!
 * Sniper team!
 * What's the call? 
 * Where's our next target? 
 * How's our position? 
 * Need somebody taken out?
 * This area clear?
 * What do you see?

When moving

 * Scanning new area!
 * Any enemies around? 
 * Got it. We're moving out!
 * Keep out of sight!
 * Heading to new position!
 * On the move!
 * Let's get there! 

​When garrisoning a structure

 * We'll hole up there for now! 
 * Take that position! 
 * Looks pretty safe! 
 * Set up in there! 
 * Find a window! 

When ordered to attack

 * In my sights!
 * Target spotted, moving in!
 * Just need to get a little closer!
 * We got 'em marked.

When attacking

 * In my scope!
 * Not a problem!
 * Clear shot! 
 * They'll go down! 
 * I got 'em!
 * There he is!
 * He's mine. 
 * Perfect!

When calling in an air strike (unused)

 * We're in position, bombers!
 * Calling in bombing run!
 * Bombers, we have your target!
 * Sending in the bombing coordinates now!

Spotting a target (unused)

 * We're ready for fire support!
 * Target spotted for fire support!
 * We have your target!

In combat

 * Watch this!
 * Take 'em out, one by one!
 * Reloading!
 * Watch our back!
 * Have they spotted us?

When retreating

 * They're too close, let's get out of here!
 * We can't stay here!
 * We're pulling out!
 * Gotta get out, now!

When suppressed

 * To the ground!
 * Incoming!
 * We're pinned down!

When selected

 * Spotter! 
 * My partner's dead! 
 * Could use some help out here!
 * Yes, sir? 
 * What should I do?
 * What was that?!
 * Am I in the open? 
 * Don't leave me out here!
 * Commander, can you hear me?!
 * It's just me!

​When moving

 * Here I go!
 * Keep me on radar!
 * Okay!
 * Is it clear?
 * I'm going! 
 * I'll check it out!
 * Here I go!

When garrisoning a structure

 * Good, some shelter! 
 * Alright, I'm going in! 

When ordered to attack

 * I'll do what I can!
 * Yep, there they are!
 * Okay, I can do this!
 * It's the enemy!

When attacking

 * I see 'em!
 * I know, I know!
 * It's all or nothing!
 * Yes, sir!
 * I have to take 'em out!
 * I'll show 'em.

Calling in air strike(unused)

 * Airstrike, I need an airstrike! 
 * Calling in for air support! 
 * Command, I think I have a target for you! 

Spotting a target (unused)

 * Okay, I have the target now.
 * I'm ready for fire support.
 * Fire support, you there?

In combat

 * Doing the best I can! 
 * I'll hold 'em off! 
 * This one for my friend! 
 * They won't take me! 

When retreating

 * I gotta get outta here! 
 * I'm going home! 
 * They can help me there! 

Trivia

 * If the sniper is killed, the spotter will be the one speaking the voiced lines and will be audibly panicking about his predicament.
 * Also, despite the fact that the team appears to have a sniper and a spotter, their roles seem to be interchangeable. For instance, if the sniper is killed, the spotter can still hunt infantry, and if the spotter is killed, the sniper can act as a spotter for artillery. This point is further seen when a sniper team fires. Both members of the team can be seen shooting at separate targets, both with lethal accuracy.
 * Targets actually die before sniper team's slugs reach them. This could simply be that the bullet is traveling faster than human can see such as hypersonic speed, or simply due to gameplay reasons.
 * The Sniper team's voice clips seem to imply that they originally had the ability to call in air strikes.

Idle animations

 * The sniper will pretend to shoot a bird in the sky.
 * The spotter will reload his gun and check through sights.
 * The spotter looks up into the sky to watch birds.
 * Either member may throw a rock.
 * Either member may do sit-ups.