X-COM UFO Defense, lasers were the T2 weapon. In fact, an insanely useful weapon. Disregarding the bit where heavy laser weapons manufacturing was extremely profitable, laser weapons in UFO Defense required no ammo making them still viable even after you get plasma stuff. And enemies like the
very dangerous Sectopod are vulnerable specifically to lasers.In XCOM:EU, lasers are the T2 weapon.
They're also a viable interceptor weapon as well. Granted, the Interceptor laser cannon explicitly has a short range drawback, but even with that drawback in 100% consideration when the laser cannon is mounted on a simple Interceptor with no upgrades, it easily outperforms past weapons.
In XCOM2, magnetic weapons are the T2 gun.
So based on XCOM games, generally laser weapons are pretty much the same as railguns and the like. Of course, their exact advantages and niches and whatnot will be varied. After all, what's the point of a forum game if the GM can't get creative/use fiat. But based on all the available information, using lasers won't handicap us in any field.
Regardless. I thought about it, and we don't really need better weapons. Air scales can be tipped with a revision, and we're already overkilling on ground. Though a revision or something along those lines to help
Design: "Gladiator" Superheavy Mechanized Augmented CyborgAlloy token; UFO Power Core token; Doctrine token; Meld tokenMELD is quite fun to play around with. Cybernetic nanomachines that connect pretty much anything no matter how much they (used to) hate each other. Amazing! And they just
gave it to us!
As it turns out, one surprisingly easy use of it is cybernetics. Both for I/O and for implants that don't insult the body's parents and get rejected. So we took the step that any group presented with easy cybernetics would naturally take: large robotic exoskeletal combat suits. SMACs for short. Sure, our operatives maaay have to get every limb amputated for cybernetic versions but hey,
progress.The Gladiator SMAC is a fairly large... "suit of armor". Powered using technology derived from the alien UFO power cores, it's capable of tremendous feats. While the bulk of it is made out of (still very strong) conventional metals, we've employed an alien alloy internal skeleton, and armor plating. Extremely durable, yet not extremely heavy; and the Alloy skeleton cuts down on requirements for other conventional metals. It may be a big target but have fun knocking it down. SMAC Operatives remove their bionic limbs and situate themselves into the suit, where they gain control of the mechanized limbs and all its fancy features. And no, their head is not sticking out. It is fully inside the armor. We don't know why people were suggesting that.
TACTICAL is, of course, integrated into the whole SMAC. And for bonus points since the limbs are mechanical, TACTICAL gets to take on a more active role in aim assist. From slightly adjusting aim to aim assist to autonomous shooting. The operator chooses what level when.
A mode also exists to show only TACTICAL data along with some basic wireframes for obstacles/cover, rather than a full visual feed. In case the pancake aliens' cognitohazards can propagate through visual feeds.
Its weapon is pretty much the same overkill 20mm cannon used by the Guardian. Well, no, its main weapon. The other arm hosts an extending alien alloy blade to
shiv engage in melee combat with enemy combatants. The extremely strong blade, skeleton, and power behind the skeleton, should lead to devastating damage. Against the judgement of saner minds, our soldiers will be excited to know this blade can be launched outwards at blistering speeds. And, if intact after impact, retrieved.
SMAC Pilots can hop out in the field. While their bionics aren't immensely strong and don't give them superhuman abilities or anything, they can be folded to enter the SMAC and unfolded to leave it. Allowing for engagement in tighter spaces. An unpiloted SMAC continues to operate within the TACTICAL network as a stationary weapons platform, able of turning itself and aiming/firing its weapon, but not of proper locomotion. Meaning that even when a SMAC is disembarked from, it continues to be a menacing asset.
Gladiators also are prepared for stowing of (on their exterior) mission-relevant items for immediate use in the field. From medical supplies, to pretty much anything an engineer would want (no more lugging around guardian turrets and drones and more!) and, well, anything. Deployable items can be ejected from wherever they're held to be deployed without requirement for manual deployment. For instance, a stowed Guardian turret could be ejected off the back of a SMAC and deploy on the ground behind it.
Importantly, SMAC operators are trained specifically for this. Regular combat is of course included (and it's not completely exclusive to SMAC combat) for disembarking, but we aren't just throwing existing soldiers into these exosuits. They'll be properly trained to exploit their suit to the fullest of its potential. Also trained not to brag about it to the rookies.
(This part skipped if no Doctrinal token)Overall. A Gladiator SMAC is equipped with a 20mm autocannon and a retractable alien alloy blade, each one a vaguely human-like arm. TACTICAL integration allows for autonomous firing and/or aim assist, and operators can disembark to fight on foot (using foldable bionics) while the Gladiator stays in place using its cannon. Lots of potential for storage, including easy ejecting for deployable items to cancel out manual requirements. UFO Power Core-based tech gives it enough power for
immense strength and can launch the alloy blade forward at extreme speeds (to be retrieved if intact). Alien alloys have been integrated as exterior armor plating and as a skeleton for maximum strength (and skeleton should mean less conventional metals needed to maintain integrity). Soldiers are properly trained for it all, and MELD is of course used to allow humans to pilot these suits in the first place. No part of an operator's body is exposed to the outside, and the suit's visual+TACTICAL feed can be replaced with a basic wireframe/TACTICAL info feed in case of cognitohazards. Lots o' TACTICAL sensors and whatnot.
A devastating and, importantly, versatile weapon.
DESIGNS
Project Nail(Coilgun) | () :
TACTIC-AL-LY 'Blind Man'(Armor) | (2): 0cra, AseaHeru
"Gladiator" SMAC (1): Chiefwaffles
BLACK MARKET VOTING(CHOOSE TWO OPTIONS)
Veteran Personnel | (1) : AseaHeru
Elerium | (2) : AseaHeru, Chiefwaffles
Advanced Weaponry | () :
Doctrinal Support | (1) : Chiefwaffles
Doctrinal support isn't
essential but is preferred since it's a new unit/squad type. Alien Power Core token can be switched out for the Elerium token from the black market if needed; I figured the power core made more since as while very good at power generation, it's not huge and the token is used to make technology
based off of it -- not just copying it and putting it into the schematics.
The SMAC should push our infantry advantage; better than that, it pushes it in a different way so the aliens will have a headache dealing with it all. Also gives us some useful experience in general power/alloy engineering areas.