Lanoni
Guild Member
Global user
Registered: 08-2005
Posts: 239
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Mesmer help!
Hey guys, I created a character that I think I can really like. But I am finding her very difficult to play. My character is level 17 (I think I hit that last night), is a Ritualist sub, and has done both of the attribute point quests.
Gnarly was kind enough to help me a bit the other night with his take on mesmers.
At this point my take on the class (for pve at least) is that through proper skill chaining I can slow down (if not stop sometimes) either casters, or slow down and weaken tanks. I find myself heavily dependant on Either Feast to keep at least some HP coming back my way, and also Energy Tap for more mana. I do like the domination line also, but I don't want to spread my points too thin.
Any advice?
---
Lanoni Lifegiver Monk/ Mesmer
Dharlanna Wend Paragon/whateverIfelllikeatthemoment
Chandra Snowfall Ranger/ ditto above
|
|
5/15/2006, 6:29 pm
|
Send Email to Lanoni
Send PM to Lanoni
|
DamonIsa
Guild Member
Global user
Registered: 08-2005
Posts: 1266
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Mesmer help!
Well, when I play a Mesmer, I usually go with about 4 in Fast Casting, then the rest in Inspiration and Illusion. Ether Feast is a must, same with energy tap. If you have it, I'd suggest Leech Signet, or Power Drain to also help with energy issues.
I tend to take on the warriors myself, rather than the casters. Countering is, well, easier with a warrior or ranger, because you can disable skills for an additional 20 seconds. Eh, but that's my take. I like Illusions and health degen. I find as a mesmer, it's usually the warriors that are up in your face, not the casters, so anti-warrior skills are always a good idea.
---
Niva Reikan: Warrior/Monk, Kurzick Champion
Arcturus Highwind: Paragon/Ranger
Pet: ROUS
Walker Tam: Warrior, Defender of Ascalon in Training
Nikolia Vasburg: Ritualist/Necromancer
|
|
5/15/2006, 8:01 pm
|
Send Email to DamonIsa
Send PM to DamonIsa
|
Dannzzigg
Founder
Global user
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2686
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Mesmer help!
How to play a Mesmer is more dependant on what you plan to do with them than any other profession I have tried.
What I have found so far is that there are a few basic goals to shoot for:
Degen: Using the Illusion line, and perhaps a few skills from the Domination line, it is possible to lay a rather serious hurting on a target through Health degeneration. this can often be countered by a decent Monk in PvP unless other steps are taken to counter their aactions.
Counters: Where a Mesmer can really shine, if built correctly. Mesmers can be used to counter Casters specifically, Melee specifically or spread to do both with a small decrease in effectiveness in either. The trick to efficiently countering an opponent is to be able to anticipate what you will be facing, and bringing the skills to neutralize this. PvE makes it very easy to offer counters, as you will generaly know what you are up against. PvP is another story entirely.
Direct Damage: Not necessarily the most often thought of role for a Mesmer, they do have some rather troublesome skills when it comes to dealing damage to the opposition. Some of the skills which would be used for other roles, such as a caster-counter may also be used for direct damage. Built with the right skills, a Mesmer can actually outdamage an Elementalist, even over time with the energy regeneration skills available through the Inspiration line.
Interrupter: I've found that Rangers make far better interrupters when compared to Mesmers, but a Mesmer can still be effective when used this way. They have many skills which interrupt not only spells, but also actions (such as rituals, signets). The key here is timing, and making sure you are using the right interrupt for the action the target is taking. Being aware of the recharge of your skills and the importance of what you are trying to interrupt is essential. Interrupting can sometimes make an effective secondary role to a Mesmer who is primarily trying to do somethign else, such as countering a caster or direct damage.
Support: Mesmers can also add certain support skills to remove Hexes from party members or Enchantments from a target. Coupling a Mesmer's support skills with support skills from a secondary proffession can make for a truly useful support character.
Self Defense: While not a role in itself, many of a Mesmer's skills are used to keep themselves alive either through the addition of armor or by making them much more difficult to hit. A good portion of the Inspiration line is designed for just this purpose, and staying alive longer simply makes you more effective in your role as a Degener or Counter etc...
Energy Denial: Mesmers can wreak havoc on casters and melee classes alike by stealing their energy for their own use or doing damage with the energy that was stolen. A well built Edenial mesmer can compeltely eliminate the effectiveness of any character on the battlefield save an adrenaline warrior.
Those are just some of the roles that I have morphed my mesmer into on occassion. The combinations are endless, but they all begin with the same thing: Knowing what you are trying to accomplish with your mesmer before you really start building.
You mentioned having energy issues. Besides the energy stealing skills available in the inspiration line, it is also imperative to learn and understand the timing of when to cast what. Because so many Mesmer skills are situational in their effectiveness (Empathy only works on an attacking character, Backfire on a casting character, for example) you must be prepared to cast them only when it will count. Casting a Damage over Time spell on a character with 1/4 health is probably not a good idea. You will not only spend the energy when it would likely have been better used on a target not about to die, you will also disable what is likely a long-recharge skill for limited effect.
As far as staying alive, and not needing Ether Feast so often... I have one simple word for you: MOVE!
Every time you move, you will force the computer to recalculate aggro, and there is a chance the attacking mob may decide to go after someone else. Also, do not be the first one to attack, even with henchies. using the "target" feature, rather than the attack feature is extremely useful in this respect. The default is LSHIFT-CTRL-SPACE. This will announce "I am targetting XXX". If you have a hench tank in your party, and the target is within about 1 1/2 times the radius of your aggro bubble, he will charge off to attack, therby drawing the aggro to him like a good tank should. If you are playing with real people, simply stay to the back, and let someone else make the first move.
Anyway, this is about all I can come up with for now. I've played my Mesmer quite a bit lately, so I hope I was able to help you out some. If not, ask me in-game, and I'll bring ole Excelsior along to give you some tips on the playing field, so to speak. 
--- Check out Dylan's Den!
 |
|
5/15/2006, 10:03 pm
|
Send Email to Dannzzigg
Send PM to Dannzzigg
MSN
|
Add a reply
Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b - Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
Click here to get your own free message board
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 11/25/2009, 5:04 pm
|
|
|
