User:GI Ginger/Straight Sniper

This is an extremely focused build. I use it for co-op and solo play, with a weapons focus on Sniper Rifles while generally ignoring my action skill. This is obviously best used by those who take a no-frills marksman approach, preferring to dispatch enemies with critical hits at medium to long range.

Optimization
The basic tradeoff is increased power, stability, accuracy etc with Sniper rifles (and all guns to a degree), while missing out on the P.I.T.A. bird and loot-gathering skills, as well as a lot of pistol perks.

Pros

 * Totally optimized for marksman use, offering the best use of sniper rifles.
 * Damage.
 * Damage.
 * More Damage
 * XP sharing for all of those skulls you'll be ventilating.
 * Practical, simple skillset that gives excellent benefit to those who like headshots, and hate dealing with that stupid bird.

Cons

 * Base stats for Bloodwing. Again, I usually ignore him completely, and never touch LB unless I'm driving.
 * Lacking pistol skills. I use pistols at close range, but I generally find that Hair trigger is the only skill I really get much use out of.
 * Less loot/health regen from Bloodwing. (semi-compromised by riotous remedy and a good scavenger mod with health regen)
 * Lacks the benefits of many good Gunslinger skills for CQB/pistol combat.

Equipment
This is just what I use. Really, it's a matter of what you are most comfortable with.

Weapons

 * Sniper Rifles! I carry two, a pure-power rifle with good accuracy and high power scope, and a good elemental (corrosive) rifle with a fast fire rate and 1-2x power scope.
 * Submachine Gun - I carry a medium-power, elemental (High multiplier corrosive or explosive) rattlecan with a high fire rate and scope. Best used in TIGHT situations when you just have to settle for body shots.
 * Revolver - High-damage non-elemental 6-shooter with or w/o scope and good recoil reduction and fire rate. I like a good Patton.

Mods

 * Survivor, Sniper and Assassin COMs - I flip-flop like the McCain campaign when it comes to these. Survivor for general mixed combat, Sniper for general long-range, and Assassin when I'm using my corrosive weapons.
 * Grenades - Really, it's personal choice. I prefer explosive and corrosive BB's for power and AoE.
 * Shield - High capacity and good recharge. Need more health regen? Don't get hit so much.

Strategy
In short, this build is for those who prefer to use precise marksmanship to take down enemies at mid-long range. If you don't have the skill to do so, this is not going to be as useful for you. There's generally nothing here to benefit you in close-quarters combat (except high-capacity mags and faster fire for your pistols \o/), so you should try to stay off of the front line. I breezed through this solo, but it's really better suited for co-op play, supporting the other more CQB-oriented classes (if you can see past Brick).

Alteration
If you prefer a little more close-range support, try ditching smirk and loaded for some choice pistol/melee skills like Lethal Strike, Gun Crazy, or Relentless. If you NEVER play co-op, then you'd do well to trade off Smirk for something else. This is NOT the build for that bird-lover, however... so look up some more appropriate builds if you like this idea and just can't give up bloodwing. There are some good ones out there, I promise.

Enjoy! 12:16, January 20, 2010 (UTC)