With current skill sets the only way i can see having 'skill based' play is for team objectives. and skill as a group.

IE: escort an NPC to a X location to take/destroy a strategic point. if the map is more maze like you can split people up along certain paths, set up decoys, etc. enemy team would need to send out scouts, set traps/ambushes etc.

if you want to avoid a gear race, gear would need to add an indirect advantage to PvP. IE: pvp is based on objectives that are "NPCs" gear increases your damage towards PCs by a % in addition to giving you nice stats/bonuses. (potion Cooldown, etc.) because objectives are NPCs, and your damage to them is not directly affected any more than normal, it won't really give you a huge advantage except you have an easier time of dispatching the defenders. which may or may not help, depending on the situation.