[Kameron8]

Outside making frontal parries and riposte more reliable, I don't see how this skill is in need of any change from its current iteration, or in the context of OP's post in need of more counterplay options, as they certainly exist.

Frontal parries are so strong that this alone makes it more debilitating to deal with as a Spear/Axe/Sword user than a dagger user stabbing from the front.  Counterplay exists for some class setups, but it's very much a near-auto-lose scenario for a few others.  Unless you somehow manage to luck out and never proc an 85% Stalemate, I guess.

I would at the very least like to see Obscure grant temporary immunity to it for a few rounds.