My Guide to Using Cover effectively
My Guide to Using Cover effectively
I think I'll make a video, because much of this needs visual aids. But cover definitely, definitely has its place. Two common mistakes:
1. Never using it
2. Always using it
When using it there are a large number of things to watch out for:
1. Make sure you attach to something high enough. Your character will actually duck down lower a little, to stay in cover. So sometimes you can actually use a piece of wall that you couldn't with just normal crouch.... but there are still plenty of things that you can cower behind and be exposing the top of your head. That is instant death, doing that. Also, be aware that elevation will allow people to snipe the top of your head if you're only *just* squeezing in. I see a number of people above saying "only for windows." I find windows one of the *worst* for taking cover near. They're often too low, and expose you. Trenches and sandbags are usually the best.
2. Use peek first, always. Peeking only exposes your head, and if you only keep up for a second or two, this is usually a good way to spot enemies, without exposing your entire top half. You can usually get away with it. If you spot an enemy, and they're not aiming at you, a quick right-click and shoot. Then pop down and change positions. If you peek and they are looking in your direction, pop down again immediately. Visualise their position and move slightly. Then pop up and snap shoot. They'll be expecting you to appear in the same spot, but you'll know where they are with the visualisation technique. It gives you a significant advantage in a straight-up snap shoot.
3. Change position, a lot. After you shoot, pop back down, move a little around, and next time pop up again in a different spot. If you can't change position - such as a door frame (sigh, should be able to crouch and use wall cover.) Peek once down the hallway, spot the enemy. I literally mean peek. I don't mean stick your head our and inspect. Tap the key and look for less than a second. If you see an enemy, visualise his position... now because it is a doorframe, you can't change positions... so uncover and use the lean system. He's expecting you to pop out, but instead you're in a crouched or prone position just popping out with the shot.
4. Mix up cover system and non-cover cover. When camping at a window in Freedom - probably best to back up and be shrouded in darkness (on the other hand, if someone sees a muzzle flash and shoots back, they'll get you while if you were in cover, you'd have popped back down.) When advancing through exposed territory. Dash from cover to cover. Stop, peek, change position, and peek again. If there is no fire and you see no-one, you can dash again. If gun fire suppresses your peeking efforts, detach, go prone, and crawl away (possibly to pop up somewhere else.) It is much, much, much faster to do "pop up" shots with the cover system than anything else... but you have to mix it up to stay unpredictable - and often that means using the lean and crouch system.
5. Door frames and wall corners are generally only good for peeking. The cover system exposes nearly your whole body when shooting there... but if you peek and spot an unaware target - take the shot. Then get back and detach. You're probably compromised. A crouch and lean to mix it up is good then. Peek is superior in the first instance, though, because with a swift movement you can view far more. You're generally safe - but keep those peeks quick, and don't be afraid to detach once you've been spotted.
I've never found a use for blind firing. Theoretically you could blind fire down a hallway or out a door, if you know the enemy is coming, but I've never once had the opportunity, or wherewithal to pull it off. Seems like 100% gimmick.