Curse

Cebe · Dec 03, 2007, 01:59 PM // 13:59

Since the release of the Bonus Mission Pack I have taken some time to re-evaluate some of my character's weapons. I eventually came to consider my Mesmer. She already has a varied set of staves, however, only one Staff for Domination: the sexy Kaolin Domination Staff. I was considering whether or not a double 20/20 wand-focus set would be a suitable weapon set for Domination magic.

Does anyone use a double 20/20 set for Domination? I wondered if the double HCT would be worth it's salt when Fast Casting is factored in.

IMMORTAlMITCH · Dec 03, 2007, 02:08 PM // 14:08

If you're not using enchants, wand/focus will always outperform a staff for attributed skills.

Staves can be useful for skills like expel hexes or if you're using skills like Flesh Of My Flesh and don't meet the requirement for your focus.

Cebe · Dec 03, 2007, 02:42 PM // 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMMORTAlMITCH

If you're not using enchants, wand/focus will always outperform a staff for attributed skills.

I don't really use enchantments, especially with Domination. I do however have a Rajazan's Ferver from her farming days if I ever needed an enchanting mod with a focus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMMORTAlMITCH

Staves can be useful for skills like expel hexes or if you're using skills like Flesh Of My Flesh and don't meet the requirement for your focus.

Is that just so you can get the HSR on Expel or FoMF? Well, Expel has a pretty quick recharge, and I don't often use it with a Domination Build unless I'm going into a particularly hex-heavy area. FoMF has no recharge.

Sheriff · Dec 03, 2007, 02:44 PM // 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMMORTAlMITCH

If you're not using enchants, wand/focus will always outperform a staff for attributed skills.

This mind sound noobish but... why?

Ever since the inclusion of 20% HSR on staves, I always thought that it was down to personal preference. For example, staves can give you +60 life, and wand+focus can't.

Utaku · Dec 03, 2007, 03:36 PM // 15:36

I said the exact same thing in the necro forum, but I really like
Set1: +5 nrg +30 hp martial weapon and +30 hp shield
Set2: 40/40.

Instant energy surge/burn/diversion is 1337.

Rayne Nightfyre · Dec 03, 2007, 08:29 PM // 20:29

My preference has always been using staves, even after the wand/focus setup can now be modded. Having the extra health buff really helps in PvE, especially if you make use of a superior Domination rune. Plus they just look sexier.

Pyro maniac · Dec 03, 2007, 08:32 PM // 20:32

prefer 10% Halves casting time
may kick in on your aegis

BlackEagle · Dec 03, 2007, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheriff

This mind sound noobish but... why?

Ever since the inclusion of 20% HSR on staves, I always thought that it was down to personal preference. For example, staves can give you +60 life, and wand+focus can't.

Wand + focus enables you to get 20/20 recharge and fast cast. You can't get that with a staff. You obviously aren't always going to be using 40/40 sets. The only thing that staves can give you that you can't get from wands is global recharge for non-atributed things or enchantment with dual fast cast and recharge. Because that is rare on a mesmer, and if you do have any spells that that applies for then you can just swap to it for that.

The extra health shouldn't matter, as if you start taking substancial damage you can just switch to shield set with +60 hp.

Dodo The Extinct · Dec 03, 2007, 08:59 PM // 20:59

I use 40/40 set on my Mesmer for Esurge/Eburn. A set like that is a mesmers best friend.

Some people run 10% HSR tho. Thats better for a more diversified bar.

=DNC=Trucker · Dec 03, 2007, 09:32 PM // 21:32

I like the 40% recharge, but lately I have been spec'ing a bit more in FC, so the 40% HCT is a bit overkill. Running attributed wand/focus often leaves me too low on health and energy, for the sake of an extra 20% chance for recharge (I mentioned I could care less about HCT with enough in FC) It really depends on your play style and if you like to weapon swap or not (I hate weapon swapping, its annoying)

Seef II · Dec 04, 2007, 01:53 AM // 01:53

Both, a 40/40 set for getting critical spells off and a staff for slightly more defensive play (+5 al +30 hp on it). There's the defensive shield set of course but you can't really wand with that.

Avarre · Dec 04, 2007, 04:23 AM // 04:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utaku

I said the exact same thing in the necro forum, but I really like
Set1: +5 nrg +30 hp martial weapon and +30 hp shield
Set2: 40/40.

Instant energy surge/burn/diversion is 1337.

This.

Though for a lot of PvE I just sit in a 40 hsr/20 hct/+30hp set.

Shanaeri Rynale · Dec 04, 2007, 08:26 AM // 08:26

Preferably you want several sets. With mesmer 20% half cast time is less useful than say for a monk or ele, a minimum 20% recharge is essential imho. oOher items woth +60 HP(e.g magekiller) are great to have. Ideal to switch in to give a few more seconds of HP so you get get healed/kite off

In addition I would include a high energy set with 15,-1 inscriptions. Kills your energy regen but ideal to use as a reserve.

As for stats, depends on what you play. Get a dom, FC and illusion set as a minimum. I don't recall many instances in pve when I thought, man I wish i'd have had my inspiration set with me.

Cebe · Dec 04, 2007, 08:46 AM // 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

Though for a lot of PvE I just sit in a 40 hsr/20 hct/+30hp set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanaeri Rynale

Preferably you want several sets. With mesmer 20% half cast time is less useful than say for a monk or ele, a minimum 20% recharge is essential imho.

So, am I understanding right that double HCT for a Mesmer is "ok", but not as good as a +30HP you could have on the focus instead?

I own the following weapons on my Mesmer. Most are staves which is the reason I was asking abut stats for a wand/focus set.

Kaolin Domination Staff
Arcane Staff: HSR, Energy +5^50, HP +30, Fast Casting +1
The Mindclouder (which sees next to no use).
Rajazan's Ferver and a Restoration Focus (+30HP, Rest +1)
Tengu Inspiration Staff: HSR, Energy +5^50, Swift, HP +29 (Not had a reson to use this yet - bought because it was pretty)
The Dream Haunter and The Time Eater

Sooo yea. The only PvP my Mesmer ever really plays is AB - mostly she's PvE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanaeri Rynale

As for stats, depends on what you play. Get a dom, FC and illusion set as a minimum. I don't recall many instances in pve when I thought, man I wish i'd have had my inspiration set with me.

I more often than not play Domination. Illusion can be fun from time to time, but why the Fast Casting set in particular? Is that like a general set for use with any magic, or is it for HSR/HCT of Fast Casting mods in marticular?

Thanks all for your help and advice so far.

Ensign · Dec 04, 2007, 09:08 AM // 09:08

Mesmer sets aren't very different from the sets any other caster profession uses. You typically want a shield set (with +30 HP martial) and a high set (dual 15/-1s, +30 HP, 10/20% HSR of choice). The other two are going to be some variety of casting set - wand + focus, martial + focus, or enchanting staff as appropriate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

So, am I understanding right that double HCT for a Mesmer is "ok", but not as good as a +30HP you could have on the focus instead?

Not at all; the +30 HP is only better when you want to be lazy and not bother swapping out of that set when not casting or taking fire. In that case a 40% HSR 20% HCT +30 HP set or a 40% HCT +30 HP staff are attractive 'I don't want to think' options. If you're not being lazy, take the 40/40 set for spammy skills.

In PvP, you will very rarely make any use of a staff - the one notable case I can remember was with the old Mantra of Recovery. In PvE, they are a bit more attractive because of their use with PvE skills. A 40% HCT +30 HP set becomes rather attractive if you're playing a bar with Cry of Pain and Pain Inverter on it, for instance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

but why the Fast Casting set in particular?

Only reason for a fast casting req most of the time is inventory compression on a PvE character...most likely on your high set (+15/-1s). This doesn't work nearly as well on Mesmers as other professions however, since Mesmers do not have 9 Fast Casting consistently. There really isn't anything in the attribute that you're going to want to 40/40 out.

Shanaeri Rynale · Dec 04, 2007, 11:55 AM // 11:55

9FC is about the optimum setting for PvE, when taking into account attribute splits and points. If one looks at the FC table then after 9 it's a question of dimishing returns.

Now occasionally it's worth going above 12. Since my PvE bars pretty much always have some degree of shutdown in them, then i'd rather run at FC9 than an FC of say 5/6 and I know i'm not alone in this. Typically I would only reduce FC to below 9 if running a secondary profession heavy build or one that contains few spells or signets.

I would say FC9 is run more consistantly than a FC of lower or higher(in pve certainly).

Back onto weapons yeah a 40/40 for a FC weapon is pretty useless and one of my 15-1 sets is at FC to allow me greater attribute freedom.
My usual PvE weapons set is
1/ Dom staff HP+30, en+5>50, 40/40.
2/ FC 15-1 wand, 15-1+30hp offhand
3/ Utility slot for whatever set I think is needed. e.g +60hp, AL+7, -5 en low energy set, Melee equipment, Illu set etc
4/ Longbow for luring.

This gives me a nice versitility and balance of weapons without causing me to fill inventory slots up with weapons I wont use. I usually store weapons for slot 3 on heroes so it's a quick thing to grab them before setting off.

Deceptive · Dec 04, 2007, 09:56 PM // 21:56

I use a HRC of spells wand and a HRC attribute (build dependant) Find it works pretty well. Ive never used staffs, not because they are crap by any means, a well modded staff is always worth having but i just think mesmers look stupid holding a branch that is usally bigger than the avatar him/her self

StarryNites · Dec 05, 2007, 12:03 PM // 12:03

Try 'Wingstorm' and 'Hanaku's Focus' both 20/20 dom works well if you pure domination though you may miss the halves 20% skill recharge of all spells that KDS gives you when u need ether feast etc in those emergency situations

Dodo The Extinct · Dec 05, 2007, 09:31 PM // 21:31

Quote:

Try 'Wingstorm' and 'Hanaku's Focus' both 20/20 dom works well if you pure domination though you may miss the halves 20% skill recharge of all spells that KDS gives you when u need ether feast etc in those emergency situations

Hanaku's Focus is nearly impossible to find, using a collector for that focus saves so much time

ShadowbaneX · Dec 05, 2007, 11:43 PM // 23:43

In my general wanderings I find it doesn't matter much. I use a caster's Singing Blade, ("Let the Memory Live Again" and +5 AL) and the Rose Focus. Granted, I wish the Rose Focus also had half recharge time instead of half cast time as I'm currently using a Signet of Illusions build and that carries a 12+1 fast cast, but I like the look of it, so I just go with it.