Curse

Grammar · Jan 21, 2006, 12:38 PM // 12:38

I'm new to the Mesmer and Necro scene. I recently bought a second account so I could try my hand at the remaining two professions that I hadn't used yet.
I'm set with my Necro, but I'm still tinkering with my Mesmer.
Here's what I'm thinking

(Note: this is for PvE, and is a pre-elite build, I haven't capped any elites yet)

Attributes: high Domination, Curses, and Inspiration (importance in that order); left-overs in Fast Casting.

1. Backfire (anti-caster hex)
2. Power Spike (anti-caster interupt)
3. Empathy (anti-fighter hex)
4. Faintheartedness (anti-fighter hex)
5. Spirit of Failure (anti-fighter hex & energy management)
6. Parasitic Bond (self-heal & cover hex)
7. Ether Feast (self-heal)
8. rez

The plan: Move from target to target, casting a single hex (depending on their class), followed by Parasitic Bond, and then moving on to the next target. Only sit on a single target if there are two powerful casters in the group, in which case one of them get's Backfire, and the other you sit on and interupt with Power Spike (preferably Backfire the Monk or Mesmer, then interupt the Ele's high damage spell). The idea is to affect the battle as a whole, and not to just sit there and try to deal direct damage to a single foe (which other classes do better IMO).

The goal: Mess up as many enemies as possible. As many as your energy will allow.

The big issue: Energy. Possibly replace Spirit of Failure with a better energy management spell from the Inspiration line. Empathy and Faintheartedness regen pretty fast (10 sec. and 8 sec., respectively), so maybe just stick to those two hexes as your anti-fighter hexes.
Also, if Parasitic Bond is doing the job healing-wise, maybe drop Ether Feast for an additional energy management spell.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

ange1 · Jan 21, 2006, 01:24 PM // 13:24

pve
-no need self heal, no ether feast
-not much hex removal,no need cover
-spirit of failure isn't much good by itself

-power drain and energy tap are good in pve
-cry of frustration better than powerspike, cuz it doesn't just interrupt spells, also troll urgent and healing signet, and it gives good animation =D

Grammar · Jan 21, 2006, 02:38 PM // 14:38

^^^ Thanks for the suggestions.

The reason I have self-heals on there is because I find myself getting targeted quite a bit with my Mesemer, much like my Ele.
PvE monsters seem to have this obsession with Ele's and Mesmers, because that's pretty much ALWAYS who they target first (almost never Monks, oddly enough, unless it's the healer henchie, lol).
If the Warriors aren't good at snaring, they always come charging straight for me, even if I'm way the hell back and out of aggro range.

Energy Tap just doesn't seem worth to me it unless you max out Inspiration, which I won't be doing. Even at 12 Inspiration, you're only netting 7 energy every 30 seconds (with a 3 second cast time). Power Drain seems like the better option.

Interesting point about Cry of Fustration. Even though it has a higher cost, longer recast, and lower damage, it interupts ALL skills and not just spells, which is huge.
Maybe if I bring Cry of Fustration AND Power Drain, I'll be set with both interupts and energy management.

1. Backfire
2. Cry of Fustration
3. Power Drain
4. Empathy
5. Faintheartedness
6. Parasitic Bond / other
7. Ether Feast / other
8. rez

I'd prefer to leave at least one of the self-heals on there, but maybe I can open up the other slot for something else, like an elite spell when I get one (such as Energy Drain or SS). Until then, maybe having something like Shatter Hex might be a good idea.

Avarre · Jan 21, 2006, 05:09 PM // 17:09

Meep, mesmers get hit by monsters alot because to hex something, often you move forward too far!

Shatter hex is a handy spell, but it really is a pain on your energy... I've run builds with bfire/shathex/cry before without any management spell, and it's not impossible since you can drop 1 hex on each foe and sit back a bit.

Leech signet isn't bad, its like CoF and power drain all in one, just with a much longer recharge...

As for the elite, for Domination/Curse SS would probably be best, although it doesn't hurt much from a mesmer. I don't really like the domination elites in PvE... perhaps Mantra of Recall for energy management (better than energy drain by a lot imho).

Drop ether feast (parabond is a decent enough heal usually, you shouldn't be taking that much direct damage to need sudden healing).

white wolfgang · Jan 21, 2006, 05:20 PM // 17:20

I think it might be too balanced. Mesmers do better focused on anti-caster OR anti-fighter.

Littzain · Jan 21, 2006, 10:55 PM // 22:55

Drain Enchantment and Power Drain are effective energy managment skills.

Avarre · Jan 22, 2006, 02:21 AM // 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by white wolfgang

I think it might be too balanced. Mesmers do better focused on anti-caster OR anti-fighter.

Usually when I PvE (FoW or UW) my setup is two anticaster hexes, two antiwarrior hexes, 1 interrupt, 1 self-protection, and shatter hex. Because I can basically stick 1 hex on each target and then stand back, I don't need that much energy management. (Pure mes illu/dom build)

For PvE you should really be able to weaken everything, for PvP should be focused.

QuixotesGhost · Jan 31, 2006, 05:21 PM // 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

Usually when I PvE (FoW or UW) my setup is two anticaster hexes, two antiwarrior hexes, 1 interrupt, 1 self-protection, and shatter hex. Because I can basically stick 1 hex on each target and then stand back, I don't need that much energy management. (Pure mes illu/dom build)

For PvE you should really be able to weaken everything, for PvP should be focused.

I disagree, in 8v8 maybe becuase you can count on most of the classes being in most teams and multiple copies of them, but in 4v4 if you focus it's entirely possible that you will face a group that doesn't even contain the class type which you are speciallized against.

And seriously, Warriors/Rangers don't need an entire bar devoted to them to shut them down, just one or two hexs or skills will do the trick in 4v4. In 8v8 when you need to counter IWay and ranger spike I can see a whole bar devoted to shutting down physical attackers, but not in 4v4. It's just overkill.

Gerenerally in TA you'll get more milage for your hex buck if you throw a hex or two on a guy then tab over to the monk and give him grief so he can't remove the hexes you've placed, then if you just try to stack hexes on one target like a madman.

For example, if you fill your bar entirely with interupts and make your elite migraine. Telling yourself that "your focused anti-caster"

Then in TA you face a team of 3 rangers and 1 boon/prot.

Crap outta luck my friend.

SnipiousMax · Jan 31, 2006, 06:39 PM // 18:39

I disagree. I think you need to focus your efforts in CA/TA as well. Its the difference between being useless 1/10 times, or being an average to poor balanced mesmer. There is almost always a warrior in a group. There is almost always a caster in a group. Its rare that you find a group without one or the other.

QuixotesGhost · Feb 01, 2006, 05:41 AM // 05:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnipiousMax

I disagree. I think you need to focus your efforts in CA/TA as well. Its the difference between being useless 1/10 times, or being an average to poor balanced mesmer. There is almost always a warrior in a group. There is almost always a caster in a group. Its rare that you find a group without one or the other.

You know, I run a balanced mesmer build in TA quite often. I don't like to brag becuase on an online forum that's just an invite for people to tear you down. Honestly though, when I run my balanced mes in TA I have people gushing over what a great mesmer I am. I get numerous guild invites and I'd have to say a third to half my friends list are people I ran my mesmer alongside in TA and wanted to play again with me sometime. 20+ win streaks aren't uncommon for me and I've gotten Pms telling me that "I own too much" and that a guild "needs a mesmer of my caliber".

I don't think that's the mark of a "average to poor balanced mesmer". Balanced has worked spendidly in the past for me, and I believe that in TA it's the way to go.

Note I'm not talking about 8 on 8. All I'm saying in this post is that balanced works in 4v4.

*Cue post talking about how I'm a noob becuase I think TA means anything*

SnipiousMax · Feb 01, 2006, 05:57 AM // 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuixotesGhost

You know, I run a balanced mesmer build in TA quite often. I don't like to brag becuase on an online forum that's just an invite for people to tear you down. Honestly though, when I run my balanced mes in TA I have people gushing over what a great mesmer I am. I get numerous guild invites and I'd have to say a third to half my friends list are people I ran my mesmer alongside in TA and wanted to play again with me sometime. 20+ win streaks aren't uncommon for me and I've gotten Pms telling me that "I own too much" and that a guild "needs a mesmer of my caliber".

I don't think that's the mark of a "average to poor balanced mesmer". Balanced has worked spendidly in the past for me, and I believe that in TA it's the way to go.

Note I'm not talking about 8 on 8. All I'm saying in this post is that balanced works in 4v4.

*Cue post talking about how I'm a noob becuase I think TA means anything*

No need to get defensive, I was just disagreed, like you did the post before. Reason I say you need to be specific (not saying that you don't have a splendid play style, cause obviously you do) is energy. If I'm toss a hex or two on one guy then tab over to the monk to keep him busy...I've less energy to devote to that purpose. One the other hand if I focus on just the monk, concentrate my efforts on bothering him/her and staying alive, then the monk has to stop healing the warriors, which in turn hurts them more than if they had been hexed to begin with. If I'm running anti warrior, I have more energy devoted to keeping my monk and casters (and self) alive while others annoy the monk. Its great that you can play a balanced mesmer and do wonderfully. I wish I was as good. But I've found that I need to focus my attention on one or the other, and I'm more efficient when I'm working against one or the other. I get compliments as well. Course I also get cursings and n00b spamings. I don't hold much sway into what people say to me anymore.