[WEAPON] UfoExtender Alternate Research Tree (Laser Weapons)

[ArivaldH]

I have created a little ruleset that mimicks UfoExtender Alternate Research Tree (option 1) regarding Laser Weapons.
What does it change:
- Laser Pistol require "Ufo Power Source", and "Elerium-115" research.
- All Laser weapons needs "Elerium-115" in manufacturing (1 - pistol, 2 -rifle and 3 - heavy)
- Heavy Laser requires "Alien Alloys" as research and in manufacturing (1 Alien Alloy for Heavy Laser).

My reasoning is that:
- Laser weapons must have "high density" power source. Miniaturized UPS (*Ufo Power Source) with little elerium will do the trick.
- It's less powerful than Plasma weapons, and UPS is used as an energy generation unit, not as particle accelerator mode as in Plasma Weapons. Thus lower power requirements that will not require Elerium in clips.
- Heavy Laser construction must be strong enough to withstand greatest energy output of Miniaturized UPS. Thus it uses Alien Alloys for construction, and would definitely be extremely heavy without it if it would use "classic" earth alloys.

In essence it does increase initial challange, and lengthen the duration for which one must use Earth-based weapons.

Please share your thought with me!

[Starving Poet]

That a nice little change, but from a players perspective, unless you somehow also gate plasma research, this actually makes lasers harder to acquire than plasma weapons.

[ArivaldH]

Let's calculate Laser Rifle vs. Plasma Rifle
Laser Weapons + UFO Power Source + Elerium + Laser Pistol + Laser Rifle = 50 + 450 + 450 + 100  + 300 = 1350 (research * days)
Plasma Rifle + Plasma Rifle Clip = 700 + 400 = 1100 (research*days)
Heavy Plasma + Heavy Plasma Clip = 800 + 400 = 1200 (research*days)

So you're definitely right. But I believe that Laser Rifle is better than Plasma Rifle.
Unlimited ammo, costless use, quicker shots (but less precise) are a good thing. Laser Rifle can be used effectively till the end of the game. However one would need to replenish clips for Plasma Rifle.
Against Heavy Plasma this doesn't fare well... that's true.

I personally use this change with conjunction with some Plasma Research changes (https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,2765.msg29088.html#msg29088) although I have "upgraded" research costs and manufacture costs by presented ruleset.