Game Mechanics: 50 melee vs 50 caster = epic fail.

[Kainzo]

I found this in the old patch notes.

PVP Changes:

In order to make PVP combat between spellcasters and melee types more viable some changes to PVP spell effects have been made. All damage spells cast in PVP combat will do less damage to the PC than the same spell would do to an NPC. When a PC is under the effect of a root-type spell there is a 20% chance that they will break free when a direct damage spell is cast upon them.