Here's a rebalance of the human technology that I've been thinking for a while.
The goals are:
- Eliminate redundancy : Try to be self-complete (no need to keep any stock firearm), and each weapon should have a somewhat unique purpose.
- Balance pistol(s).
2 unusual "gimmicks" that I've employed are :
- Flat TU cost, for pistol. This means the weapon stays useful for slightly longer in the campaign, since your experienced soldiers shoot slightly "faster" as their TU rise.
- Close combat weapons can't fire beyond 20 tiles, which happens to be exactly the visual range (you get enemy number icon if you're in range, and it's also the range for reaction fire)
General notes :
- Compact rifle and shotgun are CQB weapons. The former is slightly better in attack (thanks to a good automatic fire and general speed), the latter is slightly safer for overwatch (thanks to better snap accuracy and damage)
- For soldiers who don't wield any of the above, the Handgun is very reliable personal defense weapon. Reloads become problematic if you go trigger happy.
- Machine gun has the best automatic fire. The unlimited range lets assist your troops from long distances.
- If stray bullets are too risky or your soldiers too frail, use the precision rifle instead. Unrivaled accuracy, but the weapon is too awkward to hit moving targets during enemy turn (no snap shot = no reaction fire). The weapon can also let you fire single rockets with the same accuracy.
