Anyone else feel like DRK is a bit lacking in PvP?

[Februs]

Well its not the SS damage that counters melee its the 6sec+ pacification that wrecks them

Oh, I have no doubts about PLD's ability to completely cock block enemies. Though, Pacification doesn't always work in your benefit, since targets can still move and can sometimes just run the heck away when they realize they're locked. It's too bad that move is (basically) random, because being able to time it would be obscene... though I'm sure people would complain about it.

In terms of utility, I find Pld's to be more useful at def and lures. Covers/stuns/and pacification are very useful at stopping enemies and allowing your dps to murder pretty much anything you touch. Drk, on the other hand, is much more useful at keeping enemies from capping nodes, and pushing the dps over the edge, setting up area blocks with salt of the earth, and acting as a snare for enemies who are trying to flee the scene.

Personally, though, I find Drk's abilities to be much more useful than a combo dot, and I'm not sure what you mean by Mana problem. I've been running around as DRK for weeks and I have never once had an issue with mp management, unless it was my own fault and I just wasn't paying attention. Blood weapon and Blood price cap me every time, and it's not like it's a big deal to drop darkside when there's a lull in the fighting, if you really have to.