RangeMelee (swords, hammers, axes, fists, ramming, other related weaponry improvised or otherwise)
> Short (scatter guns, cluster bombs, grenades, thrown or launched weapons, most infantry weapons)
> Medium (machine guns and rifles, most armored vehicle weaponry)
> Long (most beam weapons, missiles and bazookas, sniper rifles and cannons)
> Extreme (artillery, beam cannons, ship weaponry)
Each weapon is rated for an effective range. At certain distances almost any weapon becomes useless. Each consecutive integer of range outside your weapon's effective distance confers a -1 hit penalty. Two points of Mov can close a single integer of range in ideal conditions (calm weather, flat terrain, few to no obstacles), so Medium to Short/Long. Escaping melee range is extremely easy if your opponent does not pursue. Comparatively, the time to close from Extreme to Long can vary if the target is far enough away.
MeleeDedicated melee weapons such as beam sabres, beam lances, the hyper hammer and heat hawks are extremely deadly. If you get nailed, something's coming off. Unarmed grappling can be useful if you've been disarmed.
Your Mov is your "Hit" rating when performing melee attacks, it determines your success when striking, and halved it is your punching damage. An improvised weapon (severed arm, your gun, a trashed tank) in your hands is +1 damage. If you're wielding a statted melee weapon,
it's damage is used instead.
Swapping and ReloadingStowing a held weapon safely and retrieving and prepping a different one takes time. Swapping is
not a free action, and you're vulnerable while doing it. You can drop the weapon as a free action to swap quickly. Unlike in space, your weapon isn't lost if you drop it. You can go back to where it fell to pick it up again once things have quieted down.
Reloading is not a free action, it takes a full turn. You can move and reload at the same time at no penalty. If you're desperate, you can perform a
Snap Shot, which allows you to reload and fire in the same turn at a
-1 hit penalty.
In light of the range mechanic, I amped up all the hit ratings on the guns except the cannon because 4 damage.