Forgotten Tales

From what I can tell, range value indicates how far (or close) a weapon can activate. Shouldn't range also indicate effectiveness?

Take a range weapon (bow, crossbow, etc) with range 8: it can work at any distance up to 8, but its effectiveness (ie damage) increases within a specified "best" range, say 3 - 5. Obviously, adjustments to this formula are required for lower range values. Similarly, since melee weapons only have a range of 1 or 2, then their effectiveness increases whenever in combat at range 1 distance.

Would this work for spells also?

Presumably it would (varying damage by range), but it would over-complicate game mechanics IMHO

I'm just throwing out the idea. GMs can decide what to include or not

Yes - it may be a useful idea

If implemented, I believe it should effect all characters, especially the two ranged classes. Archers and mages of course. Not really a big fan of this idea as I am an archer.

I don't think this will be implemented. To be equitable it would also have to affect throwing daggers /axes and the like.