I mostly play with a mage or an assassin archer, but when I tried using melee with them it seemed terrible. I don't see how a character would survive for long because I used to get basically on shot by mages.

It seems impossible to fight dragons too.

How do you make melee work well?

Most definitely not. It consist of running in front of the enemy and hacking and slashing. Blocking also helps with surviving this process. Melee weapons can be more effective if enchanted. You will also have to use smithing if you want to increase its damage. If you're going to be a warrior, it is definitely recommended to use the Smithing skill.

Having high health is an obvious advantage. Then there is improved armor w/ resistance enchantments as well as improved enchanted weapons. Even on master one can become quite powerful. As a matter of fact there are most that would argue being overpowered.

Daedric armor and weapons can definitely make one overpowered, even on Master difficulty. If you're to improve the living hell out of weapons and armor with smithing.

It's probably one of the most over-powered in my opinion, if you're duel-wielding two powerful swords, you can take down anything quickly.

It's the most powerful playstyle in the game, you don't even have to optimize it.

Mages can be a problem when you're melee. Lightning bolts can usually one-shot you on Master. That's why you either invested in Archery as a warrior or Enchanting for magic resistance. Enchanting is a wee bit overpowered (and also safer), and you can't help but feel your rage satisfied when you're walking straight up to a mage and lob his magic-casting head off.

Assuming that we're not "abusing" crafting, I contend that Summoner/Illusionist Mage is the most powerful endgame.

Your summons deal much more damage than a warrior's un-augmented weapons, and there's much less personal risk.

Ah...I misread this part. The reason why you are having trouble is in the first part of that comment. I'd bet you have a low health build with both of those characters.

I would say Melee is the most powerful, right after 'pimped out stealth' of course. (Like 40x stealth attack damage, insta kill anything ingame) Then magic, with bows/crossbows probably at the bottom.

If you're using melee on your mage, that's why it's bad. It's going to svck until you level it up to match your characters level. (I.e. if you're a level 30 mage with 20 one handed, you aint going to be killing anyone too easily)

You become the most dangerous person on the planet when you take dual-wielding perks.

And no, melee is not weak.

Orc Beserker Rage + Dual Wielding + Elemental Fury = You win the game

And that's just without enchanted weapons.

Enchanting and smithing is probably the best way to improve your melee I found, but strongly consider your armour and also how to deal with magic using enemies. If anything I found melee to be too easy rather than the other way around.

Balance between underpowered and overpowered?

Bound weapons.

Probably in the early parts of your game, but later I don't find the damage they do to be enough.