Curse

cagan · Sep 29, 2005, 10:08 AM // 10:08

I want to make a illusionary weaponry character for PvE.

The aim is a fun character, who can be an asset in most missions that don't involve every group having a stripper, and it would be a bonus if they weren't totally incapable of light farming type behaviour. That is, not talking about getting surrounded by a dozen foes and felling them all, rather, being able to walk up to a couple of minotaurs/griffins/drakes and being confident that there life will hit 0 before mine.
But thats a minor side objective, a fun, useful PvE char is the main goal.

I find myself constantly starting a new char with this goal in mind, getting not far into post sear, then scrapping it for a different design. My main problem i think is that since this is my first delve into IW, and i really haven't been playing *overly* long in general, i don't know enough about a number of the skills to really get a grasp on what i need.

Onto the plans.
Initially, W/Me was considered for the nice armor ... but was scrapped for the dismal energy regen. While i'm sure there are ways to offset this issue and cope, i've somewhat deemed this an 'unfun' combination.

How important is increased attack speed?, i know the difference is fairly substantial, but the speed increasing skills do go against some of my desires, since i am currently really liking the look of using elemental/physical resistance, but, alas, since they are stances, and the attack speed increases are also stances (tigers fury, flurry) ... the problem is apparant.
The plan involves probably having a -2/-2 shield of some kind, so the long running stances such as these two seem ideal for such a shield, and illusionary weakness will do for a long running enchantment should one in my second class not prove better.

Build notions being considered
Me/Mo
Lets me use the stances i'm currently fond off, allows decent self healing, get to carry a decent res spell, a few nice enchantments which also help for carrying a -2/-2 shield.
No attack speed increasers however, but enough survivability perhaps to offset this, a potential contender, currently my favourite option.

R/Me
Better armour, tigers fury for IAS should my other stances prove not good enough, some useful survivability skills such as 'throw dirt' and 'whirling defence'. One less pip of energy is unfortunate, but probably manageable.
Also has amusement factor with a ranger using a sword ... effectively.
No decent self healing mechanism which is unfortunate. Not major for party play, but goes against secondary goal, still, potential.

Me/W
Gives a few potentially useful shouts, flurry, balanced stance, and disrupting blow. Also, should a mission i'm about to embark on involve an annoying amount of enchantment strippers, i can pump points into swords and be proficient regardless.
No decent self healing mechanism which is unfortunate. Not major for party play, but goes against secondary goal, still, potential.

Mainly hoping someone has played a bit with IW, and can offer input as to what works/doesn't work later in the game.
Remember, fun, its not meant to be a character who can stand there own in the underworld, just standard areas.

Guizzy · Sep 29, 2005, 12:01 PM // 12:01

I've played a IW Mesmer and I found the Me/E combinaison can work very, very well if you use Earth Elementalist (Armor of Earth and Kinetic both; you can also get Ward against Elements if you worry about that kind of stuff too). It makes for a wicked tank, even more so if you add Disruption.

boxterduke · Sep 29, 2005, 12:18 PM // 12:18

I tried that the other day just for fun and it is really nice to see a mesmer tank.
I had this huge fellblade and looked bad ass.
I was helping a few guildied with their new toons and was going through the northern shiverpeaks missions, was very nice to lead with a mesmer since I was the only level 20 there.

Gigashadow · Sep 29, 2005, 07:09 PM // 19:09

(fyi my post is re: PvE also)

I just got IW a few days ago, and respecced my Me/N to a Me/W temporarily (actually I still go back and forth). I bought Flurry and Cyclone Axe. I have 16 illusion magic of course, to get the most out of this (42 per hit).

I've been having a *huge* amount of fun with this soloing or using henchmen, I can't believe how much damage I do spamming flurry and cyclone axe. I haven't tried joining any type of human group with it, because I'm pretty sure players would not be amused with my choice.

Although either an axe or a sword works, I think axe is strictly superior, because you can use Cyclone Axe, which is a great AOE (instant cast 42 aoe damage on a 5 second timer). I picked up the collector chakram offhand of 20/20 illusion magic.

First, I found that it is *absolutely necessary* that you get an axe with +20% enchant duration. It was absolute hell using IW with 10 seconds of downtime, and I wasn't enjoying it as much until I got the enchant upgrade. I was having to use Arcane Echo to keep it up, which ate another skill slot. I was able to drop arcane echo once I got 36 seconds out of IW.

Some mobs like to drain enchantments, so you want some sort of cover enchantment, such as channeling, or sympathetic visage. You need a few skills to use when IW is down, so you're not just standing around.

I brought distortion, because I lose only 1 energy per hit, and it's the best evasion stance, since, unlike pure +armor, I actually avoid the attack (e.g. a distracting shot).

Ether Feast (something I normally never have) because, even with henchmen, they can't always keep me healed. And definitely when soloing.

If I am soloing with my Me/W, I bring Spirit of Failure. Between that and Distortion, it's constant energy. I was able to solo 3 minotaurs at a time outside augury rock very consistently, which was fun, because I haven't been able to do this before.

Sometimes IW is down, so I brought Clumsiness to use at those times. I was originally using Conjure Phantasm, but I didn't like it, because the main target generally didn't live 15 seconds, so it was a waste (and it was a pain to find another target and weaken it a little with phantasm). Clumsiness, on the other hand, you can stick on the main target, will cause it to die much quicker, and eats one of their attacks.

Tindalos · Sep 29, 2005, 07:27 PM // 19:27

I've been playing a swordsman Me/W for some time now, actually for quite a while.

First let me say that this character is the most fun I've had. To stress test the build, I use the mirror and the avicara (sp) groups outside of Droknar's as well as a few things in the fire islands.

However, my build does not rely exclusively on IW.

Rather I have a bi-phasic build, if you will. I don't have the specs right in front of me but it is along the lines of:

Illusion ~ 13 (Superior rune in this)
Tactics ~ 7 (for aegis type shield 15)
Swordsmanship ~ 12 (or whatever weapon you like, axe would be great.)
Fast Casting ~ Whatever the points will allow.

On my bar I have IW, Flurry, Distortion, Phantasm AND the other half are adrenalin skills (I play around with different ones) or low energy warrior skills, Final Thrust is fun, and a defense such as deadly riposte. The general concept is massive degen and the ability to switch to IW for pure damage when necessary. The sword I use is ebon with enchantment duration increase and bonus damage against hexed foes. The fast cast helps pump out things like Chaos Storm, or Phantasm (depending on what I'm playing with) quickly in the middle of a fight. Chaos Storm is wonderful for the melee fighting mesmer!

She is brutal. Playing her I easily swing between adrenalin based fighting and IW based fighting depending on the circumstances. She is not crippled by the loss of IW or Adrenalin and can readily switch from one to the other. A couple of different skills or spells can really enhance her performance, again based on enemies expected or mood for the day. Also last I check, this was a couple of weeks ago so it may have changed, wands generate adrenalin. So it's possible to build up some adrenalin before charging into battle.

If anyone wants the full build let me know. It is a bit different and can take some getting used to, with henchies in PVE I find it is excellent (finished the game no problem), and with proper support it can be unstoppable. In PVP I have no idea how it would do.

Much much fun indeed!

p.s. I know chaos storm is domination and not illusion, I have added points into domination from time to time to try different things out. It's just an example of how to make skills mesh together.

cagan · Sep 30, 2005, 03:18 AM // 03:18

Hmm, i hadn't considered cyclone axe working with IW, a very good point.

I was mainly thinking Sword because i have a quest item from presear lined up, +5 armor while enchanted. The damage isn't important most of the time, so popping a 20% enchant in it essentially leaves it as though i've got a defence and a enchant pommel in the sword.

Hmm, i'll have to look for a axe with a similar sort of bonus i guess.

Me/W is looking more enticing so that i can actually get the armor advantage by meeting the req for the shield.

Murder In China · Sep 30, 2005, 03:27 AM // 03:27

Why not try that pre-patched HoD axe that gave +25 health and add a perfect axe enchanting grip onto it?

Kariston The Swift · Sep 30, 2005, 03:28 AM // 03:28

You could probaly farm if you were a Me/Mo with Essence bond and Balth Spirit on yourself and you hit Distortion every now and then. Would be slow farming though seeing as you could only attack one target and have no attack speed buff.

jesh · Sep 30, 2005, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigashadow

(fyi my post is re: PvE also)

I just got IW a few days ago, and respecced my Me/N to a Me/W temporarily (actually I still go back and forth). I bought Flurry and Cyclone Axe. I have 16 illusion magic of course, to get the most out of this (42 per hit).

I've been having a *huge* amount of fun with this soloing or using henchmen, I can't believe how much damage I do spamming flurry and cyclone axe. I haven't tried joining any type of human group with it, because I'm pretty sure players would not be amused with my choice.

Although either an axe or a sword works, I think axe is strictly superior, because you can use Cyclone Axe, which is a great AOE (instant cast 42 aoe damage on a 5 second timer). I picked up the collector chakram offhand of 20/20 illusion magic.

First, I found that it is *absolutely necessary* that you get an axe with +20% enchant duration. It was absolute hell using IW with 10 seconds of downtime, and I wasn't enjoying it as much until I got the enchant upgrade. I was having to use Arcane Echo to keep it up, which ate another skill slot. I was able to drop arcane echo once I got 36 seconds out of IW.

Some mobs like to drain enchantments, so you want some sort of cover enchantment, such as channeling, or sympathetic visage. You need a few skills to use when IW is down, so you're not just standing around.

I brought distortion, because I lose only 1 energy per hit, and it's the best evasion stance, since, unlike pure +armor, I actually avoid the attack (e.g. a distracting shot).

Ether Feast (something I normally never have) because, even with henchmen, they can't always keep me healed. And definitely when soloing.

If I am soloing with my Me/W, I bring Spirit of Failure. Between that and Distortion, it's constant energy. I was able to solo 3 minotaurs at a time outside augury rock very consistently, which was fun, because I haven't been able to do this before.

Sometimes IW is down, so I brought Clumsiness to use at those times. I was originally using Conjure Phantasm, but I didn't like it, because the main target generally didn't live 15 seconds, so it was a waste (and it was a pain to find another target and weaken it a little with phantasm). Clumsiness, on the other hand, you can stick on the main target, will cause it to die much quicker, and eats one of their attacks.

This man sees the light. Tactics are great, healing sig is definitely easy to use with 75+25% dodge, and you have an unlimited mana engine with distortion+spirit of failure. The +20% enchant is awesome.
One thing that's weird about the me/w characters, it's the only char I've played that I had 3 stances on my bar almost constantly. It really helps to have the right one for the right situation.

On my mesmer I used the henge sword with a +20% enchant upgrade, and the desert collectors stance shield. I had rogue chest and legs, and enchanter for arms and boots. I think my total energy was 38? Not bad at all, considering it never really runs out. One thing I do love is distracting blow. Spam it as soon as it recharges, you can afford it.

My brother uses an axe on his me/w, and I can attest to how cool cyclone is, lol. I stayed away from it when I had mine, simply because I thought the attack speed was slower. Luckily for him, he's aware that there's no difference. No reason not to go axe on an IW.