Guild Wars 2

The mask in gw2 is certainly a staple of the mesmer profession. I have been wondering what’s the deal with them lately. Are they supposed to represent something? Is there any lore attached to it? Did Mesmers wear masks in gw1? Why don’t any noteworthy mesmer npcs wear masks in the game?
I really like the concept and think its original but I keep getting the feeling that as like a lot of things in gw2 that it has no real meaning.
I think anet does a poor job of putting class lore into the game, hopefully I’m wrong and just have missed it and one of you bright souls can enlighten me.
Ps. I know there is a bit of lore about it at character creation but it only really states that Mesmers wear masks.

Gw1 mesmer headpieces were all masks styled similar to a number in Gw2

Likely relates to the fact they deal with illusions, trickery, and messing with minds. Another layer of mystery.

It is just a achetype like “theives use masks” the depelopers intended to allow any player looks how he thinks better(like my thief with a monocle) that’s why they put so little Lore in the equips of the classes

I posted this question in the mesmer forum also. Someone responded with a good answer and I wanted to post it here also.

It goes back to the original Guild Wars, and lore behind the Mesmer there. I’ll do my best to present what I remember/interpret from there.
In the original Prophecies campaign, the human gods were deeply tied to the profession’s. Lyssa is the twin Goddess of Beauty and Illusion, individually known as Lyss and Ilya. She is the patron Goddess of Mesmers and Assassins.
And it was, that a stranger came to the village of Wren seeking shelter and employment. Though young in years, her body was stooped and twisted, her flesh eaten by disease. “Ye have the mark of plague upon ye,” said the citizen named Gallrick. “Leave this place lest you sicken our people.”
“I’ve lost my family and my home,” cried the desperate woman. “Have you no heart?”
Yet each person, in turn, did look away.
Then from the crowd came a young woman, Sara. She looked upon the woman with pity. “If you need help,” said Sara, “I will give it.” And Sara did approach the gnarled, bent woman and did offer her a helping hand.
Then the sickened woman pulled from her body the robes of plague, revealing Herself to be the goddess Lyssa.
The people of Wren fell to their knees, begging Lyssa’s mercy. But lifting Sara gently, saith She, “True beauty is measured not by appearance but by actions and deeds. Many have eyes, but few have seen. Of all here, you saw the beauty behind the illusion. And you alone shall be blessed with My gifts.”
So Lyssa is twin gods, and as a follower of Lyssa, you would never know which twin would answer your prayers. So part of the reason a Mesmer wears a mask, is to keep the true identity of the Mesmer hidden, so that the enemy would never know what to expect.
Also, in the original, the Mesmer’s where presented as very “theatrical”. And in the theater, actor’s are constantly “wearing masks” to portray something other than themselves. Again, to keep the audience enthralled with the illusion/presentation, and not the actor’s real identity.

jweez gave an excellent answer.

The reason a lot of the class lore in GW2 seems like it’s missing is because there will be many different archtypes for each profession. depending on race, and individuality. e.g.: Ranger can be hunters, scouts, beast masters, biologists, etc. all depending on how the race treats a profession and how an individual uses the skills. they wouldn’t all have the same background or motivations like in other fanatasy universes where classes share those types of things.