its obvious you played vs mages.. not mage YOURSELF..
reason a mage do great dmg on other PLAYERS is.. ppl tend to optimize pdef... NOT mdef.. for obvious reasons.
regarding mana barrier that many mentioned... GO.. go vs mobs and atk WHITHOUT mana barrier.. and see how fun THAT is..
even mobs hit mages like PAPER.. and try "heal" your mana up if you too low to replenish by killing mob...
for obvious reasons mages or ANY robe user get targetted by mobs (that atk the "weakest" char).. because robe gives LOUSY p.def...
Even a healer in light can withstand surviving in pve BETTER than a nuker.
When bringing in PVP in this subject.. so many things can be pointed out.. but lets look at PVE.. as DD they really not even close to "most" DD with equal gear.. exception would be summmoners (poorest of ALL DD).
Bear in mind.. nukers are AOE DD¨s.. go single hunt with nuker and you will use your laptop as frisbee!!!! So the mana barrier is a survival skill necessary for AoE.
In PvP its more a 1hit 1kill aspect.. and when it come to that.. 80%+ p.skill crt rate >30% m.crit rate cap... its then purely based on m.def for that physical DD (that basically DONT put priority) and come within range to atk.
Once within range.. its like carving with a hot knife in butter for the physical DD.. so the argue is.. mana barrier.. fine.. protects 1-2hits.. and then nuker is DEFENSELESS due to NO mana left!!! so can do much at all...
If you argue about a "geared enough" nuker... well.. get back to the "equal geared" and you will see the difference, once you TRIED YOURSELF!!!!
Me.. i put my nuker on hold at 115 for LONG time now.. since my other chars doing MUCH better hunting.. (incl DK, Maestro, Evi and Dread).. my Yul is also on hold since need more gear.. basically my nuker CANT hunt without my tank taking aggro..