Curse

Apr 24, 2005, 06:31 AM // 06:31

Dont be afraid

Focus switching is using the energy reserves off of items(focus, wand, staff) to get an extra set of energy(you'll have to "pay it back" though). These usually look like "Energy +12" or "Energy+15" weapons with -1 energy regen modifiers.

So you start the match with no focus or item that gives you an addition to energy as thats your reserve.

So lets say you start with a maximum energy of 50, with a +15/-1 energy focus in reserve (which means your potential total is 65). So switching that focus on and off looks like this:

off:50 energy >>>>
on:65 energy >>>

Assuming you are playing with some energy management skills you could just never let yourself hit 0 by casting 5 energy spells at 6 energy, 10 energy at 11 and so on. Then in the worst case scenario if you find yourself not being able to keep up-switch to the +15/-1 focus. You'll be +15 energy away from Zero(combined with your current energy) and just avoid ever being hit by MW. It'll take an extremely dedicated mesmer or crazy energy denial to start draining you from 1 to 0 energy repeatedly for MW to trigger, and in that case they are just screwing their own energy pools over.

Galatea Orea · Apr 26, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28

Thanks for the explanation, Blacklace! I had heard talk of this briefly, but had not heard it formally titled as a Focus Switch. This argument makes good sense, now that I understand it.