[Sawrock]

Here's the thing about balancing for 1v1s: if you want to make a situation where two fully-leveled characters both have a decent chance of winning, you will absolutely not have a variety of abilities, or alternatively there will be no meaningful difference between the abilities. An enemy class having an ability is a problem, in the sense you need to overcome it or figure out how to work the least in their favor. If you have a solution for every problem the enemy can give you, and the enemy does the same for you, then no class is unique, no specialties exist, and it's more of going through the motions.

In no way do I think that 1v1 combat roleplay does no matter. It absolutely does matter. I've had a lot of solo combat moments and a lot of team fight moments. I would absolutely rather have my teeth kicked in by an encounter that I, by almost no means, I could win... in opposition of always having a decent chance to win. I want my characters to be things, to be representative of their fighting styles and, well, character. I would rather lose and roleplay than always inherently seek a win. This doesn't mean that people who crunch and try to win fights the best they can are bad- this is both roleplay and a game. We should absolutely be enjoying both. But I enjoy losing, too, and having characters be distinct not only in roleplay, but mechanically so as well.