madned

resource level seems to work on 1=1 limited 2=2 4=3 8=4 adequate type arrangement i think the next breakpoint is 12=5, but i might be wrong. i think 21=7 abundant which seems to indicate 16=6 now you may be thinking how the heck do i get over 20 units of resource? mostly, you'll have to use a late reticulan tech let you upgrade mine efficiency to double.

it's true that the human projectile weapons kinda suck out of box. however, take an improved accellerator, gyro, computerized scope, and LR ammo. and you can reach out and touch someone at 54 m w/ 99ish % accuracy and even pick out body parts you like. and better than rockets or grenades you can do it instantly, and don't have to change magazines between shots. laser cannon are powerful, but they don't get better. when using precision shot mode sniper rifles have a heck of a lot more damage potential. and just Try to take out a battlearmored reticulan with a laser...aaaagh. to make the human firearms work they need a lot of attachments, on the other hand they're readily available for fewer resources than the lasers. as far as the role of a sniper. primarily to take out selected targets with precision, although i think in the army they designate such ppl as designated marksmen. in the end it doesn't matter if they're near or far, although being far away tends to help the whole surviving to tell the tale part, and certainly differentiates between a sniper and any old shooter.