I was a huge proponent of removing para from the game as a whole back in NC1. I haven't really been in many opfights since having returned, but I can say there are both positives and negatives to it being MIA right now.

I think re-introducing this mechanic is going to be tricky no matter how much buy-in the vols receive from the community. It's one of those double-edged swords where one side is so shiny and attractive that people are tricked into shallow consideration during discussion about the tail-end.

Ultimately, I would argue that para is indeed missing from the game right now, not simply in the 'it's not there' way, but in the 'something is missing here' way.

My ideal implementation for para would be that it dissipates upon damage, and that it did not affect the mouse-look mechanic. Leaving para on after damage is applied is really a bad idea. It becomes a ridiculously slippery slope and will eventually return para to what it was in nc1: he who paras first, wins.

To help melee with this, their para really should be ranged. If you look at law enforcement's tazers, they have the ability to use them in two ways-- one, a hand-held tazer that must connect with the target; two, an add-on cartridge for ranged firing. The range is extremely limited and after one fire that cartridge is boned. This mechanic would probably make the most sense for melee.