Tough to blame parry as the culprit if nobody is holding a shield. If it was just parry, why would we be using parry if there are no dexxers..?
You don't need a shield to parry if you have bushido.... in fact, you can't parry with a shield if bushio is even 0.1 point higher than Parry.
you can't evade without Parry btw therefore Parry is the culprit, Furthermore, what was the most common template in pvp before parry broke focus spec? Wrestle/Anatomy - Parry-mage (with refinements & fish pies).
Evasion isn't a passive damage mitigation Parry itself is, it only lasts up to a maximum of 10 seconds (requires anatomy to reach 10s duration), and if you get disarmed it's nullified until the cooldown expires...
just the fact you can cast spells, offense, defense, or utility while maintaining the maximum 67.5% (typically 65.8% w/refined 75 fire) chance to dodge/block is ridiculous, in addition, you're now able to use confidence (healing on the move) and you don't sacrifice even the slightest bit of offense for any of it. So, the defense should be toned down if certain things are combined with it.
come to think of it, Cetrics original suggestion of Splintering being nerfed on Spell-channeling weapons... would actually be a near perfect solution to Evasion. cut the duration by 50% (so it's still useful) but timing would become more important, as the cooldown would remain the same. Again, the issue is when mages use it.
Evasion is one of the only things that actually works somewhat fairly when used between both mages & dexers...
One of them will typically swap between an archer and a standard parry weave ninja refined mage for super survivability, but they have little offensive output.
Sure the offense is weaker if you're comparing it to that of an evasion-nerve-mage, but, so is the defense using the same comparison... seems to me that's as close to the definition of Overpowered as you can get, is it not?
I do agree on fish-pies, any consumable with more power than it should have is bad A F for pvp...
Hey, when's the last time you saw someone get killed by an Evade-Dexer?
Hey buddy, that's what I thought when I noticed
@Cetric removed the original #1 / 6 suggestions... stating exactly what the main problem was (now that it suits your guys argument It's obvious why =D)
Here's what his original suggestion was (now removed) - lol.....
These are things I would propose:
1. Splinter should not proc on special abilities if the weapon has spell channeling. This would make it so it can proc on base hits for a tank mage, but more dexer centric where it would proc for dexers in special abilities besides disarm. Dexers today really need splinter, and for tank mages it feels like too much. Alternatively make this based off of casting skill amount. I am happy with this if it doesn't get altered, but I thought with some players seeking nerfs to splinter, this would be better than an outright redo. Another case could be made for splintering effect to have an immunity period after proc, or the bleed effect not cause disruption
If weapon = Spell-channeling. Evasion duration reduced by 50%. typically for most "mage templates" the duration at 50% would be close to 4 seconds. (better yet, tie it to Magery, instead of "Spell-channeling")
I'd be for your original splintering suggestion, personally I think it's pretty f***ing stupid that mages can use splintering weapons at all, I wouldn't stop there though. I'd apply a 50% reduction in duration/effect on splintering to any template that has a ranged weapon skill as well. splintering weapon (after the initial duration adjustment - before it was a "common" property) has never been a problem, when melee uses it... literally
100% of the problems that occurred with splintering had to do with Ranged Weapons Or Spells.
The one problem I had with the suggestion though, was that any weapon with "Spell channeling" & Splintering Weapon, would become less useful even if you were to use it on a non-caster. hence why I suggested it should be tied to the skills your character has, as opposed to other properties spawning on the item itself.