the gimmick ideas sounds cool
let me try it this weeks.
I have try it, I feels like it was more fun and engaging (at least for me, I am still trying to collect their feedback though), but I soon realise that my grunt might never hit my player if they don't already have the attack dp that match the player's defense dp (I mean, if it's 5e, I can try FA, or gang up, or suppressive fire, or longer reach, etc. none of them required me to have dramatic attack dp). It sicks.
Am I doing it wrong? Or is it a problem of the combat rule? Any HR I should try?
Using Edge to reroll your players' hits, like SSDR said, is important to remember to do.
Changing your NPC dice pools is another thing you can do. I often stat my NPCs in a player-relative way. How many dice are your players rolling, typically? Starting Shadowrunners are often rolling 10-14. I like to say
12 is the magic dice pool number for a threat that's on-par with the players. For me this is like, the boss's lieutenants, or HTR, or elite corp security, or Force 6 spirits. If they're good but not as good as the runners, I will roll two less. Runners have the advantage, but a 10 dice pool npc will probably get a couple licks in too. For me this is like, Yakuza/mafia/triad fighters, cops and security forces, gang leaders. If they're not a big threat but we're still going to roll and maybe they'll get lucky, that's an 8 dice pool for me. Rent-a-cops, gang members, goons. Dice pool 6 opponents may as well not roll, that's like an angry civilian, your cousin who's been in a few fights, the shopkeeper swinging his bat. I roll that just to hear the dice clatter and narrate what happens.
Another thing you can do is make more attacks. If you roll enough, some of those will hit. See the earlier reply about increasing the number of enemies. Say your team's combat specialist can eliminate 2 targets per turn. Build that buffer into your attack plan. Use your social guile to taunt the combat specialist into attacking the target you want. Maybe there's a ganger in the front who's just itching to fight, he's always looks right at your combat specialist, cracking his knuckles or laughing at him. Stuff like that can goad your combat guy (who will go first and wipe the floor with this nobody) into attacking your disposable pawn while the guy in the back with cover takes aim and fires ak-97 bursts into your players. They might miss, but you lengthened his life and he could get another chance.
Another thing you can do is use offensive and defensive moves to your advantage, like your players do. Flank them for Edge. Take Aim for extra dice. Use Dodge, use Full Defense.