There are a couple inconsistencies in your first post... you can't dispel these spells, but then one is easy to dispel, etc.

But mostly I want to address your underlying assumptions, because I think they're the problem.

First up, as has been noted, I'm not buying into a system that removes the exploration aspect of wands or the need-to-go-get-stuff and the strategic windows that creates aspect of wands.

>Additional changes:
>This system is balanced by introducing the following changes:
>- Some warrior classes and orcs are given abilities with low
>chances of success to remove mage protections. These can be
>2-3 round abilities based on spec. Warriors now have to choose
>to go for pure damage/lag (current), remove the spell by using
>the associated removal technique, or risk total shield
>removal. Example: 'Sunder', a new axe spec skill, has a 3
>round lag time and a 33% chance to remove a major dam redux
>spell

As a thought, that probably empowers ganging.

>- Deathblow is changed to no longer provide increased damage,
>but a chance to remove the major dam redux spell

I can't get behind this. More on this below.

>Pros:
>- Mage classes are made more competitive at lower levels and
>can stand toe to toe with more physical-reliance classes. A 20
>warrior that just specialized will find a 20 mage that has dam
>redux more formidable.

In a sense this is a positive, but I don't think any of the mage classes are UNcompetitive at those levels.

Some of this is level advantage; mages in general are much more likely to be a low penalty race than a warrior is. A level 20 warrior who just specialized probably has a level 29 necromancer in range, not a level 20 one.

>- Solo, group, and raid combat is made far more reactionary,
>strategic, and interesting for both the mage and the opponent

I think it's more that you won't dare defend or raid against a bigger group. That is to say, this would be more true than it is today. If there are three of you and one of me, it's easy for two of you to lag me and one of you to crack my DR.

>- RBW's have a chance against full dam reduxed mages. No dam
>redux mages have a chance against RBW's. None-mages have a
>chance against RBW's

The problem with this is that non-mages are mostly what kills RBWs.

Along similar lines, the better magic-using warriors do as much killing as RBWs do (including of mages) and die a lot less.

>- Mages are finally given a similar level of risk vs. reward
>as physical classes. By this, I mean that a mage's dam redux
>is no longer guaranteed, just as a warrior's skills are never
>guaranteed to succeed

This is incorrect. You're giving them the risk, but not the reward.

Status quo: warriors tend towards high kills, high deaths, mages tend towards lower kills, lower deaths.

Your version: warriors are the same, but now mages tend towards lower kills, higher deaths.

>- No need to have down-time between fights restocking dam
>redux

This, to me, is a downside.

>- Mages will die more. Top tier gear will circulate more.
>Everyone deserves to wear the mask of Anadau. Death to the
>mage is offset by the lack of wand re-gear time

I think it's more that people wouldn't really play mages as much. Lots more risk, no more reward, except in your world Battle can't really deathblow me as a mage, which means less risk as I gang them down.