¿ Time For a Marksman/Sniper Class?

 By Felipe Lohan Pinheiro da Silva

İt’s unusual for RPGs (not only Dungeons & Dragons/D20/OGL/Retroclone/Old School) that there is not a “Marksman/Sniper” class. Let’s analyze this situation:

Some could point that the Ranger ƒіts the role, but that’s not completely true. İn that case, the archery is just a choice of ƒіghting style for him. The Ranger himself ƒіts in the role of a hunter/naturalist/survivalist.

Some could point the Rogue/Thief or Assassin classes as a “Marksman/Sniper” class. The use of the archery is plausible for those classes, and some of their abilities are useful to a marksman/sniper, such as:

Stealth: for surprise the victim or enter in a restricted place w/out being spotted.
Handle poison: to use poisoned ammo.
Climbing: to get a privileged position in the battleƒіeld to spot his foes better.

However, some of the other abilities of the Rogue/Thief, Assassin, and ranger, albeit useful, are a bit out of the scope of the Marksman/Sniper class.

Some other ideas include treating the archery as just a ƒіghting style of the Fighter/Warrior or Ranger class. But this concept have problems, because the marksman/sniper is NOT a melee bruiser who practices archery in the weekend (so, his Hit Dice is not as high as the typical Fighter/Warrior). Actually is quite the opposite: his melee weapons (in most cases a club or dagger) are the backup ones.

A Marksman/Sniper class could use the following weapons (any reference here of weapons that can be used both for melee and range will suppose that it’s the ranged use):

Primary: stored energy weapons, such as bows, crossbows, slingshots, guns.

Secondary: mechanical force ranged weapons, such as slings, sling-staves, javelins, spears, spear throwers, throwing knives/axes/hatchets/stones, grenades, shurikens.

Tertiary: the melee use of short to medium weapons, such as knives, axes, hatchets and maces as backup weapons.

The use of some weaker long ranged (both against a single target and area) attack spells at higher levels may even be possible.