Jek1138

I think it should have a shallow arch such that it is unobstructed by short cover but not enough arch that it’s blocked by ceilings. It has a relatively short range to keep it in check in open areas but these changes will help it clear buildings.

Maybe make a workshop project to convert alien mag weapons into accelerated weapons. 1:1 project that converts one alien rifle into a mag rifle/shotgun 2:1 for sniper and machine gun. 0 cost (cost is you can’t sell the alien weapon for cash) and a few hours per conversion. This will allow you to cheaply build up a stockpile of upgraded base weapons over time. The need for the initial alien weapon will prevent you from fully outfitting your squad early before much alien contact so the ballistic weapons will still see a few early deployments.

Maybe something like Battle Star Galactica: Deadlock did. You issue orders (where to go, how fast to go, what weapons to use) then hit go and the next 5 seconds play out. Then you get to reassess the situation and make adjustments accordingly.

I really like the idea of different archetypes for different tiers. Lasers don’t get a shotgun but they do get a smg - lightweight and cheap burst fire with short range. Laser snipers get an upgrade project but mag tier has no sniper rifle. Maybe the mag machine gun has a tripod mode that takes a turn to deploy but allows you to empty the mag at 3 different targets the next turn.