I personally love the simplicity of weapons, although I am still open for change. I think the weapons should work by you changing them; altering them in a weapons menu. Apparent to the "loadout" menu in TF2, this game should also have that type of option. For instance, instead of having a rifle, you might prefer a smg, and by changing the "item 4" slot in this menu, that would switch from a rifle to an smg. you should be able to switch every weapon with at least one difference, while still maintaining balance.

If the smg was added into the game, it should be just as good as a rifle, but in a different way. Maybe it's less accurate, no ironsights, and less damage to people and blocks, etc. Although it is faster firing, bigger clip size, faster reload great for close combat, then it's a trade off.

There could be a shotgun, to instant kill no matter where shot, but only at point blank, otherwise 2 blocks away might minimize damage by 25%, 3 block 40%, 4 blocks 55%, and so on till like, 5 damage at 10 blocks away. Slow reload, 4-6 shots per "clip", although it scatters pellets, and might have 8 pellets a shot. If there was a shotgun and an smg, that would eliminate the need for a sniper, seeing as to how that's what the rifle would become.

That should be all the improvement on guns, giving enough vary and balance to attract players to encounter new scenarios. However, you could still switch grenades to other things, as well as the two tools (below is a list of good changes). The only item that i think should not change (or at least i haven't though of a good prior) is the blocks. What would replace it if so, comment some ideas.

Grenades could be replaced by TNT, and Land mines.
TNT (dynamite) blow up a 5X5X5 radius of squares, while damaging blocks to 7X7X7, instead of having grenade, which is 3X3X3, with no "hurting" blocks further than that. The trade off is that there is no "shrapnel" that does damage up to 9 blocks, and it would not do a lot of damage at all, maybe like 20 damage point blank (as opposed to 600 damage point blank). You could hold 2 TNT at a time, and would spawn with both of them. They don't work in water.
Land Mines would not blow up any blocks (other than ones on top of it), but would do a lot of damage. Land mines would exist until replaced by landmines dropped by same owner. You can only have 3 landmines on the field at one time, and you spawn with 1. Landmines would be detectable by map if the sky was directly over head, but if it was in a tunnel, or under a block, it's fine. mines dont disappear on the players death, only after it explodes, or if a the individuals mine limit is exceeded (3 mines down at one time), if a fourth mine is put down, the first vanishes, if a fifth is down, the second one goes away, and so on. Land mines would only go off if a player is 1 or less blocks away, and up to 2 blocks below ground; if a mine is 3 blocks down, it will not blow up. That being said, mines do not "take up" one space, and blocks can be built over top of them. They do not work in water.

The pickax should be able to be replaced by a lantern, or an axe, Which would do damage if it hits an enemy! Yay, melee battles. The bad thing is, it takes 5 hits to destroy a block, and it would hit slower, a bit slower than the pick, but a bit faster than the shovel. Damage is negotiable, but 20 sounds fair. If you've ever played TF2, you would know that melee weapons are actually useful in some circumstances.
The Lantern would light up blocks very bright if like 3 blocks away, but would start to dim at like 5 locks, so the next time your down building a tunnel, and you can't see anything, think, since I dont even use my pick for making tunnels, maybe I would want to switch it for some visibility. The lantern would automatically turn on once the game reaches that certain pitch of darkness. And, you can place it down to brighten things up while being stationary, so maybe you can light up that underground bunker of yours.

I'm not sure what the shovel could be replaced with, but thanks for reading this nice long thought of mine, now it's your turn. I'd be elated to hear your ideas for the shovel or blocks replacement, or some ideas for already covered items. So give me some feedback by commenting and that would be great!

I think the pickax should hurt the enemy up close too. That's me trying hard to agree with what you've got to say, bro.

thanks? i guess

I like this idea.