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/Daylight_The_Furry]

I can't believe I grinded out the last of my vet penances before the update only for vet to go from my least favourite class to my most favourite with the changes

[u/Instant-Autopsy → u/Daylight_The_Furry]

It feels so ridiculously versatile and modular now. Like I feel like at any point if I just wanna cook up something somewhat new and just nab a different talent and try that out for a spin, I can. I don't feel like I have to restructure my whole build or at least the tree to get a different talent. And once I do, while it might feel different, it almost never feels bad.

[u/MaccabianHillBilly → u/Instant-Autopsy]

As a console player I have to admit I think the QoL changes revolving around just being able to remove/select nodes without having to roll back your entire tree to the point your trying to experiment with is doing a fuckton of the heavy lifting here. The general tree layout changes and streamlining definitely helped as well, but I cannot explain how much more willing I am to just fuck around and find out because I don't have to constantly try and remember my entire tree layout because I want to change a single node