Cannot initiate fight

Um, I don't know what you guys at Funcom did this patch but let me play out a before and after scenario.

BEFORE

Get ready to duel in the arena, opponent steps out and I step out, aimed, fling to start aggro, get out and nuke/shoot.

AFTER

Get ready to duel in the arena, opponent steps out and I step out, aimed, fling to start aggro, get out can't nuke, gives me cannot initiate whatever messages, yet I can pitter patter with my ithaca.

What is up with this. Can't initiate a teammate who is getting ganked by 3 others now? wt hell is going on?