Curse

romeo_longsword · Mar 10, 2006, 04:08 PM // 16:08

At the moment, I have two skills for interrupting, they are as follow:

Cry of Frustration, and Power Spike.

One of them aim for spells, and one of them for skills, I like to ask, because the ranger, savage shot, can interrupt both skill and spells (just the damage is not added if its a skill), I like to know if Mesmer spells fuction the same, which is that the action, either spell of skill will be interrupted, but the damage does not apply.

kdhoney44 · Mar 10, 2006, 04:14 PM // 16:14

As far as I have seen mesmer skills dont usually work like that. Most are directed to interrupting either spell or skill, but not both. There is one that I know of that interrupts both spells and skills and that is leech signet (inspiration) and on that one if you happen to interrupt a spell instead of a skill you gain 3-13 energy. There may be others that interrupt both spells and skills but I'm dont know them right off.

kdhoney44 · Mar 10, 2006, 04:22 PM // 16:22

Ok I just checked through the mesmer skill list and did not see another skill that interrupts both spells and skills outside of leech signet. As I said before, you do get a bonus off of that one if it interrupts a spell instead of a skill. Hope that answers your question

DieInBasra · Mar 10, 2006, 04:26 PM // 16:26

Mesmer have 6 interupts, Power Drain, Leak, and Spike, Cry of Frustration, Leech Signet and Power Block{e}. Cry of Frustration works on skills and spells and Leech Signet works on everything, even regular attacks. The rest only do anything if they interupt a spell.

Leon_Ux-ixen · Mar 10, 2006, 04:30 PM // 16:30

Punishing Shot interrupts and deals 2-18dam I belive. You can capture it from B something in Snake Dance.

Esuna · Mar 11, 2006, 09:06 PM // 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeo_longsword

At the moment, I have two skills for interrupting, they are as follow:

Cry of Frustration, and Power Spike.

One of them aim for spells, and one of them for skills, I like to ask, because the ranger, savage shot, can interrupt both skill and spells (just the damage is not added if its a skill), I like to know if Mesmer spells fuction the same, which is that the action, either spell of skill will be interrupted, but the damage does not apply.

To answer your question, let's clarify. All spells are skills, but not all skills are spells. Cry of Frustration will do damage and interrupt if a) the skill used was a spell OR skill and b) if you actually interrupted something while the said skill is being activated.

Power spike ONLY interrupts spells. So if you hit Power Spike on, let's say, a troll unguent, nothing happens. You do no damage, and the target is not interrupted.

Also another tip: Let's say your target is using some anti-interrupt stance (ie. Mantra of Resolve, Mantra of Concentration) and you, the mesmer, try to interrupt the spell, Lightning Orb, with a Power Spike. What will happen is that the target will NOT be interrupted but they WILL take damage. Similarly, if you were a ranger using Savage shot, you do NOT interrupt and there is NO bonus damage. Also, if you were to interrupt with Power Block, and if the target is using a spell, he are STILL interrupted, despite the Mantra of Resolve/Concentration. This is because Power Block disables spells of the same attribute. If it is of no attribute, then all unlinked attribute spells on his bar are disabled for a brief period.

In short, the secondary effects of mesmer interrupts take place despite any anti-interrupt stance but this is untrue for rangers.

Whew, not sure if you wanted to know all of that anyway, lol.

mariano · Mar 22, 2006, 04:36 PM // 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esuna

Also another tip: Let's say your target is using some anti-interrupt stance (ie. Mantra of Resolve, Mantra of Concentration) and you, the mesmer, try to interrupt the spell, Lightning Orb, with a Power Spike. What will happen is that the target will NOT be interrupted but they WILL take damage. Similarly, if you were a ranger using Savage shot, you do NOT interrupt and there is NO bonus damage. Also, if you were to interrupt with Power Block, and if the target is using a spell, he are STILL interrupted, despite the Mantra of Resolve/Concentration. This is because Power Block disables spells of the same attribute. If it is of no attribute, then all unlinked attribute spells on his bar are disabled for a brief period.

In short, the secondary effects of mesmer interrupts take place despite any anti-interrupt stance but this is untrue for rangers.

Thank you very much,

, I wanted to know this.

I wish to add, that some other mesmer's skills which are not considered interruptions, may work similar to them. For example, Guilt takes effect for a spell A's casting if Guilt's casting ends before the end of the spell A's casting. Or, Guilt takes effect for a spell A's casting, even if Guilt's casting starts after the start of the spell A's casting, provided that Guilt ends before the end of the spell A's casting.

That is, interruptions are spells with very short casting times which stop a spell's casting. But, some mesmer's spells would be similar to interruptions provided that they could be casted fast enough.

This is valid also for Backfire, and may be for Distraction; but, I have not tested it, say, for example, to cast Distraction during a Troll Unguent's casting time. I think, that this adds some meaning to Fast Casting.

Cherno · Mar 22, 2006, 07:17 PM // 19:17

I belive you could actually call Blackout an interrupt as well. I have had ocassion when I got it off on a creature while they were casting and their skill disabled, effectively interrupting them.

Unfortunately I believe that while mesmers are usually thought of as the interrupting class, rangers do it better. Their interrupts almost universally will get skills (skills and spells) and recharge much faster than Mesmer interrupts. It is a shame really, nothing I love more than interrupting a creature with my mesmer in between hexing them.

nitrile · Mar 22, 2006, 10:06 PM // 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esuna

Whew, not sure if you wanted to know all of that anyway, lol.

I sure did. thanks for that clarification on how the interrupt skills work with anti-interrupting measures.

LightningHell · Mar 22, 2006, 11:58 PM // 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherno

I belive you could actually call Blackout an interrupt as well. I have had ocassion when I got it off on a creature while they were casting and their skill disabled, effectively interrupting them.

Unfortunately I believe that while mesmers are usually thought of as the interrupting class, rangers do it better. Their interrupts almost universally will get skills (skills and spells) and recharge much faster than Mesmer interrupts. It is a shame really, nothing I love more than interrupting a creature with my mesmer in between hexing them.

It's a pity the Mez recharges are so long and the Ranger can spam interrupts.

Rey Lentless · Mar 23, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

Mesmers can throw on migraine and conunudrum too. Twitchers (interupt mes's), can usually totally shut down any caster, except for the .25 casts.

Rayne Nightfyre · Mar 23, 2006, 01:18 AM // 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

It's a pity the Mez recharges are so long and the Ranger can spam interrupts.

Keep in mind a Mesmer's interrupts are more powerful and do more than simply interrupt an action. Power Spike deals a respectable amount of damage, Power Leak drains a ton of energy from the foe, Power Block disables all skills of the interrupted skill's attribute, and so on. So you cannot say Rangers do a "better job" of interrupting, it largely depends on the enemy being faced. Obviously a Ranger would be better able to keep up with a Healing Signet-spamming Warrior, whereas a Mesmer would be more suited to quickly finish off a caster-type enemy. So neither one is better or worse in general, they truly should not be compared since they are both geared toward different situations.

Cherno · Mar 23, 2006, 03:46 AM // 03:46

Agree rayne, to an extent. Yes the mesmer can do some good things as a bonus to the interrupt, but if you goal is solely to stop the foe's action(s) then mesmers just can't keep up with the rangers. Most of the time, for right or for wrong, just interrupting the action is enough. The added bonus or shutdown is just gravy on top.

LightningHell · Mar 23, 2006, 06:43 AM // 06:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayne2550

Keep in mind a Mesmer's interrupts are more powerful and do more than simply interrupt an action. Power Spike deals a respectable amount of damage, Power Leak drains a ton of energy from the foe, Power Block disables all skills of the interrupted skill's attribute, and so on. So you cannot say Rangers do a "better job" of interrupting, it largely depends on the enemy being faced. Obviously a Ranger would be better able to keep up with a Healing Signet-spamming Warrior, whereas a Mesmer would be more suited to quickly finish off a caster-type enemy. So neither one is better or worse in general, they truly should not be compared since they are both geared toward different situations.

Which is why the general population of interrupters are Rangers. I play an interrupting Mez, and I know it actually requires brains, unlike Ranger of which you spam them. Notice, I say it's a pity. I mean that it's a pity people don't notice the effects of a Mesmer interrupt because they are so few and far between, but the usefulness is partly because they're so few and far between.

Damn broken finger...

SnipiousMax · Mar 23, 2006, 06:57 AM // 06:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

It's a pity the Mez recharges are so long and the Ranger can spam interrupts.

Well, I'll tell you what, we'll (us rangers) give you (you mesmers) the improved recharge time, if you let us interrupt through walls, around corners and ledges instantly.

LightningHell · Mar 23, 2006, 07:02 AM // 07:02

Which is why I typed up the above post.

And to add a point that, smart Mesmers hide behind walls to evade those arrows.

Minus Sign · Mar 23, 2006, 09:07 AM // 09:07

For PvE: Cry of Frustration, Leech sig and Blackout. Those interupts see more time on my skill slot than any other. Leech is the least of the 3 due to its slow recharge and because its a signet and not a spell (unlike blackout which has a quicker recharge), so Mantra of recovery doesn't increase its recharge. I always have a minimum of 3 interupts on my bar (and usually more). I prefer the Cry/Leech/Blackout combo because they give me 3 chances to interupt skills, instead of only 2 chance in fighter heavy areas that don't have many castors. Maybe Factions will finally give me some more "every skill" interupt options. I certainly hope so with the Blackout nerf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

It's a pity the Mez recharges are so long and the Ranger can spam interrupts.

Thats a statement indicitive of many Defensive PvE players today, and one of the main reasons Rangers are finally being accepted in PvE. Rangers are a "consistent" interupt, with spike added into their skillset. Its easier for a new player to see the Ranger's many different uses: interupter, spiker, condition spammer via skill or trap.

Mesmers are more subtle. But that does not make them any less effective. In fact, it often makes them more so. Arrows have to hit to interupt, so the "shoot around corners" situation is a factor.

So is timing. Most people pick up Ranger interupts and say, "It's a quick cast skill! I can interupt just as fast as all those mesmer skills and recharge faster to boot!"

Until they try it in game. Suddenly those quick cast arrow skills are surprisingly slow...due to flight time of the arrow (honestly, how many newb players haven't become frustrated with their interupt build/Longbow combo?). Its a race to get your recharging interupt off on a 1second cast spell, while the mesmer spells just smack it down like swatting a fly. 1st time, every time. So the Ranger/interuptor has two choices; finding ever more expensive and less efficent ways to increase flight speed of his arrow to keep up with his interupt pace or start equiping mesmer spells to compensate for castors with semi-quick casting spells/skills.

All too often, other proffession interuptors choose a third road entirely: interupts becme an afterthought to their build. The "Its great when I can interupt 1 really bad skill, but I'm really a spiker" mentality. In PvE, groups can easily get away with it. AI is not sofisticated enough for actions like kiting, nor are anti-castors particularly present in the game. Going fully offensive has fewer consequences...except for the monks who are now your only defense (no wonder why we complain).

PvP though, where the enemy is as smart as you are, mesmer suddenly dominates.

Why is that?

Because the best offense is a defense that can kill, and skills that--consistently--prevent opponents from using their build (or punishes them when they do) makes any character worth its group slot and then some. Suddenly a trait you didn't need in PvE (useful, but not necessary) becomes a driving force, as important and sometimes more important than the damage your team can inflict.

LightningHell · Mar 23, 2006, 10:31 AM // 10:31

It's still a pity. I'd like to see more interrupting Mesmers.

I certainly hope there are more interrupts for Mesmer in Factions, since 7 interrupts, counting Blackout, isn't really enough for most people.

Or maybe, read this. I think I hinted something, but nobody caught it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

it's a pity people don't notice the effects of a Mesmer interrupt because they are so few and far between, but the usefulness is partly because they're so few and far between.

From that, I mean this.

People don't notice Mez interrupts because they're so few and far between.

But this is partly because when a Mesmer interrupts, it hinders the opponent, and as so the opponent, well...for an example, a well-placed Power Block on a PvE monk isn't noticeable.

But this is also why the usefulness is why it's so few and far between, because you don't need the whole skillbar to interrupt.

And still blackout the opponent altogether.

Hmm...I'm a bad explainer.

Minus Sign · Mar 23, 2006, 11:41 AM // 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

It's still a pity. I'd like to see more interrupting Mesmers.

I certainly hope there are more interrupts for Mesmer in Factions, since 7 interrupts, counting Blackout, isn't really enough for most people.

Or maybe, read this. I think I hinted something, but nobody caught it...

From that, I mean this.

People don't notice Mez interrupts because they're so few and far between.

But this is partly because when a Mesmer interrupts, it hinders the opponent, and as so the opponent, well...for an example, a well-placed Power Block on a PvE monk isn't noticeable.

But this is also why the usefulness is why it's so few and far between, because you don't need the whole skillbar to interrupt.

And still blackout the opponent altogether.

Hmm...I'm a bad explainer.

Put a different spin on it. People DO notice interupts from mesmers and they are not so few and far between...in PvP. Because people can actually see (and gripe) when a good mesmer locks them down, they come to realise just how devistating a good mesmer is, instead of in PvE where the AI doesn't flame a lockdown/defensive fighter. Mesmer is equally effective in either situation, but its not as noticable because you aren't on the recieving end

EDIT: also, a decent mesmer build is not represented with the AI until very late in the game. How many PvEers out there have heard this in a PuG:

Monk: I'm using Rebirth on New001!
Ele: Great, you can rez me now. Why couldn't you HEAl me before???1
Monk (ping hex): I have Migraine on me!
Monk: I couldn't get off any spells; all those ---- Mezers kept interupting my heals.

When was the last time an AI mesmer applied blackout to you? How often do you have to wait for skill recharges in PvE because someone cast through Diversion?
More important: how often does your Ele get off meteor Shower on a group of AI mesmers? And how often do you think that'd happen if I was on the other side (insert evil smiley).

Mesmer skills and skillsets are woefully misrepresented in PvE...and thank Dwayna for it. If the AI or builds was capable of half the shutdown a human Mesmer can throw, we'd be seeing half the threads in guru take a very different tone.

LightningHell · Mar 23, 2006, 11:48 AM // 11:48

Okay, I agree then.

I rarely play PvP. Therefore, please forgive my PvE attitude.