Guild Wars 2

Folk crap on scep/focus … but it’s pretty kitten smexxy in WvW or PvP. Using that + staff, atm, occasionally staff/gs. Definately snag the 20 point Domination trait for glamour fields causing confusion, then master of confusion (level 10 illusions), those and the glamour mods from inspiration’ll make a nasty confusion-bomber. The other adds blinding befuddlement from illusions, and uses scep/torch. Then, The Prestige (torch #4) confuses in the area of its initial blind. (that trick also works for the active ability on Signet of Midnight, or any other blind we toss out).
One word of warning, however. While confusion can still work in PvP, keep in mind that confusion damage is halved in that game mode.

At 80, all of yer stats base at 916 (iirc). Between that and some Chaos investment and/or Rabid Armour, 1300+ toughness is hella easy to pull off. Note, that Rabid’s still a good choice even with the 20/0/0/20/30 Glamour-bomb build.

As a reference, I’m currently 20/0/20/0/30, and pack about 1450 Toughness. Only 200 of that is from Chaos traitline. Most of my armour is Rabid,(pre/tou/cond) but my weapons are Carrion (pow/vit/cond) or Apothecary (vit/healing/cond). As such, with straight Rabid, you should easily pull 1300 Toughness at 80.

As for build: I’d honestly suggest more in Illusions, since that is our main condition damage traitline. Unless yer set on the Glamour c/d and duration mods from Inspiration. Truth is, either way can work, especially with tuning crystals and condi-booster food. Let alone a 6-pack of Superior Runes of the Undead.

This does sound entertaining as all get-out.

Efut wouldn’t get to the Dragon … either Zrii or Batanga already backstabbed the bastid.
:)

I’m glad to hear it’s at least being worked on. Fact is, between Mesmers (my main, and 1st 80) and Thieves … the culling biz leads to some major bad reputation/hate. At least post-culling, we should see a good deal of that vanish.

Two words: Attunement Dancing.

Honestly one of the few classes that’s as fun as my Mesmer.

As someone who has an Ele, I’d have to weigh in on Arheundel’s last idea: namely, fix either 1.) duration stacking on cross-set runes, or 2.) take a look at the trait in question and adjust it. Hell, I’ve run my Ele as 0/25/0/20/25 since hitting 80. Currently in a Talhkora set/6 Mercy. Ergo, it is wrong-minded to wish nerf on an entire class. Merely look at the build/rune-spec that causes the issue, and handle that.

What I don’t get:
It isn’t as if they (ANet) couldn’t have used a “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” routine. Let’s be honest here, most of the “evil” factions would bleeding WELL have a reason to keep our boy Zhaitan slapped down.

Only a Mesmer waits months for a predictable might-stacking method, and eats a whiffle-ball bat to the cranium soon afterwards.

DragonEyeZeneth.2137:

lolitsage.2185:

So guys if any of you’ve heard of Sword Art Online, I’m trying to make my character a replica of Kirito as close as possible.

My question to you is which VRMMO “Kirito” you wish to personify?

My suggestions:
SAO – Human Mesmer S/S
ALO – Sylvary Mesmer S/S (Arah armor makes for lovely wings)
GGO – Female Mesmer/Thief S/P

Those who dont know, I’m ashamed to call you fellow otaku’s. Light Novels are always better than the anime.

Heh. I haven’t read the GGO arc, yet. But my question is: Why female? Is that avatar
actually female, or just reaaaaalllly bishounen? If the latter, then wouldn’t a minimum height, thin human male work? (After all, human male faces can get mighty trap-esque.)

Westibone.3985:

Has anyone tried out a true Hybrid power/condition build? Something along the lines of

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgQQJAWRlwzKo3UTmGbNJiJF9GyhSB2ldkK0alUgbXIA;ToAgyCqo+y8l4LrMuvkftWYUB

I was thinking Staff/GS. I was messing around with that spreadsheet and was able to get the following stats (while holding zerker GS and Rabid Staff respectively):

With Berserker GS

Power: 1912
Crit Chance: 43%
Crit Dmg: 50
Cond Dmg: 818
Armor: 2036
HP: 17902

With Rabid Staff

Power: 1733
Crit Chance: 43%
Crit Dmg: 41
Cond Dmg: 991
Armor: 2164
HP: 17902

My thinking was that you could use GS to nuke/shatter, or get into staff, generate some clones, and hang back and wear them down. Not sure yet if this would be effective or just spreading yourself too thin. You could use Sigil of corruption or Bloodlust depending on whether you want to favor power or condition dmg, and your food choice could also be used in he same way.

I’m more of a pure condition setup: Rabid armour/trinkets, Carrion weaponry (mostly)
I’ve been running GS/Staff for a few days. What I see in your link looks to be a 10/20/20/0/20 spread. Mine varies between: 0/20/20/0/30, 10/20/10/0/30, 20/0/0/20/30, 0/20/30/0/20, or 0/0/30/10/30. (Unfortunately, I’ve ended up dropping Runes of the Undead -and a decent chunk of my cond. dmg.- for a Centaur set, just to move worth a kitten )

My current spec is more like: (0/20/20/0/30)
Dhuumseal (with Superior Sig of Air.)
Power:1406
Crit Chance: 30
Crit Damage: 20
Cond. Dmg.:1192
Armor:2370
Health: 18432

Carrion Staff of Fire (Exotic)
Power:1406
Crit Chance: 30
Crit Damage: 20
Cond Dmg.: 1192
Armor: 2420
Health: 18432

You idea for swapping the two weapons depending on range is sound. I’ve had good results in doing so, especially with Illusionary Elasticity. I tend to use staff for condition dropping, AoE hits, and self-buffing. For me, GS is a sniper’s tool, considering its auto-attack does not bounce. #3 for boon-strip (when it decides to work, mind.), #5 for emergency knockbacks. Utilities are currently: Decoy/Arcane Thievery/Blink (traited for range/cooldown improvements). Elite’s Mass Invis.

1. Yes
2. Who says it can’t be done? Altruistic Healing Bunker-Guards are effectively Clerics :P
3. We shall see. Game’s still relatively young.

Heh. As we are now, it’s less like a “Mage/Illusionist” and more like a “Psionicist.” Mindkitten, Time/Space Manipulation. It’s like an advanced Telepath/Psychokinetic.

I don’t get this one, tbh. As is, a 5-person limit on AE makes those abilities kinda weaksauce. Thus, it’s arguable that – why do we have ‘em? Sorry, lads and ladies of ANet – if anything, we need player-usable AE to have more targets. Here’s an example why:

Two Words, folks …
Zerg Balling

With that in mind, have a look at current Wv3 tactics, where some players are using the aforementioned ZB to render themselves nigh-impervious to AE attacks from anything less than siege-calibre AE. Is this what we really want? Zerg Ball vs Zerg Ball? I’d rather keep space for the concept of a small, skilled strike team being able to hold their own in a conflict.

I personally run Rabid/some Carrion, atm. High Illusions/Chaos, the rest changes regularily. I’ll admit my crit rate/dmg aren’t spectacular, but I’m primarily condition-based.

Usually:
Staff – Superior Fire
GS – Superior Air
Sword – Superior Corruption

Although, I do keep at least one of all Mesmer weapons. The others use (typically) Superior Generosity or Nullification. Most of my builds are low on condi-removal, but decent on crit %

I can definately see Skarloc’s point. My guild’s usually lucky to field 3 people at a stretch.
Don’t get my wrong, we’ve got some pretty chill folk – but RL takes its toll, always. As for type of char – depends on the person, honestly. I went Sylvari Mes from day 1, love it.

Funny part is: I was a server-hop. Started on SoS for like a month, my guildies were all Fergs. Of course, I swapped over to join ‘em. Love it over in FC. We’ve got some straight-up pitbulls, as far as the regular WvWers. I kitten well respect that mentality. Now, to see what happens, with the advent of paid transfers … should be interesting.

It’s funny, all of this Portal wackiness. I’d honestly almost hope some other class gets a mass-transit ability, so folk stop expecting us to cart folks around all over Tyria.
Hell, I rarely use that or TW, unless asked – I prefer Stealth/Blinking/Defensive Glamours.
(shrug)

EDIT: As for bunkering – that’s a funny arguement, when one considers that Mesmers were a certain degree better at it, then Illusionary Membrane got modified. Although, one can still get a decent bit tanky, with high Chaos and/or Inspiration.

sevtrisen.5247:

Rytlock is a Mesmer in heavy armor. Be afraid. Be very… afraid.

He (and we) wish. A heavy-armoured Mesmer Charr? Ye Gods, the scary …

Depends on the type, I’d say. For example – those freaks from Necroscope? Not even close to what constitutes a “Modern Vampire.” And that’s why they rock soooo frigging hard.
(Also: Hopping Vampires? That’s just funny.)

I do wonder one thing, though. We have spectres, mummies, liches … where the hell are all the vampires hiding? Besides heavy Blood Magic specced PC Necromancers.

Conditions and deceptive evasion? I’d have to say Rabid. Precision/Toughness/Condition Dmg. IIRC, Strong Conjurer’s set is lower stats, but a similar stat-breakdown.

I thought Palawa was a Mummy, not a Lich? Pardon me, if I happen to be wrong.

Purple butterflies are cool enough for Psylocke – they’re cool enough for us.

I honestly think that was probably put in, as a response to the extra stealth via culling.
If I’m correct, then once that’s fixed … we might no longer have that issue. But, that’s just my theory.

I swear, even if they retooled lifesteal skills to scale with a mere fraction of healing power/power, it’d be so stylish. Get that Vampire mojo working.

Zenith.7301:

Seether.7285:

Rainu.6871:

If it’s split so that any change only affect PvE then fine. If not then I don’t see why something that only affects a very small (I’d guess max 5%) of the players should lead to more nerfs for a class that is already very weak in pve.

I’m glad we got the PvEers speaking up in every balance thread in the PvP section. Scripted NPCs are pretty tough to fight, any more nerfs to mesmers and they won’t be able to kill anything!!!!

Don’t be an idiot. Class strength figures into what people take to dungeons and fractals. We don’t need the positions of warriors, guardians, and eles even more solidified than it is by killing the only thing you bring a mesmer for in PvE (Time Warp).

Split the skills so that in sPvP TW is half the duration.

That right there, is what jportell and others who main Mesmer are worried about. Yes, it could be split. However, given the current track record on skill splits (RE: Mesmer) it – almost guaranteed – would not be split (since – as of yet – not a single Mes skill folk in this forum have issues with has been split.). And, that is the huge dilemma here. Would I complain about a PvE/PvP split? Hell no. Do I trust (with current skill pathing) that it would be split and not nerfed 12’ under the earth? Given our current track record (in which Mesmers get no skill splits), Hell no.

Absolutely. I’ve done 0/15/25/0/30 and 0/0/30/10/30 builds … those bad boys stack nicely.

I wonder if Kzin or Kilrathi have a language (fan-crafted)? One figures, like those two, Charr are of feline descent. Thus, the speech mode would probably be rather similar.

Aether McLoud.1975:

Dee Jay.2460:

Heartseeker is the only thing I’d consider “cheap” in this context and that’s because it quite literally is cheap.

3 Initiative for a 450 range leap, auto-targeting, leap-finisher and over 5000+ damage.

The fact that you can spam it makes it seem even cheaper.

Stealth is fine in principle, although culling is not.

This. As soon as you’re below 50% health all you hear is the dreaded whoosh woosh sound of a HS spamming thief being on your toe. All the “just dodge roll lol” posts are useless because when you’re on low health you probably allready used up your dodges. And you can’t even run because HS is a kitten heatseeking missile without player input.

It either needs a cooldown (It’s supposed to be an execute) or lose the gap closer or cost way more initiative. A thief can spam WAY more HS than you can dodge.

Heh – the thing here that needs changed it the auto-facing on HS. Note, it’s not just Thieves and HS. As a guy what mains Mesmer, I’m ok with the auto-facing on Blurred Frenzy also going the way of the dodo. We’re a “skill-based” game, yes? Screw auto-facing, if yer not pointed at the enemy, then why should that move hit? The only logical way around that, is ground-zero targeted AoE, which is a different animal.

It honestly depends more on yer dodging skills and playstyle at that level. For example: I personally roll with ~2400 armour/18-20k hp, depending on loadout/buffs.

Meanwhile, my Guild leader is a Thief. Rolls with around my level of armour, but like 11-13k hp. Truth is, he typically outlives me. (Of course, my slow Mesmer self tends to get caught by enemies more often, but that’s not the entire reason).

I suggest 16k or so for health, a good 2k or so armour. This, plus careful fighting, should keep you decent. Some of our guys can pull it off with 14k hp/less armour, but that is definately glassy.

SteepledHat.1345:

Does anyone know if the channeled bug effects thieves too? I’d assume it would.

It does. My Asura Thief gets her butt kicked by channeled crap continuously. Now, the big differences are: Thief Stealth is generally instant-on, and definately links better than Mesmer’s. For instance (even not counting the Culling-Beast: Thieves can be almost perma-sneaky. We are not so lucky.) I’ve fought Thieves who blip out long enough to hit a few times, and then re-cloak. Their Stealth definately target-drops more often, besides the channeled bit.

In general, before fixing the channeled attack issue, we’d need culling dealt with … better target dropping for non-channeled attacks + faster stealth would = Thieves rockin fools like Predator. And it’s not even technically their fault, a lot of their stealth is low duration, they just have more access.

Stack, no. Overlap (once one knows the duration of each …) hells yes.

Take it from a Ferg man: SF is jumping on our kitten just as much as they are on yours.
As for exploits, that’s weak kitten there. Win cause yer Alpha as Heck, not that lowdown crap.

vicious.2193:

I plan on testing out a 10/20/10/0/30 build tonight, just to see how much the additional 100 toughness matters. I’m not sold on membrane being a game-changer and I change weapons frequently enough that I’m not sure if the 20% CD reduction on the staff is a must-have either. It may be, and probably is, but I’ve never really tried to run without it.

Anyone else try that out already, though?

I have, on occasion. Not too shabby, tbh. There’s also 0/20/10/10/30. In either case, Deceptive Evasion (or Decoy/Mirror Images) will help out with clone-gen. Phase Retreat’s pretty fast, in general. You could just save PR as an emergency evade move, then.

Nah, she’s more like Karla (Record of Lodoss War). Frigging body-stealer.

Mesmer and Guardian, one would think. Good thing profs aren’t race-locked: my Mesmer/Guard are both Sylvari. My Necro’s the Human.

As for the why? Two of the most well-known Mesmers in game lore are Human. Anise and Jenna. Logan’s definately a Guard.

They’d really hate the class if it had all of the counterspell/interrupt stuff from GW1.
That kinda skill spread, and no magic/energy pool to limit its use, just c/d’s? I can smell the QQ in my sleep. Worst part is, moves like those would add the prerequisite ‘trickery’ and ‘guile’. Failing that: we’d need clones to be a little more unpredictable in their movements (maybe they dodge once in a while and duplicate effect tags on their maker (food buffs, etc. Just the ‘look’ of them, mind you.))

I’d say Mesmer. As someone who 80’d Mes then Ele – both classes rely heavily on positioning and (vs. players) a healthy dose of making your opponent second-guess what you’re going to whip out next. Both also have ‘tankier’ spreads available. Also, Mes is pretty nasty at boon inversion/stealing (though not as much as a well-done Necro), and can pull out counters to certain attacks. Give it a shot sometime, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Heh. I like it … tempts me to see if I can pull off a Mes or Ele what looks like Kuja.

ComeAndSee.1356:

Why do people complain about backstab when Killshot can hit you for over 10,000 damage?

Don’t quote me for truth, since Warrior (as of yet) is the one Profession I lack.
But – iirc – folk leave Killshot alone, because it has a pretty wicked cast time and c/d.

How’d I forget this one?

Would you Nerf me?
I’d Nerf me.
I’d Nerf me soooo hard …

-Buffalo Bill, Silence of the Lambs.

leman.7682:

Fuzion.7613:

Turn time warp into a signet
Signet of Time

• Passive Movement Speed (20%?) Would have with mesmers lack of mobility.
• Apply 4 seconds of Quickness to Yourself and Ally’s within 600 range
• 140 Second Cool Down

I like.

I also like. Helps PvE and PvP. ANet, kindly offer this person (Fuzion) a job. Thank you. Note, duration could probably use some modding.

Aether McLoud.1975:

Advent.6193:

Hmmph. I’m surprised none of the anti-Mesmer QQ has been started about Mass Invisibility. Mobile AoE stealth + party DPS?

Because you don’t count as being on a point in stealth. And you need to capture points to win tournaments.

Say it’s the first team fight 4v4 on keep after the match starts. The team with the mesmer gets the point 100% because he uses time warp which either destroys the other team or forces them to retreat. And once you have keep you won’t lose it again with a bunker guard. THAT is why time warp needs nerfs.

Do note, I’ve suggested at least one way said ability can be somewhat dealt with.
It’s not that I hate PvP, or anything. It’s simply, when the class you play most – indeed the class you liked so bleeding much, that it’s a major reason you bought the game – is constantly eating nerfs, and never keeping buffs at all – this kind of thing is quite offensive. It’s like “Man, how many ways can we get our nose planted into a steaming pile of horse poo, kitten ” Ya know? Especially when it seems like every. other. stinkin. thread. anymore is “Nerf Mesmer!” or “Nerf Thief!” This is why Mesmer players jump on threads like this, Aether … we’re tired of getting kicked in the collective pills.

Mind, I am aware that other classes (Engineer, I feel for you guys) have it even worse.
Which is why I try to mention ways to get everyone on an even keel. Buff weaker specs, as opposed to the Titanic Nerfbat of Smiting +5.

An Asura Thief named Lannka. Consider her Tyria’s version of a corporate espionage type.

Ashanor.5319:

I agree that Time Warp needs a nerf. Mesmer doesn’t need any buffs.

Sure about that, Ashanor? You do realise that:
LoS is rather wonky on Mesmers. Particularily on Phantasms.
Untrustworthy speed buffing , unless one uses an offhand considered by most to be subpar.
Between Mesmer and Engineer, you have two classes holding hands, whilst they sit at the Round Table of Nerf.

Why not instead, call for all potential class specs – for every class – to be equally valid?

Hmmph. I’m surprised none of the anti-Mesmer QQ has been started about Mass Invisibility. Mobile AoE stealth + party DPS? Seriously, though – this business is wacky. PvE skills on Mesmers get hackjobbed because of this PvP biz, since – unlike most classes – Mesmer skills have no split between PvP/PvE. I do wonder if anything will make folks even “acceptably” satisfied. Here:

If the TimeWarp/Portal bit is sooooo ridic, then:
Nuke Endurance regen while TWarped by 50%.
As for portal: kitten it, 5 person limit – since between PvP and Wv3, it’s a bloody constant QQ. In exchange, lower the c/d some. This way, it’s still useful, and can’t be continuously re-used (within active duration).

Seriously, this is at the point where any potential mod to Mesmer build/playstyle/skills is almost guaranteed to flub, cause of all the “Oh no, Mesmer’s FINE – they has Portal/Time Warp ZOMG!” bullkitten. Some of us, merely want all of our class’ playability to be on par, not just port-bombers or shatterers.

Kindly gain a new target, folks. Yer killing a class many love, with this madness. Thank you.

Swish.2463:

While not entirely on topic, grats for thinking outside the box and finally someone is using sigils and traits to do something other than Shatter Cat.

On the note of using Sigils to change a fight and fill in holes.
Mesmers should Check into Sup Sigil Of Generosity for condition removals if your build is lacking there or you want to bring a few different utilities.

Ironically, I’ve been using that Sigil … and the one that removes boons on crit.(ScepTorch set). I don’t usually loadout with much condi removal, so those help a lot.

Then Sup. Fire on Staff, since I’m never without one.

+1 for Fans

That’d be soooo smexxy.

You opened the Crate, we came.
OP to some, UP to others.

-Hellraiser (1987)