I've hated sniping in CoD4 so I've never really been interested in coming up with the "best" Sniper Config. Well I keep getting asked about Sniper Configs...so, I thought I'd give you guys something interesting to test your skillz on.

Come up with a really good sniper config.

The Assumptions:

I don't want this to be a max FPS style config. You need to assume the sniper has a reasonably fast computer (e.g. let's say dual core and at least a 7900 nVidia).

Target visualization and registration are BOTH key here. Unfortunately, the better you see targets, usually the higher the graphics settings and thus the worse your FPS. So there has to be a middle ground.

The Problem:

Come up with CVARs that you think will benefit the sniper in CoD4!

You can check out the cvars here, with explanations for some of them...and sample configs as well...




Here's a start from me:

seta ai_corpseCount "5"//reasonable amount of dead bodies lying around, may give sniper situational awareness cues
seta cg_blood "1"// set blood spatter on - added situational awareness
seta cg_brass "0"//FPS boost
seta cg_fov "65"//Sniper is looking for elusive targets sometimes...this provides added magnification when de-scoped.
seta cl_maxpackets "60"// Crank up the maxpackets to increase registration
seta cl_packetdup "1"//Increase chance that packets get to server - causes slight FPS loss
seta com_maxfps "120"//Increase FPS - should be integer of maxpackets
seta fx_marks "1"// add cues
seta fx_marks_ents "1"// add cues
seta fx_marks_smodels "1"// add cues
seta r_drawSun "0"//reduce FPS hit
seta r_drawWater "0"//reduce FPS hit
seta r_picmip "0"//better visualization
seta r_picmip_bump "0"//better visualization
seta r_picmip_manual "0"//better visualization
seta r_picmip_spec "0"//better visualization
seta r_picmip_water "0"//better visualization
seta r_specular "1"//Phong specular textures, for better visualization

Good thing you said usually Cause in CoD4 this is not the case. In fact, the lower your graphics are, the better you will see your target - especially if you are looking for another sniper in the ghillie suit. Lower setting will almost turn off the grass and make the figures stick out. High settings will add the grass, have the ghillie suit blend in and have it a lot harder to spot people in grass areas, trees, etc.

I have seen a picture comparing the 2, but I can't find it right now. I'll search some more and if I can't find it... I'll make one.

Most people consider the removal of grass that some graphics settings give you are in effect a cheat - so I wasn't referring to that effect...but it is obviously worth considering in a config. I was simply thinking that the crisper the graphics...the easier it is to detect players at long long ranges.

I do use a special cfg for sniping:
On a mouse4 I have +melee;+holdbreath so I can melee and holdbreath on the same button, and in this special constellation I dont have to hold that key for holding breath.
I cant explain it and its mere coincidence I found that out.
I can post that if you find it interesting.


I also changed sensitivities, but that was not of that much use.

But I'll try the decals and marks to see better where you shot around your target.
+ Id like to make the models more detailed (maybe lodscale makes them less detailed or there are other commands for that)
But lodscale has more benefits than downsides
Maybe we should even try anti aliasing to make the view less irritating.
(Sometime I think something moves but that was just this stairs effect)
Or put the r_gamma up... a lot of possibilities

And yitch you have a mistake here:
seta r_picmip_manual "0"//better visualization

Must be 1 in oder to change picmip settings at all.
If not you can do what you want and they wont change.

I already have a prototype of a config that I will post later.

Thanks puller - but I wasn't changing the picmips...I was leaving them at a high graphics setting to gain better visualization. I'm still waiting for snipers to post their settings to see if they think certain combinations of graphics are best....anyone?

Actually you can get away with lowering every command except the first plain r_picmip 0. If you leave the first one at 0 the grass will still be smooth but you can do the other stuff up to 3 to lower them.

By the way can we just change the crosshair decals like in other games or is this not possible in cod4
What is this doing? Maybe Ill try turning it off
seta g_antilag "1"

g_antilag is always going to be on I think it's your config's ability to run antilag on server you create or join. That's all I believe it does and since they forced every server to run it, can't turn it off without modding and unranked I believe.

Here's my explanation of what anti lag is doing:

http://bashandslash.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=208&Itemid=74

In order to get the sniper rifles to work IW has set antilag ON as default. I'm not sure if there are any servers running with it off. Perhaps someone knows?

I tried a lot in the last days.
I made a modified version of stock.cfg (a lot less commands) and managed to load this cfg on aiming down.
So when you look through the scope it looks detailed just like in singleplayer,you see the bullet holes in the wall and maybe even blood when you make a head shot.
The textures look the sharpest possible and I commented out lodscalerigid so that you see more.



What I found good for visibility is r_aasamples=2 (2x anti aliasing) that is the best for visibility and performance on my system unfortunately you cant change it ingame.
So you need to change it in mpconfig.cfg
When you see something moving far away you can be sure its an enemy or player and not some flickering or pixels.
It is really good for the eyes and nerves.


These are the configs I made.
On kp_ins you change manually or on x you aim down and change graphics.
Make sure too have picmip_manual=1 in every config you use including mpconfig.cfg or it doesnt change ingame.

script.cfg contains this

bind KP_INS "vstr dec"
set dec "vstr d1"
set d1 "exec stock.cfg;set dec vstr d0"
set d0 "exec yitch2.cfg;set dec vstr d1"

bind mouse4 "+melee;+holdbreath"
bind mouse2 "-holdbreath;+toggleads_throw;"
bind shift "+sprint"
bind x "-holdbreath;+toggleads_throw; vstr dec"

modified stock.cfg (Im sure you could throw out a lot more and make loading times better.)
// stock.cfg

seta ai_corpseCount "5"
seta cg_blood "1"
seta com_maxfps "120"

//

seta dynEnt_active "1"
seta fx_draw "1"
seta fx_drawClouds "1"
seta fx_marks "1"
seta fx_marks_ents "1"
seta fx_marks_smodels "1"
seta fx_sort "1"



//

seta r_altModelLightingUpdate "1"
seta r_aspectRatio "auto"
seta r_autopriority "0"
seta r_customMode ""
seta r_debugLineWidth "1"
seta r_depthPrepass "0"
seta r_depthPrepassModels "0"



seta r_dlightLimit "4"

//seta r_drawDecals "1"
seta r_drawSun "1"
seta r_drawWater "1"
seta r_fastSkin "1"
seta r_fog "1"

seta r_glow "1"

seta r_glow_allowed "1"

r_specular "1"

seta r_lodBias "0"
seta r_lodBiasRigid "0"
seta r_lodBiasSkinned "0"
seta r_lodScale "1"
//seta r_lodScaleRigid "1"
seta r_lodScaleSkinned "1"

seta r_normal "1"
seta r_nv_fence "0 "
seta r_nv_fog_available "0"
seta r_nv_fog_dist "0"
seta r_nv_fogdist_mode "GL_EYE_RADIAL_NV"
seta r_nv_register_combiners "0 "
seta r_nv_texture_shader "0"
seta r_nv_vertex_array_range "0 "
seta r_optimize "1"
seta r_optimizeLightmaps "1"
seta r_optimizeXModels "5"
seta r_outdoorAwayBias "32"
seta r_outdoorDownBias "0"
seta r_outdoorFeather "8"
seta r_picmip "0"
seta r_picmip_bump "0"
seta r_picmip_manual "1"
seta r_picmip_spec "0"
seta r_picmip_water "0"
seta r_polygonOffsetBias "-1"