The problem is the mage vision is completely warped.
Tradionally they were weaker at the beginning and grew stronger towards the end with added benefits like being able to locate items and create food/water etc. But currently they're just weaker to level, weaker to equip, weaker in capture the flag and I'd argue weaker in player versus player too.
All of the tradional perks of being a mage have been handed out in one way or another via rp points, spell forge or increased consumables.
The identity of a mage is completely gone when you've got every ogre casting half a dozen buffs.
Mages are almost completely on the back foot these days and I'm not sure if it was a conscious decision to make mage vs melee dynamic that way or not but basically every mage has to play attrition like a cleric when that isn't desirable by all.
It would make far more sense for melee to have to play the hit and run playstyle as their damage is passive. Currently they get to win rounds, be the aggressor, have an easier time in almost all aspects of the game.