Curse

Deathlord · Jun 06, 2005, 06:10 PM // 18:10

People tend to like spamming conjure phantasm because in their opinion its the only way to damage. You get it as a pre-searing skill and people don't really try other things if they find a simple solution. Conjure phantasm however isn't a long-term solution and if mesmers want to be effective they'll definetly need to try new things. Backfire which is also gettable in pre-searing is super helpful in many occasions, along with their wide array of hexes, they're a great addition to almost every party. I would usually choose a mesmer in my team if availible over any other class (Even monk if our team already has one). I wouldn't say mesmers replace monks but sometimes the only reason people have monks are because theres hardly ever a period of time where your in a party so intellegent and stable that they are capable of healing/keeping each other alive using second hand healing, which is why monks are neccesary 90% of the time. Mesmers are never required but can help vastly during fire-fights and such.

tomcruisejr · Jun 06, 2005, 07:14 PM // 19:14

well, i play mesmer, mes/ne to be exact. i think mesmer class is the most versatile and deadliest in game. a mesmer can tank and beat warriors, interrupt the monks and elementalists, etc etc.

but rangers and necros can give hard time to mesmers

Xellos · Jun 06, 2005, 07:15 PM // 19:15

Just for kicks, Mesmers can kill Ghostly Hero pretty fast when specced in Domination. It's pretty funny.

Bingley Joe · Jun 06, 2005, 07:43 PM // 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue

By the way, I'm pretty sure all NPC's (henchmen included) have infinite energy. So mana draining skills don't do anything to them.

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure they don't [have infinite energy]. In fact, to me, they appear to be pretty much on par with PCs of the same level with regard to energy/hp stores... just my observation at this point though -- I haven't used any science in forming this opinion.

Care to elaborate on why you think it's infinite?

C-Tzar · Jun 06, 2005, 08:36 PM // 20:36

I've never bothered to try and prove it definatively, but they don't seem to have infinate evergy. One tipoff is that Alisia will usually start rezzing/healing people as soon as a fight is over, but at times I've seen her stand over a dead body for a good 10 seconds before doing anything, as though she were waiting for her energy to regen. I suppose it COULD just be poor AI/scripting, but it would make sence theat they would have the same limitations that real characters have. They do also suffer DP like we do. I've also seen mobs throw Glyph of Lesser Energy (why bother if it's infinate?), which again COULD be just poor AI or maybe even devs messing with our heads, but I doubt it.

Syuveil · Jun 06, 2005, 08:42 PM // 20:42

My main is a N/Me. blood/domination build. I love arcane echo + chaos storm

Algren Cole · Jun 06, 2005, 08:50 PM // 20:50

I'd rather travel with a mesmer than anything else. I'm currently working through my R/W but if I decide to play a second class it will be mesmer. You'll notice that when a mesmer is in your group everything dies quicker....and you take less damage. I'd even rather have a mesmer than a monk in my party.

Bingley Joe · Jun 06, 2005, 08:51 PM // 20:51

I'm [a number very very close to 100]% certain that Mind Wrack works as it should on the NPCs. Its trigger is 0 energy, so I can only assume it is tripping because either myself or the mob I've targeted have whittled its energy stores down to nothing...

Guess I'll have to conduct some actual tests now that I've had time to sit here and ponder this question, 'cause I've been happily proceeding under the assumption that they're balanced fairly closely to an equivalent lvl PC...

As an aside to this, is there any consensus on how many individual skills the mobs possess? My observations using Arcane Thievery and Echo in combination lead me to say 3, but I've never really seen any conclusive info on this. Anyone know?

Rasp · Jun 06, 2005, 09:14 PM // 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingley Joe

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure they don't [have infinite energy]. In fact, to me, they appear to be pretty much on par with PCs of the same level with regard to energy/hp stores... just my observation at this point though -- I haven't used any science in forming this opinion.

Care to elaborate on why you think it's infinite?

Agreed. Otherwise we wouldn't see Claude casting Energy regen spells on Alesia.

Exion · Jun 06, 2005, 09:17 PM // 21:17

Mesmer is the strongest class in the game Imo~glad to see your enjoying them.

niix · Jun 06, 2005, 09:57 PM // 21:57

Today I started a mesmer primary. I just finished off a Mo/Me and decided to try to go with the least appreciated class in the game as a primary. And must I say, they are amazing. I've been carefully reading many guides and studing what every skill I have does.

Put in the hands of a person who is knowledgable of the character, the mesmer is amazing.

I am thinking of going with an Illusionary Weaponry build. I have chosen Warrior as my secondary class for defensive reasons (tactics), due to that fact that casters naturally have a lower AR.

Has anyone had any expierence with a Me/W - Illusionary Weaponry build? I would like to know some feedback on how well this build actually works, I can only imagen.

-nick

Caco-Cola · Jun 06, 2005, 10:05 PM // 22:05

Quote:

... most 'Mesmers' out there just spam crap like Conjure Phantasm...

Hey now! I happen to like Conjure Phantasm.

For one it counter-acts Healing Breeze (or at least slows it down).

You COULD remove it with Shatter Enchantment, sure, but what if they have Aegis also? You remove Aegis (which would end in a few seconds anyways) and they're sitll regenning.

Plus it's also some nice extra damage.

Let's say you drained your monk down to 0 energy. So you cast Wastrels to get an extra 50ish damage in then conjure to keep dealing damage.

I'm not sure how much a -5 health degeneration is equal to in terms of DPS but I wouldn't call Conjure crap.

Gerbill · Jun 06, 2005, 10:05 PM // 22:05

I'm running a Me/N myself and yes Mesmers played correctly can be really usefull especially later on.

at the start you might want to go for Illusionary cuz Conjure Phantasm.. just.. seems to amazing to drop. I don't know how many Mesmer skills you used with your Mo/Me and how many experience you've had with them, but personally I LOVE Domination skills, you might want to look into those.

elenna · Jun 06, 2005, 10:21 PM // 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingley Joe

As an aside to this, is there any consensus on how many individual skills the mobs possess? My observations using Arcane Thievery and Echo in combination lead me to say 3, but I've never really seen any conclusive info on this. Anyone know?

I've noticed this, too. They seem to cycle thru the same three spells/skills.

And to contribute to the topic of this thread:

I love my Me/Mo. I can get in, rez quickly, then get out (really useful in poisonous swamps).

niix · Jun 06, 2005, 10:47 PM // 22:47

Word.

SleepeR · Jun 06, 2005, 10:57 PM // 22:57

Distortion + Channeling + Spirit of Failure, figure it out. :P

Red Locust · Jun 06, 2005, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Get flurry. Flurry + IW is killer, since IW hits for the same damage no matter what happens. Try to get your illusion magic up as high as possible with superior runes, for the best damage. And always have at least 1 other enchantment on top of IW, else it just screams "get rid of me". At least with another enchantment covering IW, you can survive one enchantment removal. Oh, and try to stay away from necros, they can eat your IW for breakfast, and you're quite useless without it. Maybe use arcane echo in conjunction with IW to be able to recast it when it gets removed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepeR

Distortion + Channeling + Spirit of Failure, figure it out. :P

I'm quite sure distortion lets you "evade" attacks, while SoF only triggers when your enemy misses, so you have a better chance of triggering SoF without distortion activated. Signet of midnight + SoF, however, is a different story

Slade xTekno · Jun 06, 2005, 11:00 PM // 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepeR

Distortion + Channeling + Spirit of Failure, figure it out. :P

I used this as soon as I got it. Beautiful combo, but it takes work.

Howling Wind · Jun 06, 2005, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Best way I describe mesmers are - a pain in the ass mainly for casters and classes that mesmers hate the most are necros and rangers.

Personally I like the illusion line of magic especially with a ranger, Poision + Conjure = 9 arrows of degen for a while, arcane conundrum = easier distracting / concussion shot.

I'm not sure sure whether mesmers are the least appreciated primary, mesmers are an essential for PvP teams.

Mordread · Jun 06, 2005, 11:15 PM // 23:15

If not underappreciated they are definetly the most under-utilized class without a doubt. Out of all the HoH and pvp runs I've done (hundreds) I've had a pure mesmer on team maybe 10% of the time. I wish more people would play them cause when you are taking on a really good healing or protect team a mes can make all the difference.