From my point of view, return fire has no tactical value in its current form. It’s just a “matrix” like ability.
If return fire has to stay, it should trigger only if the attack came from a side the unit has direct cover with (90° angle). Meaning, no cover, no return fire. Cover on 3 sides, return fire on a 270° angle. Arthron shield counts as cover. The tactical value is that you accept to keep line of sight, but if the enemy decides to shoot you you bite back. It would already feel less like an ability compensating some bad AI staying in the middle of the battlefield.
The best, from my point of view would be replacing it with suppression/covering fire. Like overwatch but:
- costs 1 AP more than overwatch
- restricted to burst weapons
- severe restriction on the cone width
- uses one round to set (with a chance to hit the target)
- uses one round if something moves in the cone
- triggers before enemy fires/ability/grenade and uses one round
- chance to kill or cripple it (or trigger grenade)
- imposes a penalty to aim (double circle radius)
Especially good at pinning a target.