Curse

Gedrand · Sep 26, 2006, 02:17 PM // 14:17

Hi everyone!

For various reasons, I decided to leave my main character, an Elementalist, behind. In trying to figure out what profession I'd like to play, I did a lot of thinking and finally created a Mesmer. I wanted to share some of the things I've noticed from playing my Mesmer (who is my new favorite character!) and hear some feedback from some of you more experienced Mezzers out there

So far, the change has been a pleasant surprise. There are a lot of things about the Mesmer that I really enjoy. Please note that I'm not trying to say that one profession is better than another; I'm simply describing my thoughts and experiences with my new character, who I very much enjoy playing!

Though I've been playing Guild Wars for over a year, I don't think that I would have been able to understand how to play a Mesmer until now. I think that it requires a greater amount of knowledge and skill than some other professions do in order to be highly effective; Mesmers aren't as 'obvious' as some other professions. I find myself noticing what the enemies are using skill-wise in order to counter them rather than just looking for the large clusters of red dots and firing my big damage spells. The faster skill and response time (and excitement) is also new to me. At least, that's how it feels after being used to spells with two or three second casting times and trying to learn to stick an interrupt in a fraction of a second.

There are things about the mechanics of the profession that I am very happy with as well. I like Fast Casting as a primary attribute more than I like Energy Storage. I remember looking at Fast Casting long ago and thinking that it didn't look very useful. Now, I'm putting every free attribute point I can spare in it. It's very satisfying to be able to just cast a spell in a fraction of the time and use that other second for positioning yourself more effectively or casting another key spell.

I also am finding myself less vulnerable to interrupts, I can handle being hexed, have some decent self-heals, and can handle a lot of situations which were previously very difficult. I had a Mesmer secondary, but I felt that my effectiveness was reduced if I had to take along some conditional self-defense skills. It wasn't as big a problem playing with guildmates, but when I was in a pug it was upsetting to call out important hexes like Life Transfer or Backfire and get no assistance.

Armor doesn't affect the damage that Mesmer skills deal. That's very, very nice. As my Elementalist I often lamented that the degen from the burning was the only significant damage being done. Higher monster health and armor made the rest of the spells' effects negligible.

Something else appealing about Mesmers is that it seems like I don't see them as much. I was considering using a non-core profession as my new primary character since they have a certain appeal of not being as common, in my mind, but in Factions (heck, sometimes in Tyria) it seems like I see more Ritualists or Assassins than Mesmers.

I also find myself very excited and eager to acquire new skills as I go through the game. They all have so much synergy with each other and affect the other team in such interesting and devious ways.

I'm only up to Piken Square, but I've been scraping the edges. I'm planning on concentrating on some titles. Anyways, I've noticed that it seems most effective to spread hexes around in order to make enemy monks work harder and give my loyal henchpersons a better chance to finishing off each target. It seems like by the time that Stefan gets to a monster, it's already down to half its health from Backfire/Empathy/Conjure Phantasm, and then I can just hit whatever's left with Shatter Delusions to finish it off. Power Leak was very nice, but I found that it seemed like I was spreading myself a bit thin adding the interrupt. I'm looking forward to getting further in Tyria, though, where I can get more skills and I'm sure that Conjure Phantasm won't feel like an Elite anymore so that I can try some different setups.

Anyways, those are my thoughts about Mesmering. Let me know what you think. When I've searched the forum here, I see people posting builds more than I find the ideas and concepts behind the Mesmer, so that's what I'd like to hear more of, if anyone wouldn't mind sharing. If you got this far, thanks for reading!

lightblade · Sep 26, 2006, 04:40 PM // 16:40

Welcome to our world of true wizardry! Yes...even during the WPE there's an enemy called "Corsair Wizard", and no...it's not an elementist..it's a mesmer!! And you know what elementists are called? "Corsair Cook"..lol..they're the cook and we're the wizards... ^_^

RYCHER969 · Sep 27, 2006, 04:12 AM // 04:12

to the wonderful world of the mez. I hav been playin for about 16 months and its the only toon i hav. So here is my 10 cents for pve:

1).Dont go nuts with fast casting. I rarely go above 8. (sometimes as high as 10 if no other area needs it).If a skill takes 2 secs to cast u will be fine. Interupts are generally 1/4 cast time anyway so fast cast does you little good.

2). Conjure is STILL in my skill bar.Yes it is that good.

3). You seem to have grasped a very important aspect of mesmers..weaken the enemies and allow your crew to finish them. Understand that interupting a big spell keeps your team alive and fighting.

4). Find your self a Gorrels cane & Rockmolder for 1k each. That will giv ya 20% HSR;HCT 10% with Illusion +1 20%(conjur.phant.)

5).Tab, tab, tab

good luck..happy hexin

ign=cpt spalding

LightningHell · Sep 27, 2006, 07:22 AM // 07:22

Expanding on the above poster, which seems to be somewhat biased upon hexing opponents, there are generally two kinds of Mesmers on the PvE scene (last time I heard, in Prophecies anyway).

Domination - Shutdown. Utilizing skills like Backfire, Empathy, and the like, you attempt to punish them for doing something harmful to your group, like casting a Fire Storm. It also gives the additional benefit of the AI not casting if the hex will kill them.

(It's not really "shutdown", but that's what I call it.

)

Domination - "Nuke". Using Energy Surge, Energy Burn, and other similar skills. This role tends to focus on damage skills, and is used sometimes by players switching from a "nuker" to a Mesmer.

Illusion - Degeneration. Using hexes such as Conjure Phantasm, Images of Remorse, and the like, that inflict health degeneration on enemies, they can cause some damage, in addition to having some other utility skills such as Sympathetic Visage and Imagined Burden.

Domination - Interrupter. Using interrupts to interrupt important spells, heck, even one, can turn the tide. Usually interrupters play as a hybrid of two; for example, I play Domination/Interrupting when I go PvE with Mesmer.

Also, it's quite usual for the Mesmer to go off target.

Feel free to post more, anybody. I got to go to practice.

Ah, and Fast Casting's optimal level, IMO, is 9.

hazmat · Sep 27, 2006, 08:21 AM // 08:21

Just to expand a bit with regards to your fast casting level. It very much depends what the casting time of the spells you have to have much FC is preferrable.
Diversion which is one of the mesmers strongest skills casts inches along at 8 or 9 FC. Spirit of failure, same thing. Granted I often leave my FC at around 8-11 but I would consider first what skills you want to put on your bar. Some of my shutdown builds have FC at 13++. What the rycher and lightninghell said was a good rule of thumb for FC levels, just felt I should elaborate a bit on it.
I always consider FC rates and skill recharges when planning a build so I can be as busy as possible.

HTH

LightningHell · Sep 27, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23

Also, Fast Casting has diminishing returns.

Gedrand · Sep 27, 2006, 12:01 PM // 12:01

Thanks for the replies

Yeah, I've done some research about Fast Casting (and a bunch of other things) on the Wiki. Right now mine is at something like 4 or 5, and I promise not to go too crazy with it.

I am looking forward to acquiring more skills so that I can play some different roles and try some interrupting and some other forms of shutdown.

Right now I'm most excited about Domination. It's very neat to give the enemy that lose/lose option; either they don't cast stuff/attack, or they do and it hurts them a good deal. There's something very nice about being able to just drop Backfire on a Chaar Shaman and then hex the crap out of everything else without having them constantly healed, and it's equally fun to Backfire a Chaar Flame Keeper and have them dead from Aura of Restoration + Flare. Those guys are so eager

That's pretty funny about the Corsairs, lightblade. I hadn't realized that.

Also, rather than pick up the greens I grabbed collector staves in Cantha for Illusion and Domination. Gorrel's stuff has very nice stats, though, so I may end up grabbing those. Feel free to PM me if you need anything from a collector, by the way; I have like 40 Putrid Cysts and also for some reason saved Warden Horns, Celestial Essences, and Black Pearls.

Thanks again

Martian · Sep 27, 2006, 03:53 PM // 15:53

My mesmer is by far my favourite char, he's the only character i have that when i play him, i feel like a pro

(of course im not, but whatever)
Just wondering, does it seem rediculous to have 12 fast casting? (inc. runes)
All of you seem to use a lot less, but i find it essential to using my skills effectively.

And Gedrand, i know that at your level it can seem like Domination is way better than illusion (Except for phantasm) and ill admit, my fave build is domination, but later on you can do absolutely horrible things to wars, assassins, and touchers with Imagined burden and crippling anquish

To be a good Mesmer, the first thing to remember is to keep an open mind, many Mes skills seem totally useless at first, or at least they did to me, but they all have a dark, nasty purpose behind them

Gedrand · Sep 27, 2006, 04:07 PM // 16:07

Thanks for the tip, Martian. Like I mentioned, at first long ago the mezzer skills all seemed somewhat unimpressive at first glance. It's true, though; you really have to read between the lines and think of all the great things that result from you preventing the other team from accomplishing their goal. So sneaky and sinister... I enjoy it

I always used to say that Crippling Anguish had the coolest skill name. I can't help but wince when someone calls out "I have Cripping Anguish on me!". *laugh*

lightblade · Sep 27, 2006, 06:35 PM // 18:35

My experience with Fast Casting:
0-4 doesn't have significant difference, they feel the same
5-6 now you'll feel you're casting faster
7-9 much faster than 5-6, but not much differences from 7-9
9-11 no significant difference for mesmer, but spells with long cast time like resurrection will feel a big difference.

It's best to keep your fast casting between 7-9. If you have a monk secondary for rez, it's good to push it to 11 just so you can rez people during battle

hazmat · Sep 27, 2006, 10:05 PM // 22:05

hmm FC level is really a case by case basis depending on what spells you are bringing.
MoR + diversion spam? HIGH
Surge/Burn? MED
Interrupt build? LOW

hazmat · Sep 27, 2006, 10:09 PM // 22:09

--- double post ---

bele · Sep 28, 2006, 06:51 AM // 06:51

Wellcome to mesmering

. You'll enjoy it

Hella Good · Sep 28, 2006, 03:16 PM // 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gedrand

I always used to say that Crippling Anguish had the coolest skill name. I can't help but wince when someone calls out "I have Cripping Anguish on me!". *laugh*

And I think Fevered Dreams is actually a wonderful name. Too bad the skill doesn't really match up.

But anyways, welcome aboard! Spread some Me love around!

*Darcy* · Sep 28, 2006, 05:19 PM // 17:19

Oh, the nostalgia of playing a new mesmer. I envy you discovering the joys of this profession for the first time.

A good mesmer is self-confident to the point of well-deserved arrogance. You won't find anyone asking you to present a particular build to join their party. More experienced players are grateful that you will join at all.

A mesmer is versatile. You will discover as you grow that your build will constantly change to suit the situation. While some mesmer skills are not as generally useful as others, practice with them all. Everyone has a different play style; what doesn't work for one player, will be great for another. Use posted builds as guidelines, not something set in stone.

A mesmer is vain about their clothes. FoW is not the best available; looks are more important than cost. He/she ususally has more than one set of armor. (Sometimes it's so hard to decide.)

Keep your sense of humor alive. Remember when you see someone bashing mesmers in the local chat, it is usually because they just got stepped on by one.

Xiaxhou of Trinity · Sep 29, 2006, 12:12 AM // 00:12

I'm also just making a mes, I've never gone in depth into it, just touched the IW build for PvP. Just having trouble leveling it (I hate canthan quests and canthan geography) My favorite class is ele, but mes looks like it'll be right up there too =] If anyone feels bored and wants to help me, pm me. IGN Balthazar of Source.

Gedrand · Sep 29, 2006, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Thanks for your comments, Darcy. I'm going to keep them in mind, and I am greatly enjoying discovering the profession

I'm trying to work in every new skill I unlock. Doing so gives me a lot of insight into some of the skills, and even if I don't want to use that particular skill, I gain a little more experience and strategic ideas which help me as a Mesmer.

I'm working on getting some Fissure armor; I'm well on the way. I'm looking forward to being very stylish. There are a lot of nice options.

Mesmers are so cool! That is, unless I'm playing a non-Mesmer and going against one. *grin*

PrismOfRedLight · Sep 29, 2006, 02:05 AM // 02:05

I've also started a mesmer in PvE although I did play one a little in AB and Fort Aspenwood, mainly Ineptitude based since I love watching warriors just keep bashing there weapon against the enemy when they keep taking damage from it.
Anyways my friend hates mesmers saying they suck ass and for the longest time I went along with it but after having fun in PvP with them my friend kinda snobbingly thinking I wouldn't do it said "Why don't you make a PvE mesmer" and so I did and there pretty cool so far (hope I didnt ramble on too much) and after looking at some of the threads then GWiki I like the 1.5k Kurzick armor the best, too bad it's in Cantha

Redfeather1975 · Sep 29, 2006, 02:38 AM // 02:38

I like mesmers too.

I feel the same way as the OP when mentioned how much mesmer skills seem to work well together in some creative and whacky ways.
I made a video of a recent crazy combo that was more entertaining than practical, but it's what makes the class so much fun to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij6chx4xYXw

System_Crush · Oct 03, 2006, 12:29 PM // 12:29

I'm also starting a new mesmer on chantha. Although I pretty much want more illusion magic skils to get the -8 degen those last 2 more;

I was plesantly suprised by my effectivity against the afflicted.
My -8 should be 16 dmg/sec and it does look like that.
But someone poisons the mob causing an additional -5 degen maxing at -10 20dmg/sec
But!
By appearance the health of the infected seem to go down much faster than an additional 4dmg/sec more like 8dmg/sec.
I don't know if its a bug but it only happens on poison not on bleeding or burn and does not seem to affect anything else than the afflicted.

I though this might be a good place to post this because atleast some of the mesmers here must have passed trough Sheitung Monistary.