HECU Sniper

The HECU Sniper is a HECU class featured in the Half-Life chapters On A Rail and Surface Tension. Gameplay wise, it precedes the Overwatch Sniper featured in Half-Life 2 and its episodes.

Overview

 * HECU Snipers are very hostile, and able to drain a player's health in as little as 4 to 5 hits. Usually concealed in a window, they will hide around a corner in a sniper nest, ready to shoot someone when their guard is down.


 * The HECU Sniper is first introduced near the end of the Half-Life chapter On A Rail, right before the rocket launch area. He will not shoot until the player reaches for nearby supplies, closer to him. In the chapter Surface Tension, two Snipers are spread around the building where the Laser Tripmine is set, and have killed a security guard. They add to the threat that the Land Mines spread in the sand around the building already pose. The last HECU Sniper to be seen is in the same chapter, some time before the helipad where an Osprey continually offloads HECU troops.


 * An effective weapon against the Sniper is the grenade, which can be thrown into their nest to take them out in one go. Whilst it is effective, it is often difficult to get a grenade in. The RPG is often effective as well, as the rocket can be easily directed. Finally, the MP5's grenade will also provide good results.

Behind the scenes

 * Rather than having an actual player model, the snipers simply have a vaguely humanoid concrete brush which when destroyed will stop the rifle shooting at the player.

Trivia

 * The sniper's rifle will follow the player as they move around, even if they cannot see them.

List of appearances

 * Half-Life