You probably need more guns. Pistols are cheap and effective at close range. Survival rifles cost a bit more but give you important range. Assault Rifles are great at wounding and weakening enemies as they approach, but are rather more expensive.
Fortifications and cover are helpful against enemies using ranged weapons, but can make it hard for your pawns to support each other when swarmed by tribesmen.
What I usually do is mass-produce pistols at my machining table until everybody has one, then give rifles to my best shooters, and a gladius to any brawler. Pistols stand in a close group to support each other, rifles wound enemies at a distance and target/suppress enemy ranged units. Brawlers target incoming melee, with pistol backup.
I'm not a pro at this game, but it seems to work reasonably well.
Fortifications and cover are helpful against enemies using ranged weapons, but can make it hard for your pawns to support each other when swarmed by tribesmen.
What I usually do is mass-produce pistols at my machining table until everybody has one, then give rifles to my best shooters, and a gladius to any brawler. Pistols stand in a close group to support each other, rifles wound enemies at a distance and target/suppress enemy ranged units. Brawlers target incoming melee, with pistol backup.
I'm not a pro at this game, but it seems to work reasonably well.