As you know the current Melee vs Range imbalance is a hot topic. So here are some my suggestions to balance the equation between the 2.
Introduce a whole slew of new ranged skills/specialization for each class. There are so many ranged weapons out there, you can create a whole new system added to the melee/ranged skills as it is now.
And not to shaft the ranges, they can receive boosts to their defensive abilities, whatever that may be.
Specialization in these throwing weapons:
Darts
Daggers
Shuriken
Spears/Javelin
Im sure theres more here but I can't think of any beyond the 4.
Also some alternatives are give Melees MOUNTED SPECIALIZATION. Introduce horses or use the current Stryders and give melees the ability to fight mounted or maybe this is a specialization only for TANKS. Other melees who are not tanks can get some ranged skills to balance with their ranged counter-parts.
Interesting ideas, but how do you exactly determine which classes are tanks? By the icon ingame that is shown in clan list and partys? Or by some other means? I'd rather mount an attack riding on a strider than take yet another new weapon for my destroyer. So, is a destroyer considered as a tank? We have more hp than any of the knights, but we lack shield masterys and hate.
(and I'd like to ride a strider more than throw some javelins or the likes)
hmm The Tanks I was thinking about are more defensive tanks like Paladins, Dark Avengers, Temple Knights and the Shillien Knight. Im sorry I dont know the equivaland on the Orc side, but Im sure there is one and that one should be included in this. But again its only a suggestion, I think NCSOFT would need to sit down and "assess" who would get mounted skills.
Heck when introducing mounted warriors, why not also include a mini game. like in the old medieval days where you had lancing, when 2 riders would face each other down the line with lances. Could be epic! Just a thought.
I mean think about it. The evolution of medieval warfare, the next step is the mounted warrior/knight. Calvary was very important in warfare in the medieval ages and it should be here in Aden as well.
Yes yes yes, I would definetely want to have jousting tournaments :P Would add much content to the game. Also, mounted charges would spice up sieges alot :P And then striders would be more than just a way of faster transportation.
For orcs, no class is defensive. From Fighter classes, Destroyer is slow, and deals huge amounts of dmg and Tyrant is flexible and can do about any role to some extent. We're also a race that doesnt have hate or shield masterys :)
I'd say that Tank classes, TK/SK, DA/Pala and also Warlords should be able to be cavalry units. Same option should be given to Destroyers and Bounty Hunters too, as they're perhaps the "tanks" of their races and are generally slow(and WS has his golems and all so his role is not assault). Now then, this would speed up the slowest classes and add in some content. But, it would leave Gladiators out of all the fun, so they perhaps should get a dash-like skill. Gladis imho should be a bit faster, after all, they're duelists, not hulking tanks. So, all the slow classes would get something, and NCSoft would make striders more usefull, and could also add in a few more items ;) Or make Lances the weapon to be used when you're mounted on a strider. Make it live up to its name :)