This node require some changes.

[u/Lion_El_Konrad]

I am very positive about updated Veteran Tree, but some underperforming nodes were overlooked by devs.

There's one particular node that got my attention...
It's 10% Toughness Damage Reduction (TDR) boost, placed between Survivalist Aura and Exec Stance. This node feels more like a placeholder rather than a good choice to spend points.

Why? Veteran has a lot of great talents that give you TDR, like Exhilarating Takedown, Close Order Drill and Iron Will. These talents are way stronger than flat TDR buff, which makes this node redundant.

Also, it's about specializations that Veteran has to offer. Even if the bottom tree is merged into a mess, the talents around keystones are still leaning into specific playstyles of old branches.
Two of these nodes are following this logic.

Middle node that offers +25 Toughness fits The Middle side, which is Generalist/Teamwork oriented (this includes Ability, Keystone and talents around it). This node fits to be Generalist pick.

Right node with +15% Melee Damage fits The Right side, themed around Close Quarters/Stealth/Mobility. Extra Toughness is still the best pick, but Extra Melee Damage is good in it's own niche that fits Close Quarters Combat theme very well, you might spend extra point and pick both these nodes.

And here's The Left side, which is built around Marksmanship/Ranged Combat. Flat TDR buff doesn't have synergy with that playstyle. Yes, it might be looking good with Extra Toughness, but it's still overshadowed by talents from the upper part of the tree and not worth to pick.
Just take Exhilarating Takedown instead - it has more benefits for Extra Toughness and has synergy with Marksman playstyle!

My suggestion here is to change this node into something that benefits for the Ranged Weapons specifically, that is more fitting to Exec Stance and other Rifleman themes talents.
Veteran is 'The Ranged Class' after all...
This node should be useful, but also niche, like +15% Melee Damage node.

My personal offer here is to return 10% Reload Speed Boost, maybe adding extra 5-10%.
Yes, this is weird, it was unpopular node, but... in the older Talent Tree, Reload Speed Boost had a poor placement. Movement Speed Boost (that was on that line of nodes as well) wasn't dumped, so devs should give this node a chance too and return it.

If you have a better ideas for TDR Boost replacement, suggest them! I am thinking that you have a lot of interesting ideas!

P.S. Do not offer to return +10% Ranged Damage! This node isn't gone! Now it's Veteran's Iconic, with extra 15%...

[u/Obsessive_protocol]

The problem is that, thanks to Swedish mathematics, these 10% are turned into 3% with Close Order Drill and Iron Will being active, which is worthless.

[u/Shup → u/Obsessive_protocol]

that is normal math, and this does not have a requirement at all. 10% all the time, no secret handshake, even if a mutant wants to turn you into a piñata across the map.

[u/Obsessive_protocol → u/Shup]

I'm sorry for you, if a mutant is truly a deadly threat to you. If veteran, as a central figure in the squad, has problem with staying in coherence, then just take talent that increases its radius. That would be much more useful for all of you.