Mesmers - more specialized and less versatile?

[The Josip]

Originally Posted by RDarken

Most people these days play what works, not what's fun. Especially if we're talking HM here (which I'd say is where most players are these days). You just need to run what will make you successful. (Otherwise, I'd totally run IW for everything. I freaking love that spell.)

But I agree on that too.

Just so you see where I am coming from: I am 2 titles away from GWAMM on my mesmer (halfway there with sweet and party points). I have not only vanquished 3 continents but was also "selling" VQ (meaning, I would do 8man areas with H/H and have 1 person AFK, or 4man areas and have 1 person AFK). I have done dungeons myself, including those HM ones. I didn't pay runners to do HM Orr etc.

Now, during all this time, I have tested various mesmer builds, with various hero setups. I don't speak here of "common sense" and what "looks good". I can tell you exactly how certain mesmer skills behave in practice, how useful they are, how useful they are on heroes. I can tell you which skills only look good on the paper, and which ones work in practice. Of those who work in pratice, I can tell you which ones will yield good benefit, and which ones will be just mediocre (despite their theoretical damage output).

So when I say something works better in most HM areas of general PvE (when it comes to mesmer builds), that's not some theorycraft and paper building everyone does. I am not someone who plays mesmer for 5 minutes a month. It is my main, and I have played mesmer more than all other professions combined (including PvP - r6 glad etc, although that's years old rank since I don't PvP much anymore).

And, anyway, I don't think we should be so quick to knock new builds or not try things just because another profession "can do it better." I have had an SS Mesmer build for years and years that has served me very well. But no one ever wanted an SS Mesmer because "Necros can do it better." But I never met a Necro who could SS better than my Mesmer build.

The problem is that I'm not even competing with other professions. Sure, you will deal less damage than a warrior, dervish, assassin. Although, they don't have Psychic Instability. But that's not the point. The point is, 99% of GW PvE gameplay today is with H/H. So if you want to be efficient with your mesmer, what are you going to do? Take assassin? No, you'll just try to get the most out of your mesmer. You can have fun with "shutdown", but if you want to be efficient, you will take Me/D. If not, you'll at least take AP EVAS spammer. No, it's not mesmer shutdown build, but it's simply better.


Really, if you want to eliminate something just because another profession does it better, then eliminate Dervishes. A/D does it better. Eliminate monks, E/Mo does it better.

[RDarken]

I wasn't arguing with you at all :)

[ygraul]

Originally Posted by The Josip

IW is absolutely horrible, and antisynergizes with other mesmer skills (if you're casting spells you're not attacking) but then again you can VQ with empty skillbar.

And in my opinion flurry on a sword is a great speed boost although drunken master takes the prize. How does +5 AL per Illusion skill not help? How does not having a +8 AL boost from a shield fall short? How does having a back up plan for when you are stripped of enchantments in some areas not prove useful?

Vanquishing the second time with an IW mesmer was actually easier in many cases since I was mostly with h/h and it was easier to lead and exploit AI. Also with blessed insignia, illusion of weakness, a shield, and the AL boost from illusions later on, I could survive quite well until I unpinned my heroes with a standing minimum of 110 - 120 AL.

But hey, I'm a noob, I only have two GWAMM mesmers.

[The Josip]

Originally Posted by ygraul

But hey, I'm a noob, I only have two GWAMM mesmers.

Yup.


..................