Prefered weapon? Which one?

[arras]

Somewhere in manual of FAQ I saw note about preferred weapon of each mercenary. Sometimes there is note in mercs bio that he is skilled with heavy weapons or he is happy to fight with grenade launcher. Also starting gear might suggest something. But then, most of the mercs starting gear consist of pistol or smg and only few bios contain remarks about preferred weapon.

Howe can I find out weapon of choice for particular mercenary?

[Reinforce]

Most of the mercs are skilled with Autoweapons. Which is basicly anything with a burst mode from what I understand. However don't worry to much about it I've never seen any differance in the mercs skill to hit anything even if there notes say they are heavy weapon pros and I give them sniper rifles.
 
 
Much Love,
Reinforce

[SlickWilhelm]

I agree with Reinforced. I usually don't purchase their weapons when I hire Mercs. It's usually cheaper to purchase the weapons on DJ's site. 

[arras]

Tanks for replies [:)]
Bye the way, isn't there xml file with mercs statistics?
Also is there way of adding custom mercenaries? Original selection is quit limited. I don't see slider next to mercenary selection interface.

[Anthropoid]

Playing Norm-Diff usng 1.08 Patch Foraven's Fine-Tuned Mod, I've got almost all my nine Mercs (three squads of three) equipped with semi-auto long-rifles with decent range (7.62x39 SKS or 7.62x51 M-14 for low Acc guys; 7.62x51 HK417 or HKG3A3 or RK62 or similar weapon for reasonably high Acc guys), as well as everyone also carries an SMG (Kisparis 9x18, the HK 9x19, or .45, etc.). Each Merc always carries 80 to 150 rounds of ammo for both his primary long-rifle and SMG weapon, as well as at least 3 mini-grenades and one 100% med kit. One stronger guy per squad works as a grenadier and carries 12 or 15 grenades or mini-grenades. Each squad has one high Acc guy (>75), one leader (Ldshp >50), one Mech (Mech >45), and one Grenadier (Str >75).
 
Putting guns with the "High Accuracy" PRO and with longer-range in the hands of the Mercs with high Acc and also equipping those guns with scopes or lasers also seems to make a big difference. I've also been experimenting with equipping my character (who has Stealthy) and other high Acc high Agility Mercs with silencers and letting them pick off a few enemies at the start of a battle, but leaving my other guys inactive for a few turns and it seems to work.
 
With 15 to 25 mini-grenades/full size grenades per three-man squad, they seem to be pretty deadly at either short medium or long range; I have ONCE had a Merc get badly wounded when boarding the Battleship (got careless and a hidden ambusher surprised Rhino) but I killed the ambusher and managed to save Rhino with medkits.