History Main / TargetSpotter

*** Zerg have the flying Overlords in ''I'', which are also what the Zerg produce to increase their supply cap. In ''II'' the Overlord loses its detection ability, and has to be mutated into an Overseer in order to gain detection. An Overseer is faster than an Overlord, and can spawn a Changeling to disguise itself as an enemy unit and act as a spy.

* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' the siege tank can actually fire further than it can see in its immobile siege mode. To get maximum range out of it you need a second unit acting as spotter (or use the radar scan). ''VideoGame/StarCraftI'' also arms Ghosts with a laser target designator for short-range ballistic missiles tipped with tactical nukes. This ability is transferred to the new Spectre unit in ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' (if you chose it in the campaign).

* Recruiting [[ColdSniper Craig Boone]] as a follower in ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'' will give the player the "Spotter" perk, causing any enemies to glow red while the player aims down his iron sights. A Courier with above-average Intelligence can also reference this when convincing Boone to join as a follower, by pointing out that snipers normally operate in teams.

* This is a common role of aerial mages in ''LightNovel/YoujoSenki''. One of Tanya's first duties is spotting for an imperial artillery battery.

* A level two {{perk}} of the Sniper class called "Squadsight" in ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' allows the sniper to target any enemy that any of the Sniper's squadmates sees, as long the Sniper has a direct line of fire (but is not necessarily in visual range). It's also extremely handy when combined with a suit of flying PoweredArmor.

* In ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'', the GDI Juggernaut can fire anywhere on the map provided a Sniper team is near the target. One campaign mission had fire support from a GDI Battleship that worked similarly. The Nod forces in the same game have a strange counterpart: their [[FrickingLaserBeams Beam Cannon]] can reflect its fire off the hull of a friendly Venom gunship, hitting anything within a radius around it. The relationship between the two units is thus very similar to the Juggernaut and Sniper.

** Inaho serves as a spotter during the battle for New Orleans, relaying the coordinates of the enemy [[HumongousMecha Solis Kataphrakt]] to [[spoiler:[[CoolShip the Deucalion]].]] The Solis's FrickinLaserBeams can OneHitKill any Terran unit, [[spoiler:but can only fire in a straight line, while the Deucalion can lob cannon shells from beyond the safety of the horizon.]]

** Commissar Literature/CiaphasCain ([[AC:Hero of the Imperium!!]]) was first assigned to an artillery regiment whose commanding officer never quite bought into Cain's [[FakeUltimateHero reputation]], and so took barely-disguised joy in sending Cain to forward observation posts near hotspots, and was always quick to send a barrage of Basilisk shells his way whenever Cain spotted trouble. That said, Cain was in one case counting on this when he found out that a mansion he was taking shelter in was home to a daemonic cult.

** In ''Literature/GauntsGhosts: Ghostmaker'', the Ghosts land on a planet to discover a daemon using WeatherManipulation powers, grounding Imperial air support. Colonel Corbec promptly calls in the daemon's coordinates to an orbiting Imperial Navy frigate. Turns out even {{eldritch abomination}]s from the Immaterium can't stand up to OrbitalBombardment.

* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'', units armed with Long-Range Missiles can indirect-fire them at a target in cover if it can be seen by another friendly unit.

* All of the ''Franchise/SniperElite'' games after the first feature this as a function of their campaigns, allowing the player to track them for future shots, or for a co-op partner to see them. In ''4'', it increases your score if you tag them all the way to completion of a small bar, which also lets you collect intel on them. There are co-op modes (called Overwatch) that take things even further: one partner has no rifle at all and must tag targets for the second partner, who is watching from an inaccessible area.

* ''VideoGame/BattleTech'' has the "Sensor Lock" pilot ability that allows you to instantaneously gain vision on a single enemy unit within sensor range, regardless of line-of-sight or FogOfWar. The LRM class of missiles can also hit a target from behind terrain, as long as you have direct vision on it. Small, fast scout 'mechs with Sensor Lock and [[CripplingOverspecialization LRM boats]] often work in tandem, with the former painting targets for the latter.

* ''VideoGame/BattleTech'' lets you fit mechs with long-range missiles that can hit a target from behind terrain, if you have another mech or vehicle spotting for it.

* Commissar Literature/CiaphasCain ([[AC:Hero of the Imperium!!]]) was first assigned to an artillery regiment whose commanding officer never quite bought into Cain's [[FakeUltimateHero reputation]], and so took barely-disguised joy in sending Cain to forward observation posts near hotspots, and was always quick to send a barrage of Basilisk shells his way whenever Cain spotted trouble. That said, Cain was in one case counting on this when he found out that a mansion he was taking shelter in was home to a daemonic cult.
-->'''Cain:''' Cain to command. Full barrage, danger close, immediate effect. Don't argue, just do it!

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''
** Tau Pathfinders can use a targeting laser to fire a missile from a nearby Skyray tank, even if the Skyray doesn't have line-of-sight.
** [[SuperSoldier Adeptus Astartes]] [[HoverTank Land Speeders]] often act as spotters for Whirlwind Artillery Tanks and other artillery units, using their speed and manoeuvrability to scout out enemy positions before relaying their positions to their allies. During 7th Edition this was represented by the Suppression Force Formation that teamed a Land Speeder with a pair of Whirlwinds while 8th Edition has the Datalink Telemetry Stratagem, with both these rules greatly increase the accuracy of Whirlwinds firing at targets visible to a nearby Land Speeder.
** The Master of Ordinance is an officer who is often attached to the command section of front line Astra Militarum infantry regiments to act as a liaison with the forces' artillery companies. These officers use various auspex-arrays, and other scanning devices, to relay targeting data to off-table artillery batteries to call down supporting barrages with far greater accuracy than would otherwise be possible. The 8th Edition rules represent this by giving the Master of Ordnance a one off artillery barrage attack (representing the model calling in fire from off table artillery units) and by allowing the player's artillery units to re-roll long range shots when there is a Master of Ordnance nearby.
** The 8th Edition Astra Militarum Stratagem 'Aerial Spotter' represents the aircraft of the Aeronutica Imperialis acting as spotters for the player's artillery, allowing them to re-roll failed hits.
** Early editions of the ''Epic'' version of the game system allowed [[HumongousMecha Battle Titans]] to purchase a Carapace Landing Pad that came with a recon [[HoverTank Land Speeder]]. This Land Speeder ranged ahead of its Titan partner, relaying targeting information that allowed the God-Machine to fire at targets of its line-of-sight with far greater accuracy.
** The [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Squat]] [[TankGoodness Colossus super-heavy vehicles]] from the 2nd Edition of the ''Epic'' version of the game system are always accompanied by an [[FutureCopter Iron Eagle Gyrocopter]] that maintains a constant data-link with the massive war machine’s fire control centres so that it can instantly relay accurate targeting data. In game terms this partnership allows the Colossus to use the Gyrocopter’s line of sight when firing its massive artillery weaponry.
** The 8th Edition Dark Angels {{Sourcebook}} introduced Talonmasters, the Ravenwing's version of a Lieutenant, who ride in specially adapted [[HoverTank Land Speeder]] outfitted with advanced auspex scanners and vox-links. The Talonmasters use these targeting mechanisms to direct the fire of his fellows, ensuring that there is nowhere for the Ravenwing's quarry to hide. In game terms the Talonmaster increases the accuracy of nearby Dark Angels and allows Ravenwing to ignore any cover their targets are sheltering behind.

* In ''[[Videogame/WarThunder War Thunder]]'''s ground forces game mode, various mechanics that incorporate spotting exist. Any enemy target hit by friendlies will have a marker pop up over it, to indicate its rough position (allowing you to use your machine guns or main cannon to spot a target). Most light tanks have the "scouting" ability, which allows them to scout an enemy vehicle they are aiming at via the gunsight or binoculars, which makes it visible as a marker on the map and pointed out via a marker in-world. All players can also click on the minimap to place a marker there, to manually bring a spot to the attention of their teammates. And finally, medium and light tanks and SPAA vehicles have the ability to call in an artillery strike.

** The Master of Ordinance is an officer who is often attached to the command section of front line Astra Militarum infantry regiments to act as a liaison with the forces’ artillery companies. These officers use various auspex-arrays, and other scanning devices, to relay targeting data to off-table artillery batteries to call down supporting barrages with far greater accuracy than would otherwise be possible.

** In bot the campaign and MultiPlayer of the ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' series, players can call in, and control, [[DeathFromAbove predator missiles, AC-130 gunships, or other types of air strikes on enemy positions.]]

** The 8th Edition Dark Angels {{Sourcebook}} introduced Talonmasters, the Ravenwing's version of a Lieutenant, who ride in specially adapted [[HoverTank Land Speeder]] outfitted with advanced auspex scanners and vox-links. The Talonmasters use these targeting mechanisms to direct the fire of his fellows, ensuring that there is nowhere for the Ranvenwing's quarry to hide. In game terms the Talonmaster increases the accuracy of nearby Dark Angels and allows Ravenwing to ignore any cover their targets are sheltering behind.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Commander Shepherd is given a PuppetGun and sent to [[spoilier: Rannoch]] to find a large power signature, suspected to be the main power core of an enemy base, so that s/he can call in the ''Normandy'' for an air strike. Soon after the airstrike, it is revealed that the power signature is actually [[spoiler: a concealed Reaper destroyer, and the rest of the mission has Shepherd painting the target so the ''Normandy'' and the Quarian Flotilla can bombard it from orbit.]]