The ranger's melée fighting capabilities are truly dreadful. In practical terms, the only way in which they are better than those of a mage or lich is their ability to master Armsmastery. A ranger's only advantage over these classes in actual melée weapon skills is a wider choice of weapons. The paladin, with the ability to GM armour, axe, and (I think) cudgel is a hugely better fighter close in.Admittedly, a ranger's magic skills tend more towards combat than a paladin's do, with ability to get expert in Elemental rather than Light, but both are picayune.
IMO, the druid, with GM in dodging and unarmed, is a much better melée fighter than the ranger, and at range, I suspect that an assassin armed with Trolleri would be every bit as good as a ranger armed with Everstrike.
