don't stay in the open, if you have to build a quick base to snipe someone then do it. just jumping in the open with the other guy isn't going to solve anything, and for all you know as soon as you snipe that guy you're gonna get sniped from a passerby
In solo sniper mode, if you're in a close gun fight with someone, build a wall before they shoot, then it'll usually break, get your shot off and then build a wall. Make sure you limit the amount of times they can hit you. Also don't jump, everyone jumps, wait until they land to take your most accurate shot, and other then that, i'd take a sniper, two hr, or a HR and crossbow, those are good for no scopes. Hope it helps brother!
It feels as though once you build a base you basically paint a big red bulleye on your back and you have people rushing it & dropping in the top and attemping to chop it down from underneath it, how do you overcome this problem?
everyone else will be building bases at top 10 point of the game, so it's just one more target for the people on the ground, but just look around or if you're really getting scared just move somewhere and build another one. i also recommend to build a bigger base when you're done building it, as in adding floors to it and pyramids, a lot of pyramids (you can use them as ramps except they conserve more space than just adding a floor and a ramp)
i don't even recommend stairway to heaven, it's boring and it's so easy for you to die holy shit.
i did see a video on youtube of how this one guy rocket rided 3 of his teammates down onto the last players base from a sky base, was cool but i bet that was only a one time thing and will most likely never happen again