Curse

Kai Nui · Mar 04, 2006, 06:56 PM // 18:56

My expectations for mesmers:

1. Knows his/her surroundings, including hexes, enchantments, spells, etc...
2. Does not always rely on domination, such as Energy Surge/Burn every time.
3. Can shut down 1 second skills without Arcane Conundrum/Migraine
4. If they've cast Backfire on a monk and notices they are using remove hex, they can use Shatter Delusions before they finish casting it, OR knows how long their skill lasts and uses the timer to make their hexes end a second or so early for shatter delusions.
5. Understands why Cry of Frustration works against Troll Unguent, Healing Signet, and Resurrection Signet, when Power Spike does not.
6. Knows why channeling is a bad skill
7. Tries to find a build that works with Keystone Signet, but never finds one because none really exists...
8. Does not type like a fool: hay wut ^ pplz/? letz killoxorz sum charz otside picen sq.
9. Brings along Mantra of Flame/Frost/Lightning/Earth because they know what creatures they're encountering.
10. Manages their energy well.
11. Can adjust to different builds, and isn't limited to only playing one type of mesmer.
12. Appreciates clumsiness and ineptitude.
13. Has a good selection of weapons and armors.
14. Knows why Imagined Burden is better than Ethereal Burden in most instances.
15. Does not use Chaos Storm.
16. Has used Ignorance in PVP.
17. Riverdances on the heads of the fallen warriors.
18. Knows not to bring backfire and interrupts, or at least knows to use them seperately.

Y.T. · Mar 04, 2006, 10:22 PM // 22:22

pvp: listen to ur party leader and do what u was told to do, not what u think is nessecary. i'm playing a mesmer and never argue about suggested skillbar. interrupts - so be it, e-denial - even better, smth else - i can do it too (i hope)

pve:
1. know the area and mobs and plan ur stances accordingly
2. NEVER ask for BiP/BR
3. help monk with hex removal when needed, u can switch ur 2ndry to use ur inspired hex effectively (f/ex mes/nec in fow with curses 9+ can use inspired ss - simple but not alot of ppl are doing it)
4. understand what u're interrupting and why and more important how
5. use ur 2ndry effectively - choose skills that compliment ur role in ur team, of cos u can go with 8 mesmer skills in ur skillbar and be useful, but u can more inventive than that.
6. expect to be a primary target for mobs in majority of pve areas and dont yell at monk mb he/she's lagging or got drained of energy or whatever
7. plan ur skillbar to be useful in area u're goint to fight in, not just ur personal preferences (like e-denial on melee mobs or interrupting them or such) each mesmer build is interesting to play

8. dont be afraid to experiment with ur builds but let u team know what u're going to do be4 entering the area

lg5000 · Mar 04, 2006, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeInfusion

*To call things when they are doing them (Empathy/soothing images/ignorance on a warrior foe, backfire/power block on monk, diversion on boss caster) so that the party applies more pressure to that monster.

Ohh ouch.. try calling power block and then missing it due to lag...

I'd love to call that skill, but unless I'm interupting a VERY long cast where there is no chance of missing it, it goes uncalled.

Kurow · Mar 04, 2006, 11:14 PM // 23:14

From what I have been reading, it sounds like people expect mesmers to be gods gift to this game. Maybe my expectations are a little low? Or can they actually disrupt every skill while singlehandedly feeding all of south africa?

lg5000 · Mar 05, 2006, 01:33 AM // 01:33

there are some who claim they can interupt everything.. well.. the AI monsters can, not too sure of their human counterparts though. Personally, I fail at interupting everything and probably spend too long on 1 target and can't shut down a monk boss by myself... but.. I enjoy playing a mesmer and have yet to be in a group which had a problem with what I do.. that's a much, much more common occurance when I'm playing monk.

LifeInfusion · Mar 05, 2006, 01:41 AM // 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

If you put empathy on one warrior, the team should hit the other one, then switch to the empathied which will have taken considerable damage and STILL have the hex on it. Only exception to this are monk mobs that need to be brought down while under the pressure of the hex.

I mean call soothing images and such on warriors and call empathy on things that are priority taht you need to kill for reasons like being hexed or attacked. I didn't phrase it right.

An example is when you attack a warrior enemy with high HP, you want the Empathy on WHILE the group is attacking it so that it dies faster. If you have empathy on and nobody attacks it, it will just be hurt and naturally regen.
You need diversion/ other slowing/interrupt skills for monks, not empathy... Sure it is added damage, but it is not what you do to kill a monk monster.

jciardha · Mar 05, 2006, 03:55 AM // 03:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurow

From what I have been reading, it sounds like people expect mesmers to be gods gift to this game. Maybe my expectations are a little low? Or can they actually disrupt every skill while singlehandedly feeding all of south africa?

A mesmer's worst critic is another mesmer, whether that be over the skillbar, or the fashion sense (or the lack thereof).

Jakerius · Mar 05, 2006, 04:03 AM // 04:03

I expect skill interruption.

Avarre · Mar 05, 2006, 04:44 AM // 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeInfusion

I mean call soothing images and such on warriors and call empathy on things that are priority taht you need to kill for reasons like being hexed or attacked. I didn't phrase it right.

An example is when you attack a warrior enemy with high HP, you want the Empathy on WHILE the group is attacking it so that it dies faster. If you have empathy on and nobody attacks it, it will just be hurt and naturally regen.
You need diversion/ other slowing/interrupt skills for monks, not empathy... Sure it is added damage, but it is not what you do to kill a monk monster.

Typically you attack the warrior enemy with high HP last, clear the weaker mobs first. By that time, everyone should be attacking that warrior anyway. Examples of high hp warrior enemies that need focus fire = undead rurik, some bosses. No, aatxes do not need much focus fire, better to damage all and kill the whole faster (especially as if you look at total enemy hp, you want empathy to be on as long as possible -> not on the target). Empathy recharges in 10s anyways, so you can keep it on a normal enemy, and even on a boss with 15-16 dom (and thats the last target anyway!).

Obviously I'm referring to empathy throughout. When fighting multiple casters, monks die first, and it's usually a given that the backfire goes to them. Although sometimes it's better to put backfire on mesmer mobs and another anti-cast on monks, but calling those would just confuse people more.

**cosyfiep** · Mar 05, 2006, 08:52 AM // 08:52

Hmm, I have a mesmer, and have just started playing it more often (still not good yet)....so far i like empathy a lot...my n/me uses it with spiteful spirit in the UW effectively....
I like cry of frustration, but it takes too long, shame and guilt work well occassionally too....my secondary is ranger so I have distracting shot as well..............

I hope that groups start utilazing mesmers more....(and that I can learn to spell this century).

Mavrik · Mar 05, 2006, 06:48 PM // 18:48

Cry of Frustration takes to long? It has a 1/4 cast time. I use it to interupt casting groups and skills I know can not be interupted otherwise. Like heal signets and Troll urgent or however its spelled.

as a mesmer I know I'm not quick enough to interupt everything but I'm having fun learning the ins and outs of my mesmer I've been the game and cleared the map with.

Lady Lozza · Mar 05, 2006, 11:18 PM // 23:18

What do I expect from mesmers is pretty much the same as what I expect other professions to know about mesmers -

Understand that cover hexes, and often cover enchantments, are NOT OPTIONAL.

Understand that if you use e-surge or e-burn and no damage is done, you will NOT do damage with the other follow-up skill - no energy = good time for mind wrack.

Understand that cry of frustration and leech signet are the only interrupts possible for res sig, troll u, and heal sig.

Understand that diversion IS a good skill against monks and not such a good skill against any other class - unless you get lucky.

Understand that energy management is NOT optional. If you can't manage to last out the majority of a fight, you might want to think about equipping energy management skills.

Understand that not everything can be interrupted, which is why - barring some situations - a pure interrupt build isn't all that good.

Understand that whatever build you use has a strength - use it, even if the team leader yells at you for not being on target.

Understand that a ranger is good at interrupts too - and distracting shot only has a 10 recharge time.

Understand that warrior is only an acceptable secondary if you are an IW mesmer and you do not have heal sig equpped.

Understand that you can be an IW mesmer and not be a warrior secondary.

Understand that 16 domination makes no difference to the amount of damage you do with e-surge and e-burn. Those points are better used else where.

Understand that the value of a mesmer build is not in how much damage can be done, nor necessariy how long you can shut another build down for. If you keep your team hex free, and the opposing team enchantment free, you will -9 times out of 10- win the day.

Kate Bloodspirit · Mar 06, 2006, 02:57 AM // 02:57

I'd expect from a good mesmer to consistently interrupt 1 second cast spells.

thor hammerbane · Mar 06, 2006, 03:48 AM // 03:48

PvP:Focus on one thing. Shutdown, E-Denial, Interupts, Anti War. Not all of them. Take your target, take him down, take him fast.

PvE:Bring more balanced builds, some damage, some interupts, some hex/enchantment removal. You are the backbone of the team, provide some defense for your team and some offense.

lg5000 · Mar 06, 2006, 04:58 AM // 04:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate Bloodspirit

I'd expect from a good mesmer to consistently interrupt 1 second cast spells.

While I'm sure there are those who can, I hope you're not being serious... that would mean a certain amount of precognition on the mesmers side of things, and most definatly NO lag!

*mumbles something along the lines of hating you now for that statement* :P

Asrial · Mar 06, 2006, 08:41 AM // 08:41

I expect the Mesmer to make me breakfast in her nightgown.

Avarre · Mar 06, 2006, 09:41 AM // 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by lg5000

While I'm sure there are those who can, I hope you're not being serious... that would mean a certain amount of precognition on the mesmers side of things, and most definatly NO lag!

*mumbles something along the lines of hating you now for that statement* :P

I can

Most of the time anyway, but only on mobs I know the pattern of (like shadow monks).

FalconDance · Mar 06, 2006, 05:06 PM // 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by thor hammerbane

PvE:Bring more balanced builds, some damage, some interupts, some hex/enchantment removal. You are the backbone of the team, provide some defense for your team and some offense.

Yep. Briallan is mostly a shut-down mesmer, but also carries Soul Feast for when the monk is busy elsewhere and can't heal her, Empathy for when the warriors need just that extra little help, hex removal, esp in the Desert now

, and can throw on various other skills to suit the area. There aren't always scads of casters to shut-down, you know.

felinette · Mar 06, 2006, 06:21 PM // 18:21

As an up and coming mesmer (lvl 14, just reached Lion's Arch), I'm finding this thread interesting. I don't yet have many of the skills under discussion, but one skill I do have and carry is Chaos Storm. I use it to break up groups that are pounding on a surrounded player, or when I need to run away and I'm surrounded. So I use it more for that purpose than to inflict damage.

When I was out with a group yesterday, our monk was quickly surrounded by six opponents, to the point that I could hardly see him. Chaos Storm cleared them out in a jiffy and allowed him to run away to a safe distance. When I get more skills, it'll probably be dropped, but right now I do find it quite useful.

I play PvE only, and take henchmen 95% of the time. I wish there was a way to cycle through enemies without the henchmen constantly changing targets, too.

(oh, and I won't be caught dead strolling through town in a nightgown. I don't care how wonderful the stats are!)

LouAl · Mar 06, 2006, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Great stuff. Kinda suprised though, I thought there would be much more "I expect a mesmer to do...nothing." Maybe this means that more people understand the role of the profession

@felinette
when you cylce through targets, don't actually attacke them. Keep attacking the target you want the henchies to attack and then tab or shift+click to the next target you want. It will keep henchies on the right target.

I also think that, without lag, a good mesmer should be able to interrupt 1 second skills. If you can't get the short skills, don't try when with a group, practice with henchies.

Although it would be nice to call my skills I think it would mess up the whole team, ie "why is that stupid Obi Lou attacking the heretic when we are all trying to kill the dolyak?!?"

Here is what I expect from a mesmer (I play mostly in PvE and RA/TA):

Don't always follow the called target

Don't bring inpired hex if your Dom is at 16 and Insp is at 1

Don't hex a boss (some exceptions)

COVER HEXES

Change targets frequently

Play as a support character

Don't use Illusion of Weakness in the middle of a fight

Bring hex/enchant removal (maybe even echo/glyph them)

Don't aggro and then stand in a pile of baddies

Don't use Phys Resistance without a way to cancel it if there are ele's around

If there are 2 mesmers in a group, talk beforehand so you don't both empathy the same warrior (Durnham never wants to have skill-bar discussions with me)

If you bring shatter hex, tell the monk that you will shatter the surounded warrior (and then do it)

Really I just want mesmers to play smart. Since many mes skills are conditional, you have to know when to use them.