Dunk

IF you were to add monsters - the only way that I would see that as a viable option is to have the XP gained be considered "Smuggled" XP. You can only convert a certain amount of XP at a time - and upon being killed, you lose the same % as you would if you were foraging. However - the dropped XP does not get picked up by the other player - otherwise, it would turn into the same dead zone as it is now. I think the biggest issue with TA is the unbalanced PVP system at this point in time - ranger and mages have distinct advantages so that limits the number of players who want to participate in PVP once they realize these disadvantages. 

That is a very good idea; "smuggled experience" also prevents a large amount of experience coming in by having it vanish on death!

This game is far from pay to win, its similar to runescape before there was any squeal of fortune crap, there is absolutely nothing in the cash shop that will imbalance pvp/pvm for free to play players and cash shop players.