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Night Ops Guide – A short tutorial on how to perform Night Ops

By trx100

 

A bit of an introduction

Night Ops is awesome. There’s no denying just how fun it is to move around at night like Sam Fisher, climbing over obstacles and laying low to avoid security guards. When you’re on an Op, you become the shadows. You become a part of the night – an invisible presence that no one even notices. Being good at it is something which takes practice though. This practice can only come from experience in the field, and often you can gain some extra knowledge on the subject by reading things which other people have written (check the resources section for some good material). Hopefully this guide will give you a little idea on how to get started in the world of Night Ops.

Clothing

Before you even consider going outside on a serious operation, it is extremely important to kit yourself out to the best standards. Now, when you think of blending in with the night, you automatically think of black clothing – right? Well, you’re wrong. In most situations, you’re never going to come across a completely pitch-black background meaning that your black t-shirt is going to give you a silhouette. This can be easily spotted by anyone who happens to be watching.

Choose the correct clothing for your location. For urban areas, dark grays and navy blues go brilliantly against the dark night sky and concrete buildings. If you’re in a more rural environment, think dark greens and browns. As for what you wear on your legs – go for something tight fitting and also a dark color. Navy blue or even black (legs are less distinctive than the shape of a body) work well in most situations.

You might want to consider wearing a balaclava to cover your face, or a combination of a hat and a scarf wrapped around your face. Concealing your identity if you’re spotted is a main objective for any Operation. Also consider wearing some gloves for the prevention of fingerprints. Be careful though, bad gloves may compromise your ability to grip things when climbing.

Shoes should be a lightweight, grippy rubber material with a tread which isn’t easily matched (potential evidence if you’re caught). Choose something which you’re comfortable with using, as well as something which you can walk quietly and quickly in. Think about what you’re going to be doing on the operation and plan ahead – climbing shoes are much different to shoes which you’re just going to be sneaking around in. You’ll know when you’ve found a good shoe to wear. You can also go without shoes for the ultimate stealth experience. It makes it so much easier to walk around quietly, and you really get a sense of being in touch with the surroundings as you can literally get a feel for the ground beneath you.

What gear should I take with me on a Night Op?

The answer to this question really is up to you. Consider what you’re going out to do, and think about the gear which you will need for the mission. Are you going to come across any locked doors or gates on your journey which can’t be climbed? You might need lock-picks or a screwdriver. Things which you SHOULDN’T bring with you are easier to list though, and range from an MP3 player to guns and large, unnecessary knives. Not only are they usually unneeded, they’re also a safety hazard and could result in some hefty charges if you get caught.
Plan Extensively and thoroughly

I can’t stress this one enough. Plan for EVERY possibility. Have a route plan so you know exactly where you are going from the moment you leave your house to the moment you return. Take note of departure times, as well as the time you wish to arrive at the destination. Set yourself a time limit to complete the task in, so you don’t end up taking too much time and risk getting caught. Have a main plan, a backup plan, and another backup plan in case the other one fails. In short, you can never plan too much.

When planning out routes, try and stick to places where people don’t frequent. At the same time, don’t go walking through some muddy track which would result in your footprints being left everywhere. Consider your routes carefully, and use Google Maps as well as knowledge of the area to help you along the way.

Are you ready?

 

So, you think you’re ready for the operation? You’ve got the right clothing and gear, and you’ve planned the living daylights out of your Op? Well, firstly I’d like to wish you good luck. Here’s some more information regarding the operation itself.

Moving Stealthily

This is something which may or may not come naturally. Get yourself a good pair of shoes, or don’t even wear shoes at all. Think of Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell games, and keep an eye on the way he walks in the crouched position. Get yourself crouched, keep your weight central and turn your body a little sideways. I find myself almost strafing forwards when I walk like this, but it works perfectly. Tight clothing will help when moving quietly, as there will be less material rubbing together and less shit flapping in the wind. When climbing, make precise movements with no fumbling footwork. When dropping from a height which is bigger than yourself, perform a roll when you hit the deck to keep your momentum going in a forwards direction. Not only will this make you much quieter, it will also save you from damaging your body. Smaller drops can be taken with crouched legs as you hit the ground.

Completing the mission

Finally, I’d like to stress the importance of you sticking to your mission plan. No messing around if there’s something serious to be done. Stick to your mission plan exactly. After all, what would be the point in making one if you don’t stick to it? You should always be aiming to get in and out of the specific area as quickly and effectively as possible. Once you have finished your mission, get yourself back to a safe-house and get some rest. This could be your own house, a friend’s place, or even some abandoned building on the outskirts of town. Wherever you choose, make sure it’s a good location and make sure you’re not followed there.

Resources – Further Reading Material

Night-Ops Forum

Psychlonic’s “Way of the shadow”

Chaospenguin’s Guide to Night Ops

 

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